Transcript Highlights:

• And the land use Senate is in section 4.
• </c><00:15:19.320><c> In</c> the first sentence of the section.
• In the first sentence of the section.
• Perhaps the most important change we made in this section was to have it go into effect one year from
• Perhaps the most important change we made in this section was to have it go into effect one year from

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Second Amendment and Article 1, Section 11 of the Idaho Constitution protect an individual's right
• to keep... and Article 1, Section 11 of the Idaho Constitution protect an individual's right to keep
• Same section of code there. How do you keep the broker?
• How do you, under that code section, prevent the broker from, so.
• And I read this little section. ...I've never thought that to myself.

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met in a special session and introduced several measures focused largely on immigration enforcement and firearms policy. The committee introduced RS 33695, which would impose an excise tax on international money transfers and provide a tax credit for Idahoans; RS 33831, requiring local and county law enforcement to apply for and participate in ICE 287(g) agreements; RS 33832, the Refugee and Illegal Alien Accountability Act, which adds reporting and status-verification requirements and restrictions on unlawful harboring or transporting; and RS 33835, which would allow certain Idaho Department of Correction inmates with federal immigration detainers and final removal orders to be released to federal authorities before sentence completion, with an estimated state savings of $3.5 million. All of these RSs were moved to print without opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1430, which strengthens enforcement of Idaho’s firearms preemption law by creating penalties and a private cause of action against local governments that willfully violate state firearms statutes, while preserving existing authority for discharge ordinances and university rules. Support came from the NRA and the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, and the bill’s sponsors emphasized notice and an opportunity to cure before litigation. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 894, concerning open meetings, was presented as clarifying that members of the public may record open meetings by audio, video, or photographs, with exceptions for executive sessions and certain correctional and parole settings. It was advanced to the floor unanimously. House Bill 932, an advisory vote measure asking Idahoans to choose a favorite firearm from a list of historically significant guns, drew extended discussion and humor from committee members and was also sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. H.C.R. 36, a resolution honoring the Idaho National Guard and supporting modernization, including a transition from A-10s to F-16s and Army force-structure changes, was approved despite one member expressing reluctance about losing the A-10s. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 888, which would shift procurement of information technology services to the Office of Information Technology Services and allow use of third-party brokers or existing procurement channels. Testimony from the bill’s supporters emphasized faster procurement, cost savings, and centralized oversight, while the Office of Information Technology Services testified neutral but raised concerns about workload, transparency, and the need for clearer selection and appeals procedures. After discussion about rulemaking and safeguards, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Same section of code there. How do you keep the broker?
• How do you, under that code section, prevent the broker from, so.
• And I read this little section, and there's just not enough there. There's just not enough there.
• And I read this little section. I've never thought that to myself.
• And I read this little section, and there's just not enough there. There's just not enough there.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It says, 'Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit.' Then it lists A, B, C, D, E.
• So it's not just about, hey, we're kind of concerned about D, you read the penalty section.
• Paragraph two, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit.
• So what I just read was nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit.
• So what I just read was nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the minutes from February 25 and February 26, 2026, then took up House Bill 928, the Merit-Based Health Care Act. The bill’s sponsor said it would prohibit DEI-related considerations in Medicaid-funded health care hiring, promotion, contracting, and training, while preserving compliance with federal law and allowing certain clinical and quality-improvement activities. Committee members questioned how the bill would apply in practice, especially to hiring and patient preferences, and the sponsor said an amendment would remove certain terms to align with federal code. The committee heard extensive testimony on HB 928. Physicians and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians opposed the bill, arguing it would restrict evidence-based training, create legal uncertainty, worsen recruitment and retention in a state already facing provider shortages, and interfere with use of social determinants of health and implicit bias training to improve patient care. Supporters, including a plastic surgeon, Idaho Family Policy Center, and the bill sponsors, argued DEI undermines merit and that taxpayer-funded health care should be based on qualifications and excellence. After debate, the committee voted to send HB 928 to the 14th order for possible amendment, with Senators Harris and Wintrow recorded as opposed. The committee then heard House Bill 916, which would create a legislative rural health transformation oversight committee to monitor federal rural health funds flowing to Idaho. The sponsor said the committee would provide legislative stewardship over the money without appropriating funds, while some senators raised concerns that the bill did not require rural representation on the committee and that appointments should reflect rural advocacy. After testimony from a supporter emphasizing oversight and taxpayer stewardship, the committee voted to hold HB 916 in committee. The meeting ended with notice of a two-hour committee meeting scheduled for the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this section of code that you're reading falls into the same section under the section of code that
• And this is paired to fit right in that section, the same section.
• And this is paired to fit right in that section, the same section.
• But it would pair with the same language that is already in the section where it would fall in.
• and in Section 39-3125.

Summary: The committee began by honoring pages Finn Meekum and Cooper Smith for their service, with both students describing the experience as eye-opening and professional. Members thanked them for their help, presented gifts and certificates, and then approved the minutes from February 2 and February 5, 2026. Senate Bill 1316, by Senator Blaylock, would update Idaho’s newborn screening exemption language to align with vaccination exemption standards and clarify that parents may decline newborn screenings and related treatments without stating a specific religious objection. A pediatrician testified in support, saying the bill codifies current practice and supports parental choice. The committee advanced the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1294, by Senator Galloway, would codify newborn hearing screening in Idaho law and standardize the screening methods used. Supporters, including an education official, an early intervention provider, and parents of children with hearing loss, said early screening improves language development, reduces long-term costs, and helps prevent delayed diagnosis. Some members questioned whether the bill was necessary if screenings already occur and whether the mandatory language conflicted with exemption provisions, but the committee sent the bill to the floor on a 4-3 roll call vote. Senate Bill 1314, also by Senator Blaylock, would repeal the Board of Health and Welfare and regional behavioral health board statutes, shifting authority and rulemaking directly to the department while keeping services in place. The sponsor said the boards are outdated and duplicative; an opponent argued the changes could affect federal settlement obligations, grant funding, oversight, and regional input in behavioral health. After debate, the committee advanced the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this section of code that you're reading falls into the same section under the section of code that
• And this is paired to fit right in that section, the same section.
• And this is paired to fit right in that section, the same section.
• But it would pair with the same language that is already in the section where it would fall in.
• and in Section 39-31-25.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but there's a separate section of code that speaks to that.
• You'll notice we moved a definition from buried in a subsection up to its own definition section: the
• That language is pulled, just copied and pasted from that 50-301 section, just speaking about it.
• Price, on page 158, the section where you changed the rounding...
• Section where you changed the rounding.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one of H. 28 also amends 1 VSA 127 to make the language more understandable.
• Moving on to section two, Madam Speaker, H. 49 proposes to amend 13 V.S.A. § 7556.
• H. 49 amends this section to create a process to appeal a denied motion for bail revocation.
• Moving on to section two, Madam Speaker, H. 49 proposes to amend 13 V.S.A. § 7556.
• H. 49 amends this section to create a process to appeal a denied motion for bail revocation.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Middleton, section 3002.109 addresses jurisdiction.
• Well, that's a different bill and the House Amendments did not address that section.
• Are you familiar with this section? Yes, and the House amendments did not touch on that.
• , that same section of the Constitution states that the body may, and I quote, compel the attendance
• Under that same exact Article 3, Section 10, it also allows us to impose penalties to compel quorum.

Bills: SB 8, SB 1, SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB27, HB7, HB17, HB1, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB20, HB18, HB7, HB17, HB1, HB20, HB18, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SR85, SR87, SB8, SB5, SB2, SB10, HB27

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you started section 1.6, so last session there was a bill by... Thank you.
• And then in Section 1.8, the Education and Economic Fund is kind of different.
• So will you help me in the bill where I see section 1.6, where the Juneteenth commission is described
• It's in section 1.9. Okay. And the difference is it's a...
• So I believe those are the changes you'll see across multiple sections.

Bills: AB328, AB397

Keywords: Juneteenth, education, economic commission, cultural affairs, racial healing, policy recommendations, African-American studies, higher education, fee waivers, Native American students, unaccompanied youth, academic progress, Nevada System of Higher Education, 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for the CD1 that we've come to an agreement on, we did remove the appropriation section and added
• </c><00:07:15.440><c> and</c> appropriations appropriation section and appropriations appropriation section
• In section three, we're removing the federal match requirement and amending it to read that the cancer
• center shall seek other sources of funding, and section four with a clean effective date.
• Section four has a clean effective date. Okay, thank you, members. Any discussion?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill revises several sections of Florida statutes relating to education.
• I have one more question about this section.
• I have one more question about this section.
• That's my last question on that section. Members, any additional questions? All right, back to me.
• There's a section, Section 15 of your bill, that goes into some of the background screening requirements

Summary: The Pre-K Through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered four bills. CS/HB 1403, by Rep. Yeager, would allow child care facilities to participate in the school guardian program and clarify school perimeter and door security requirements. An amendment clarifying that private security companies would pay for training was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 447, the Evan B. Hartzell Act by Rep. Salzman, would provide guidance for schools that choose to teach disability history and awareness during the first two weeks of October, including age-appropriate instruction by grade band. The bill received supportive testimony from advocates and was reported favorably 11-0. CS/HB 257, by Reps. Chambliss and Tramont, would expand on a prior pilot program to allow video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms serving nonverbal students and others with significant disabilities, as a safeguard against abuse and to improve accountability. The bill drew strong support from parents and disability advocates describing abuse concerns, and it was reported favorably 13-0. CS/HB 1255, by Vice Chair Trabulsy, was a broad education bill addressing teacher shortages, scholarship program screening, health and math instruction, corporal punishment policy, and restrictions on spending public funds on organizations tied to discrimination or political/social activism. A major focus of debate was the bill’s human embryologic development instruction and related video language, with supporters calling it science-based and opponents warning it could be medically inaccurate or ideological. After the sponsor said she would amend some language, including removing ABCTE-related text and clarifying the video language, the bill was reported favorably 12-1. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What department are we talking about here in Section C?
• We're going to start with looking closer through Section C as we start to read Section C, which lays
• Section D all the way on to the next page.
• Or, we can split a section up and break it up that way.
• It says section A. The division is here. Oh, I'm sorry, 230080.1. Yeah, we don't have that.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this bill does under this section, school boards would be allowed to transfer any funds that
• Section 2 allows for mandate relief also through the 2028-29 school year, and under this section school
• Section 2 allows for mandate relief also through the 2028-29 school year, and under this section school
• Section 2 allows for mandate relief also through the 2028-29 school year, and under this section school
• Section 2 allows for mandate relief also through the 2028-29 school year, and under this section school

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 688 revises our previous code section on airbags, repealing that and implementing a piece
• What this bill does is it repeals a section of Idaho code and then it does not change a thing.
• It just reads that code section as is written.
• It just reads that code section as is written.
• Senate Bill 1248 removes an obsolete section of code referring to the capital crimes defense fund.

Summary: The House Judiciary and Rules and Administration Committee approved the minutes from February 23, 2026, welcomed Caldwell High School students and Fruitland Mayor’s Youth Council members, and then took up several bills. House Bill 743, which Speaker Moyle said was intended to create penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violations of laws by public officials and others, drew concerns about fee shifting and contempt standards; after discussion, the committee voted unanimously to hold it at the call of the chair for further work. The committee then unanimously sent House Bill 688 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. That bill, presented by Representative Shirts, would criminalize the sale, installation, or transfer of counterfeit or nonfunctional airbags and related defeat devices, with a simple misdemeanor penalty and a knowing mental state. House Bill 695, a cleanup bill related to squatters and eviction procedure, was also sent to the floor unanimously after testimony from the Idaho State Sheriffs Association supporting the change from “writ of possession” to “writ of restitution.” House Bill 697, a Secretary of State-requested rewrite of election tampering provisions to clarify the code without changing the underlying felony penalties, likewise received unanimous due pass approval. The committee next heard House Bill 727, sponsored by Representatives Brooke Green and Jaron Crane, addressing sextortion by making threats to expose intimate images actionable even if the images are never released. Testimony from the Attorney General’s ICAC unit described a sharp rise in sextortion cyber tips in Idaho and the difficulty of pursuing many offenders because they are overseas; members discussed prevention, rapid response, and support resources for youth. The bill received broad support and was sent to the floor unanimously with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee approved two Senate cleanup bills from Representative Scott: Senate Bill 1248, which removes obsolete language about the capital crimes defense fund, and Senate Bill 1249, which makes a minor wording change to Idaho time-zone language. Both passed unanimously with due pass recommendations, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of the legislation that created that account, there was an intent section stating that, as part
• Senate Bill 6229 concerns taxation of a long-term capital gain of a Section 1202 small business stock
• Senate bill 6229 concerning taxation of a long-term capital gain of a section 1202 small business stock
• And unlike an income tax, which would put us at par with other states, this Section 1202 waiver sends
• When those founders hear that Washington is considering taxing Section 1202 small business stock, the

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 29, 2026, to consider a gubernatorial appointment, three public hearings, and two executive-session bills. Kristen L. Frazier was introduced as the governor’s appointee to the Board of Tax Appeals. She described her background in legislative fiscal analysis, constitutional law, and tax adjudication, and said the board is working on faster residential review and settlement processes. Members praised her service and said the appointment would be voted on at a future meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5893, which would transfer $65 million from the Natural Climate Solutions Account to the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account to fully fund wildfire response and forest health work. Committee staff explained the Climate Commitment Act funding source and the account history, and the Department of Natural Resources said the money would support forest health treatments, firefighting readiness, and partner pass-throughs. Forest industry representatives and DNR supported the bill, arguing wildfire work reduces emissions, protects communities, and prevents larger future costs; one member questioned why DNR had not submitted a decision package for the funding. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 6229, which would subject gains from the sale of qualified small business stock to Washington’s capital gains tax. Staff said the bill would affect about 260 taxpayers, raise about $1.2 million in fiscal year 2027, and cost the Department of Revenue about $1.1 million over four years to implement. Startup founders, venture capital and tech industry representatives opposed the bill, warning it would discourage investment, founders, and job creation in Washington; a Budget and Policy Center witness supported it as a way to make the tax code less regressive and argued the exemption mainly benefits the wealthiest taxpayers. The committee also heard House Bill 1376, which would allow taxpayers to prepay capital gains tax up to six months early without interest on any later refund; staff said it had no revenue impact and a small administrative cost, and the lone public witness opposed it as penalizing success. In executive session, the committee received a briefing on the proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization transparency and AI use in health care, and on Substitute Senate Bill 5860 regarding school board compensation. The committee adopted the proposed second substitute for SB 5395 and voted it out of committee with a do pass recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures. Substitute SB 5860 was moved out of committee without recommendation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were a few outdated sections that included transition period dates or transition periods to come
• It's section 14.014.10, F and G have been stricken.
• Also on page 24, similarly, some sections in subsection 10A, some...
• We also have removed a number of sections on pages 59 through 60.
• I can find that section if needed if we'd like to refer to it.

Summary: Senate Commerce first took up three gubernatorial appointments and sent all three to the Senate floor with recommendations for confirmation: Salvador Cruz as director of the Department of Finance, Nora Carpenter to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, and Gregory Donica to the same board. Each motion passed without opposition. The committee then received an annual update from Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho. He reported record enrollment activity, including more than 139,000 selections in open enrollment 2025 and over 144,000 in open enrollment 2026, with most enrollees receiving tax credits and many working with agents or brokers. Kelly said the exchange remains financially self-sustaining, has low operating costs, and achieved strong customer satisfaction scores. Members asked about rising premiums, the shift toward bronze plans, and enrollment timing; Kelly and later Insurance Director Dean Cameron said Idaho premiums remain among the lowest nationally, helped by the 1332 reinsurance waiver, though affordability concerns are increasing. The committee also reviewed and approved one Department of Commerce pending rule docket and several Department of Insurance rule dockets under zero-based regulation. The Commerce rulemaking was described as a non-substantive cleanup that removed obsolete language, aligned definitions, and adjusted some grant limits, including the Idaho GEM grant program. Insurance rule changes similarly focused on simplifying, clarifying, and removing duplicative statutory language across self-funded plans, long-term care insurance, small employer and individual health insurance, coordination of benefits, short-term health insurance, and managing general agents. The most notable policy-related change was the short-term health insurance docket, which was approved with an effective date upon adjournment to avoid a gap after a temporary rule expires; all dockets were approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the added section of 404.0242 of the Government Code, it requires the ESF to have a sufficient balance
• Section 45U supports zero-emission nuclear production, while Section 45Y offers clean electricity production
• Section 48E provides investment tax credits for building new clean energy facilities.
• This resolution calls on the United States Congress to preserve these sections of the Internal Revenue
• For example, Section 45U is enabling plant... ...to make long-term investments.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• into the section that licenses principals.
• And as you go through it, it changes the 2028 dates to 2029 on page 22, one section. Insert it.
• At the bottom of section B, we add section C, and it's the Department of Education may grant a superintendent
• You'll notice this in the superintendent section.
• There's a separate section you could see if you wanted to look at the very end of the bill that section

Transcript Highlights:

• Michael Woodson of Boston and others move to amend the bill by inserting after Section 6 the following
• section: Section 6A, Section 55 of Chapter 3.
• Section 6. The following section: Section 6A. Section 55 of Chapter 3.
• was fortunate to bring together many of the original stakeholders and some new ones, a true cross-section

Keywords: 1212, all