Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :
Page 162 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Committee, First Extraordinary Session Jan 27th, 2025
Budget
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Oct 9th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, in New Mexico, I think I mentioned the funded ratio in 2022.
- What's going to happen in the future, in terms of your own numbers?
- In terms of...
- We did very well versus All of the other funds in this measure in the five-year and again in the ten-year
- So certainly, some in our region are in there. I believe Colorado.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Local Government Jan 30th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Coroners are experts in their field.
- If you have people in your county, you most likely already have a medical examiner, but if you're in
- The in-person is Timothy Grisham.
- But they also served 30 years in search and rescue in their community.
- changes in elections.
Keywords:
tax increment financing, local government, economic development, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, urban forestry, environmental policy, tree management, community planning, public facilities district, regional aquatics
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I could reuse those in some way.
- Well, in the HOA...
- In a 24-7 context.
- So, that's obviously way in excess of the 65 contemplated in the bill.
- It takes a tool in the toolbox for those utilities in East Texas and puts it into ours.
Bills:
HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246
Keywords:
federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, in the area where I live, there used to be one in the town that I live in, and one in the
- In credentialing, you'll see in Century Code 15.1-016.
- come up in that or I can't recall if they do, but what's the mitigation steps then?
- It's not fair to somebody like the Slope County clerk who had the first divorce case filed there in..
- It's not fair to somebody like the Slope County clerk who had the first divorce case filed there in..
Summary:
The task force reviewed survey results from state agencies on potential statutory revisions, with Levi reporting 70 proposals from 20 agencies and noting that about 33 might become agency pre-file bills. Members discussed the need to share the survey more broadly within higher education and to better coordinate issues involving IT and other cross-agency functions. The task force then heard from the Office of Management and Budget on three topics: concessions, architect/engineering pre-qualification, and legal notices. OMB said the concessions law is outdated and inconsistent with current practice, and suggested a collaborative rewrite to allow best-value evaluation, raise the threshold, and standardize solicitation templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB proposed expanding authority beyond current state-agency limits and creating uniform templates. On legal notices, OMB proposed modernizing publication requirements, exploring online and abbreviated notices, and working with newspapers and other stakeholders on technology and accessibility improvements.
Members asked about where concession revenues go, whether political subdivisions must follow the same rules, and how to move from discussion to action. The task force agreed to have OMB work with Legislative Council and affected stakeholders to develop bill drafts, and the motion passed unanimously. The University of North Dakota then presented a series of proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND asked to rework the definition of construction so routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements over $250,000 would not automatically trigger public-improvement requirements, suggested raising the threshold to $500,000, and asked for more flexibility based on project complexity and risk. UND also proposed changes to public bid advertisements to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement rules, an increase in the direct-hire design threshold, and a higher legislative-consent threshold for privately funded projects. The task force supported having UND work with counsel and OMB to develop bill drafts, and that motion also passed.
The Department of Public Instruction concluded with proposed cleanup to credentialing and education statutes. DPI recommended reviewing its credential categories for relevance, possibly transferring credentialing authority to the Education Standards and Practices Board, removing outdated school safety patrol language, clarifying waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so the statute reflects current practice. Members focused mainly on whether the dyslexia reporting requirement should remain, and DPI said the screening itself would continue even if reporting language were revised. No votes were taken on DPI’s suggestions, and the task force recessed after the presentation.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Buildings with two to 19 units in particular in the rental market tend to be and have the most affordable
- Not one death in which the exit or lack of a second exit played a role in what was recorded when there
- I listed those out in the handout to you, but the real benefit is that listed those out in the handout
- Schaplock, there are some elements in here. Some of them could be considered mitigating.
- In the state of Washington, it's basically Seattle. In Hawaii, it's Honolulu.
Summary:
The House Business Committee met with a quorum, approved the February 25 minutes, and removed House Bill 881 from the agenda, leaving House Bill 706 as the only item for consideration. The bill, presented by Senator Ali Robbie, would allow local governments to permit single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories with a range of safety requirements, including NFPA 13 sprinklers, fire-rated stair enclosures, smoke detection, egress features, and limits on building size and unit count. Robbie argued the measure could reduce construction costs, help smaller infill projects pencil, and expand housing supply, while noting that pressurization was not included because of added cost and lack of consensus.
Public testimony was split. The Professional Firefighters of Idaho and Boise Fire Marshal Mike Bazanio, speaking for the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association, opposed the bill, arguing that a second stairway is a critical life-safety feature and that a single stair creates a single point of failure for occupants and firefighters. They said they were not persuaded by the cited research and emphasized concerns about smoke, evacuation, and firefighter access. Supporters, including a Boise resident, a housing advocate, and an architect, said modern single-stair buildings with strong sprinkler and fire-safety standards have a good safety record, would improve affordability, and would give cities more flexibility to build smaller, more efficient housing types.
In closing, Robbie said the bill had been negotiated with fire officials, building code officials, and architects, and that the main unresolved issue was stair pressurization. After debate, Representative Razor moved HB 706 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Representative Crane opposed the bill, while Representative Harris said he would support it because local control would limit adoption to cities able to handle the buildings. The committee approved the motion on a 14-4 roll call vote, and HB 706 was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Jan 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- in the state.
- in draft form.
- in draft form.
- about in the order of 300, 400 feet in depth, in order to build in the rear portion of those lots ..
- .400 feet in depth, in order to build in the rear portion of those lots to meet the fire code requirements
Keywords:
land subdivision, zoning, property development, local government authority, real estate, infrastructure, wildfire, wildland urban interface, WUI, building code, fire-resistant construction, defensible space, hazard map, risk map, state building code council, department of natural resources, fire marshal, regional fire defense board, roofing standards, exterior walls
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:32 am
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- business in high school in 1977, based in Albuquerque, and it was a western grocery supply.
- Then they were in business many years before I came in, and then probably in '82, they closed down and
- in another.
- in and also mitigate that as well.
- So our programs certainly have an impact on the people that that this family was living in and also mitigate
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So, in your binder, you'll find in the inside cover the final report from last year.
- So I'm in my car. I was in Boise yesterday, but... ...the road today. So I'm in my car.
- and in 2022.
- in 2022.
- There was a fair amount of forecast coming in about 2% real GDP growth, but we want to actually forecast
Summary:
The committee was convened to review Idaho’s economic outlook and general fund revenue projections for fiscal years 2025-2028, with members instructed to submit “homework” revenue estimates by noon the next day so staff could compile committee averages and medians for deliberations and a final recommendation to JFAC. Opening remarks emphasized the committee’s constitutional charge, the use of the binder materials and online packet, and that the committee would meet again the next day to discuss and vote on the revenue projection recommendation.
Staff and agency presentations focused on the state’s budget and revenue picture. Legislative Services Office staff described structural imbalance concerns, noting that statutory spending changes and earmarked sales tax distributions have crowded out flexibility, while cash reserves remain substantial. The Division of Financial Management’s economist explained the official revenue forecast, including revised treatment of sales tax and tax relief fund accruals, and said the forecast largely held steady overall even as corporate and individual income tax categories shifted. She also discussed the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act on SALT deductions and said recent corporate collections had rebounded sharply, suggesting timing and behavior changes rather than a broad economic downturn.
Outside economists and labor experts painted a generally stable to positive economic picture. Zions Bank’s economist said the Federal Reserve is likely near the end of major rate cuts, long-term rates and mortgage rates remain elevated, tariffs have risen sharply, but inflation has not yet shown broad tariff-driven acceleration; he described the national labor market as slowing but not contracting and said 2026 could be a rebuilding year. The Idaho Department of Labor reported that Idaho’s unemployment remains historically low, job growth is steady, wage growth is moderating from overheated pandemic-era levels, and the state’s labor market remains healthier and more balanced than the national picture. The committee also heard from Idaho Power’s economist, who began a presentation on broader economic conditions and utility-related demand trends before the transcript ended.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- in with coffee grounds and put them out in your trash.
- People wouldn't be in parking decks in the first place.
- , and in support of S. 1382, which you heard in a hearing in July.
- We're still in the pandemic era in 2022.
- And in fact, this was studied by Bevan Croft in 2015, and that is also cited in my written testimony,
Summary:
The hearing opened with remarks from House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy, who outlined procedures for the hybrid public hearing, noted the committee would hear testimony on 15 bills related to treatment settings, and recognized members present. The first major bill discussed was H. 4200, authorizing a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted treatment in licensed facilities. Representative Jim O’Day and witnesses from Control Z supported the bill, describing it as a tightly controlled, medically supervised pilot with DPH oversight, limited sites, and screening requirements. Committee members asked about the number of sites and whether Column Health still existed; witnesses said the bill contemplated three separate pilot programs and that Column Health no longer existed after being purchased by another company. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1405 to make the drug stewardship program permanent by removing its 2026 sunset date. Senator John Keenan and others said the program helps collect and safely dispose of unused medications, reduces diversion, and should remain in place because manufacturers should bear disposal costs. A member from Boston added support based on local concerns about people searching through bags for drugs, and Keenan explained the original sunset reflected pilot status and industry pushback.
A large portion of the hearing focused on S. 1394 and H. 2193, which would strengthen implementation of the 2023 Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Elliott Community Human Services testified that the roadmap’s helpline, community behavioral health centers, and crisis services are important but unevenly implemented. They urged a single point of accountability within EOHHS, regular strategic planning, a public data dashboard, and financial analysis of the behavioral health system and the access and crisis intervention trust fund. Witnesses said commercial insurance often does not fully reimburse community behavioral health center services, making sustainability difficult, and asked for better coordination across agencies and crisis response systems. Committee members asked whether the roadmap includes substance use disorder; witnesses said it is intended to cover behavioral health broadly, including mental health and substance use.
The committee also heard testimony on bills to ban aversives and on suicide prevention signage. Lisa Jean Graff testified in support of S. 1394 by urging a statewide ban on aversive practices, including electric shock, withholding food or bathroom access, and other painful interventions, arguing disabled people deserve the same protections from harm as others. Fonda Bryant and Carol McLean supported a bill requiring suicide prevention signs on tall parking garages, describing personal experiences and saying the signs could create a brief pause and connect people to 988 or other help. McLean said her son died by suicide from a parking garage and that signage might have made a difference. The committee also heard strong testimony in support of creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within DMH facilities (S. 1398/H. 2204), with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and a DMH nurse arguing that highly assaultive patients need specialized, more secure units to protect staff and other patients and to improve care.
Additional testimony supported creating a dedicated board for licensed mental health counselors (H. 4696/S. 1382), with Rep. John Badger, the Mass Mental Health Counselors Association, and others saying LMHCs are a large and growing workforce that needs its own licensing board, clearer standards, and faster implementation of existing licensure reforms. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 2223 regarding benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. Survivors and advocates described severe withdrawal, lack of informed consent, cognitive harms, and long-term disability, while a physician supported the bill as a way to improve disclosure of risks. Finally, the committee heard multiple witnesses in favor of H. 2231/S. 1383 to establish peer-run respite centers statewide. Advocates and people with lived experience said peer respites provide non-coercive, home-like alternatives to hospitalization, can reduce trauma and repeated admissions, and may be especially important for marginalized communities; they also cited cost savings and existing positive outcomes from current respite programs. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing portion reflected in the transcript.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In universal school meals, NM Grown is a core strategy in improving meal quality in our school cafeterias
- And in addition To beef, if you call Kimberly Meeks up, she can tell you what's in season in squash and
- in Silver City and La Semilla, who's located in Las Cruces.
- On not just in this field, but in other fields as well.
- in.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Apr 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This morning, we are in Room 437 in the Capitol, and the hearing room is open for in-person attendance
- Just say you have a renter in their home and they get $500 a month in subsidy to stay in their rental
- in California.
- I've not only lived in the system, I've worked in it as an assistant supportive housing manager in multiple
- Sounds like two in-betweeners. Anybody else in opposition?
Summary:
The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available.
The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses.
Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-05-02 (11:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- in...
- Gottlieb, for being a partner in crime in this.
- in terms of if I'm an administrator in a school?
- I am not in opposition to limitations on cell phones, but I think it's fair to acknowledge that today's
- I am not in opposition to limitations on cell phones, but I think it's fair to acknowledge that today's
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum established, and several recognitions, including a legislative intern, a guest in the gallery, and Representative Bruce Antone’s upcoming induction into the Tuskegee Athletic Hall of Fame. The Speaker also gave brief remarks about the end of session and the freshman class. The chamber then took up a series of Senate-returned messages and concurred or insisted on several amendments while moving bills toward final passage.
The House unanimously approved CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after adopting a House amendment to remove the IOTA-related provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties and business interests after a House concurrence motion. It also insisted on its amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 on housing. CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation was amended to restore House provisions on teacher-prep courses, the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College, and related testing and mentor-qualification changes; it passed 91-22 after debate over teacher certification, testing, and “identity politics” language. HB 1101 on out-of-network providers was amended to keep the House’s original notice and referral framework with a good-cause exemption; it passed 87-27 despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors.
After recess, the House took up CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response. Members described changes including removal of some homestead-assessment and debris-removal provisions, a study requirement for a post-hurricane county restriction concept, and a Florida Keys evacuation-time change paired with a 10-year cap of 900 permit allocations; the bill passed 116-0. The House also refused to concur in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration and requested the Senate recede. Later, the House returned to HB 1101 and insisted on its amendment after the Senate refused to concur.
The longest debate came on CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, where the House amendment replaced the Senate version with the substance of HB 1267, including Schools of Hope, higher education governance, and course transparency. Members questioned provisions expanding Schools of Hope co-location and sponsorship authority beyond traditional opportunity zones, the role of the Department of Education versus school districts, transportation and facility-cost issues, and performance-based agreements. Supporters said the changes would expand options for students and use vacant or underutilized facilities; opponents argued the language was added late, lacked transportation funding, and could allow charter operators to enter high-performing schools. The bill remained under debate at the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Dec 9th, 2025 at 01:24 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- has resulted in increased participation in the program.
- participated in the program. in the program.
- Those are a group of individuals who are out in communities, in homes, in childcare centers, in libraries
- in providers Growth in salary, growth in workforce indicates that we are doing it in the right direction
- shake and their fair share in this budget.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jun 4th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- That is just huge, uh, particularly in, in, in, uh, in my hometown Albuquerque.
- Uh, New Mexico grew 2.9% in housing stock, 60% in, in rents and mortgages, so our price of housing went
- In that exact same time, Minnesota's rents went down 2%, uh, in, in Minneapolis rather, not and, and
- come in and.
- It's not really fair to our people in the rural areas.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Oct 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- to force structure ratio since force structure changes in 2 in 2018 resulted in 6 strategically the
- and we're in a in the in the final decision cycle for a new MP Headquarters battalion headquarters,
- Waters in the National Guards were happy to have in Florida.
- And this is it fair to my garden because our guardsmen I get conditional releases every day there in
- And then in March, we're going to be down in Key West.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- landfill in St.
- Well, I guess even if they don't have a landfill within their area, they still can participate in mitigation
- in the future?
- needle in sites like that.
- Most of you should have in your hands a letter signed by 21 mayors in the Kansas City region in District
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Mar 31st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- IT INCLUDES AN AUTHORIZATION PRESCHOOL HOPE OPERATING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO CO-LOCATE IN ANY PUBLIC
- CONSEQUENTLY I VOTE AGAINST CLAIMS BILLS IN HOPES THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY CAP WILL BE RAISED IN IN HOPES
- IN SUPPORT FROM FLORIDA CHARTER SCHOOLS ALLIANCE COMMISSIONING GOAL FLORIDA FUTURE IN SUPPORT.
- IN FLORIDA 737,000 CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY AND 95,000 WERE HOMELESS IN 2023.
- WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Covered providers are defined in the bill in relation to their computing power and their revenue.
- And lastly, I will mention that this bill is similar to one that was enacted in 2024 in California, though
- In my professional work with IATSE, I have been put in unsafe situations, but I knew how to stand up
- In the near future, Americans will question why states lagged in the adoption of AI.
- The Supreme Court in Moody v.
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills related to artificial intelligence, student employee bargaining, and online safety. For HB 1170, staff explained that the bill would require certain large generative AI providers to offer provenance detection tools and include latent or optional manifest disclosures in AI-generated audio, image, and video content, with enforcement by the Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill would apply to AI-generated text code, and staff clarified that it would not. Testimony from the Washington Technology Industry Association opposed the bill as written, citing enforcement ambiguity, definition changes, and interoperability concerns, while noting support for continued work on the issue.
For HB 1570, staff described the underlying bill as extending collective bargaining rights under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act to student employees at several state higher education institutions, with a striking amendment narrowing the bill to non-academic student employees at Western Washington University and listing covered job classifications. Staff estimated the original bill’s fiscal impact at about $1.5 million per biennium, reduced to roughly $200,000 per biennium under the striking amendment. Testimony from labor and student representatives supported the narrowed bill, emphasizing student worker safety, organizing support, and the need to move forward after prior union votes.
The committee also heard substitute HB 1833, which would create the Spark Act grant program in the Department of Commerce to support innovative uses of AI, with grants requiring a state benefit and shared technology, and with Commerce consulting the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Staff estimated administrative costs of about $160,000 per year plus grant funding that could bring total annual program costs to roughly $660,000 to $1.6 million. Representative Keaton said an amendment would update dates and incorporate changes. Testimony was generally supportive from industry and retail representatives, who framed the bill as a pro-innovation public-private partnership.
Finally, the committee heard a proposed third substitute for HB 1834, which would prohibit addictive feeds for minor users and restrict push notifications during evening and school hours unless parents consent, while allowing all users to limit feeds and privacy settings. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s Office, Children’s Alliance, and a parent who lost a child to social media harms, argued the bill would protect children and reduce behavioral health costs. Opponents from technology, civil liberties, and industry groups raised constitutional, privacy, and vagueness concerns, warning that age determination could function like age verification and that the bill could restrict access to beneficial content. No votes or executive action were taken; the committee concluded public hearings and announced amendment deadlines for upcoming executive sessions.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- So I am in favor of the original substitute motion. So you're in favor of the substitute motion?
- They had two deaths in 2025.
- , not in May, but in March.
- I know we're in Idaho.
- I know we're in Idaho.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from Monday, March 2, by voice vote. It then considered RS 33585, a resolution on Idaho energy policy that emphasized energy sovereignty, reliable and dispatchable baseload generation, protection of the Snake River Plain Aquifer, and support for hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas generation. Members discussed the phrase “responsibly developed natural gas”; after debate, the committee unanimously adopted an amended substitute that moved “responsibly developed” to modify all listed energy sources and struck the phrase from the natural gas line.
Next, the committee took up RS 33601, which proposed a task force to study sex torsion, its impact on victims, prevention, and response. Representative Boyle objected to the term “task force” because it is not in committee rules, and Representative Green agreed to change it to “interim committee.” The committee then approved the motion to introduce the resolution with that change and send it to second reading.
The committee also considered RS 33587, a proposal to add kratom-related substances to Schedule I. Representative Pohanka cited law enforcement concerns and deaths in his district, while Representative Scott argued kratom is used by some people to get off opioids and urged limiting the bill to synthetic forms. The committee rejected Scott’s substitute amendment 12-1, then approved the original motion to introduce the resolution, with Scott recorded as voting no. Finally, House Bill 638, which would restore Idaho’s presidential primary to March and include a $50,000 ballot-access fee to offset costs, was heard with testimony from Secretary of State Phil McGrane and others; the committee sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Representative Scott voting no. The committee also held RS 3347 subject to the call of the chair and then adjourned.