Video & Transcript : 'captive insurers' :
Page 167 of 500
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Comments from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
- </c> Property uh Casualty Insurance Property uh Casualty Insurance Association,<00:15:36.079><c> support
- Okay, seeing none, we do have written testimony and support from Hawaii Insurers Council, opposition
- </c> from the Hawaii Insurance Council. from the Hawaii Insurance Council. uh<00:21:01.679><c> American
- Property Casualty Insurance uh American Property Casualty Insurance Association<00:21:04.400><c> in<
Committee:
House Labor
Keywords:
military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC/JHA Joint Public Hearing - Thu Feb 13, 2025 @ 10:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- It protects property owners, renters, and insurers and economy from future wildfires, and it protects
- renters and insurers and economy from<00:14:45.519><c> future</c><00:14:45.880><c> wildfires</c><00:
- layer we have to settle the insurance layer we have to settle the finalize<00:24:50.360><c> the</c><
- I think, um, to Representative Lono's point, um, for KI, we would have, you know, insurance.
- </c> benefits to Property Owners insurers benefits to Property Owners insurers renters<00:46:14.640><
Summary:
The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended.
A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions.
Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This is health insurance, if you will, for state employees.
- How do we self-insure in ERS, right? I'm not sure that the term is self-insure.
- They have their own insurance programs that they self-insure.
- And so we need to have all that insured. So that's... ...appraisal.
- And so we need to have all that insured.
Bills:
SB 1
Committee:
Senate Finance
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken.
The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information.
The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- or don't have insurance period.
- or don't have insurance period.
- or don't have insurance period.
- or don't have insurance period.
- or don't have insurance period.
Committee:
House Taxes
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-09 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this is the state group insurance conforming bill that codifies the administrative health insurance
- Members, this is the state group insurance conforming bill that codifies the administrative health insurance
- Members, this is the state group insurance conforming bill that codifies the administrative health insurance
- Am I supposed to get an additional life insurance policy?
- Largely, the malpractice insurance drove her how.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the pledge, quorum call, and several recognitions, including guests for Education and Sharing Day, law enforcement officer of the day Detective Miata Anderson, and later FAMU Day at the Capitol and other visiting groups. The chamber adopted the special order report and then moved through a series of budget-related bills and conforming measures, with debate focused largely on recurring funding, environmental programs, housing, insurance reserves, and tax policy.
Members approved HB 5011/SB 2506, which conform environmental resource funding to the proposed budget by shifting Seminole Gaming Compact-related dollars from recurring to nonrecurring funding; supporters said this preserves annual legislative review, while opponents warned it would reduce funding for the Resilient Florida program, wildlife corridor protection, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. The House then passed HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves by lowering the RAP program and repealing FORA funding, and HB 5501, which redirects documentary stamp tax revenues from housing and transportation trust funds to general revenue; Democrats argued the housing changes would reduce affordable housing support, while Republicans said the move was needed to control recurring spending. The chamber also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, HB 5201 on Florida PALM accounting conforming changes, HB 5203 on Capitol Center tenancy and utilities control, and HB 5009 creating a Florida Accountability Office and revising audit and budgeting functions.
The most extended debate came on HB 7031, which permanently reduces the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lowers several related tax rates. Supporters described it as broad-based, immediate tax relief for Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more targeted and that sales tax cuts also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. The bill passed 112-0. The House then took up the main budget bill, HB 501, and subcommittee chairs outlined the proposed $112.9 billion budget, including education, health care, transportation, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and IT spending. Members began questioning the pre-K-12 budget on school funding, vouchers, proration, mental health and safety allocations, and inflation, with the discussion continuing beyond the excerpt provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They're responsible for insuring their county jails.
- Insurance is the same way.
- We buy all kinds of insurance. of insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, health insurance
- We have had some of the cost increases associated with insurance are associated with... with we build
- a new building so we have to insure that building and so that cost goes up.
Committee:
House Intergovernmental Affairs
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- question that testifies today, but, you know, last week we heard a bill in here that dealt with insurance
- And does this bill in any way have any effect on insurance and how hospitals will charge or insurance
- And that's all negotiated out with the insurance contract.
- So the physicians, really the ones with the medical malpractice insurance that would be on the line,
- A physician's assistant and a hospital wouldn't have malpractice insurance? Should.
Committee:
House General Laws
Summary:
The General Laws Committee met without a quorum and heard House Bill 2749, sponsored by Rep. Davidson. The bill would allow hospital systems, rather than only individual physicians, to sign and maintain collaborative practice agreements for physician assistants in hospital settings. The sponsor said the measure is intended to reduce administrative burden and paperwork without changing scope of practice, supervision requirements, or liability, and noted it has a $0 fiscal note.
Committee members asked about how the bill would work in practice, including what happens when physicians leave a hospital system, whether the collaborating physician relationship would still be meaningful, and whether the bill could affect liability or accountability. Supporters, including a long-time PA with BJC and the Missouri Hospital Association, said large hospital systems already use credentialing and chart-review processes, and that centralizing the paperwork would help hospitals, physicians, and the Board of Healing Arts while freeing physician time for patient care. They emphasized that the bill would not change clinical oversight or reimbursement arrangements.
Opposition came from the Missouri State Medical Association and the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. Their witness argued that collaborative practice agreements are personal physician agreements, not mere paperwork, and warned that shifting them to a hospital-level document could weaken physician accountability and potentially increase liability. The hearing concluded after testimony, with no vote taken.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Up next, we'll hear **HB 271** by Representative Valdez, foreign and alien bail bond insurance.
- Thank you for hearing my **House Bill 271**, foreign and alien bail bond insurers.
- Insurers, Florida domestic insurers must report at least 6.5% of the Bond amount as premium, even though
- Florida domestic insurers also cannot offer rates below 6.5%.
- Alien and foreign insurers or other corporations.
Committee:
House Commerce Committee
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug 29th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So SB 495, insurance data and claims, do pass out on an A roll call.
- SB 371, Cabaldon, TNC insurance coverage, do pass as amended to set the per-person coverage limit at
- SB 291, Grayson, workers' compensation insurance, do pass out on an A roll call.
- do pass with author amendments to specify the bill covers goods and commodities, exempt specified insurers
- SB 525, Jones, manufactured home insurance, do pass out on an A roll call.
Summary:
The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website.
The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held.
The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- It also bars insurers and HMOs from denying claims when such devices are needed to restore or maintain
- Insurance labels them as extras or recreationals.
- And from an ACS-CAN standpoint, we want all people to be insured.
- And from an ACS-CAN standpoint, we want all people to be insured.
- We want as many people to have comprehensive insurance as possible.
Bills:
S0006 , S0026 , S0206 , S0532 , S0576 , S1012 , S1110 , S1178 , S1192 , S1758 , S1760 , S7046 , S7048
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Keywords:
child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met and considered a large agenda of bills, reporting several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and the estate of Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, which was approved for $3.8 million. The committee also passed a cybersecurity internships bill creating a Department of Commerce program with Cyber Florida, and SB 532, which lets clerks of court retain the full amount of certain excess revenue and clarifies foreclosure-sale procedures. Veterans housing measures, CS for CS for SB 1602 and SB 1604, were approved to create a pilot program and a related trust fund for vacancy relief and risk mitigation for veteran housing. The committee also favorably reported SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics, with emotional testimony from a student and family describing the high cost and importance of activity-specific prosthetics.
Members also approved CS for CS for SB 1012 after adopting an amendment that removed inmate emergency and specialty medical service compensation provisions while retaining changes to the contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust fund. Another bill, CS for CS for SB 1614, was narrowed by a delete-all amendment to focus on limiting the use of excess fees for new building construction by local governments. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate, with some support testimony submitted in writing or waived.
The most extensive discussion centered on CS for CS for SB 17, a major Medicaid and public assistance overhaul. The bill would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Oversight, allow the Legislature to retain its own actuary, tighten Medicaid program oversight, update encounter-data reporting, set performance standards for managed care plans, revise pharmacy benefit manager rules, and require DCF to implement SNAP fraud-reduction and payment-accuracy reforms, including photo IDs on EBT cards and updated work requirements. It also would direct agencies to seek federal waivers for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and expanded behavioral health services. After lengthy questioning and testimony, the committee adopted amendments adding a transitional medical benefits glide path for people who gain employment and later lose Medicaid eligibility, and exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, reduce fraud, and save money, while opponents warned it would create administrative burdens, increase paperwork, and cause eligible people to lose coverage or food assistance. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- For people who may not have health insurance. Sure.
- And I don't even feel like telling you the nightmare of not being insured.
- For the people who are not insured, I want to be able to tell them where they can go.
- Unlike Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program is not an entitlement.
- Senate Bill 490 was passed and insured.
Committee:
House Public Health
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- um not not like unemployment insurance um not not obligated<00:02:54.280><c> to</c><00:02:54.480><c>
- Those social insurance programs include things like the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Paid Family
- </c> as the cost to the Social Insurance as the cost to the Social Insurance programs<00:12:11.320><c
- Insurance things like the Unemployment Insurance Fund<00:12:18.720><c> things</c><00:12:19.079><c> like
- Just by way of background, unemployment insurance is a federal-state partnership.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-06-02 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This includes everything from county fuel taxes to various insurance license taxes.
- What's that going to do to our insurance rates?
- We could have and should have addressed it with property insurance, right?
- So as they're shifting it, it's because they cannot or refuse to go after property insurance.
- That being said, we're looking at... property insurance.
Summary:
The House met in special session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber then took up CS/House Joint Resolution 1F, the Governor’s property tax proposal, which would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and restrict county and municipal ad valorem revenue to public safety and certain other uses. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf said the measure would return money to homeowners and give local governments flexibility, while opponents repeatedly argued the ballot language was misleading and that the proposal could create large local revenue shortfalls, shift costs to other taxpayers, and threaten local services and debt obligations.
Members debated a series of amendments aimed at protecting specific programs from the bill’s effects. Rep. Bartleman’s amendment to exempt Children’s Services Councils and Children’s Trusts was defeated 25-74 after supporters said those entities fund child care, mental health, aftercare, and family support, while opponents said local governments could still choose to fund them. Rep. Cross’s amendment to include water management districts in allowable uses of ad valorem taxes was also defeated, despite testimony that the districts are essential for flood control, water supply, Everglades restoration, and drought response. Rep. Eskamani’s amendment to require the Legislature to backfill public safety funding failed 25-71 after debate over whether the proposal could reduce police and fire budgets and response times.
The House then rejected Rep. Woodson’s amendment to require state backfill for senior services, with supporters citing Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day care, and other aging services, and opponents saying the state already funds senior programs. Finally, Rep. Gant’s amendment to protect veteran services was introduced and debated, with members emphasizing housing, mental health, transition assistance, and homelessness concerns for veterans; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that amendment. Throughout the debate, sponsors and supporters of the main resolution maintained that local governments would retain spending discretion and could use other revenue sources, while critics argued the measure lacked clear backfill provisions and could force cuts or tax shifts at the local level.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-05-29 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The clarification of the order in which insurance premium tax credit is, ...the clarification of the
- We still have the market for health insurance.
- People can go and get health insurance at whatever levels they feel they need and can afford.
- , car insurance, all those things.
- But we have surging health care insurance costs.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill.
On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11.
The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, there's questions about an insurance model.
- Uh, I have sent it over to the Insurance Department.
- </c> Uh I have sent it over to the Insurance Uh I have sent it over to the Insurance Department.
- </c> get it back from the Insurance get it back from the Insurance Department.
- Thank you. pool you know um isn't insured while pool you know um isn't insured while it's<00:13:57.480
Committee:
Senate Finance
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Article II Feb 25th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article II
Transcript Highlights:
- The agency has implemented an insurance purchase model to purchase insurance for uninsured Texans living
- with HIV called the Texas Insurance Assistance Program.
- Plus, the Texas Insurance Assistance Program Plus, which is TAP Plus.
- Medication co-payments and co-insurance for about 200 clients.
- many clients have enrolled in the insurance purchasing program?
Committee:
House Appropriations - S/C on Article II
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee May 13th, 2026
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- The analysis notes low cost in the tens of thousands to the Department of Insurance and minor and...
- ...in the tens of thousands to the Department of Insurance and minor and absorbable cost to the Department
- CDI estimates Insurance Fund costs of $11,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 and $23,000 in fiscal year 2027-
- peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platforms by aligning liability with fault while preserving strong insurance
- AB 2361 ensures consumer protection by requiring that minimum insurance coverage always remains available
Committee:
House Appropriations
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Last year, we had Act 651, which was a bill to help employers with a group health insurance coverage.
- What we did is we required insurance companies upon request by a policyholder to provide claims. insurance
- So what we've done is asked for a, to lower, talk to the insurance department.
- they're of quotes, which, of course, saves them a lot of money when they're able to lower health insurance
- It's like, you know, McKee and associates, if you're shopping your insurance and you only got 26 employees
Committee:
All JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Mar 16th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is something private insurance has always covered, but in a couple of instances, in a couple of
- states, there are insurers who are starting to not do that in In a couple of states, there are insurers
- It's private insurers that we are having continue to cover the physical status modifier.
- So why we're making this an emergency is these farmers can collect their insurance once a rule has been
- authority to the Department of Agriculture, make it an emergency, these farmers can collect their insurance
Bills:
SB44 , SB546 , SB1213 , SB1256 , SB1287 , SB1443 , SB1644 , SB1653 , SB1716 , SB1209 , SB1826 , SB1919 , SB1930 , SB1976 , SB2028 , SB2067 , SB2072 , SB2117 , SB710 , SB1477 , SB1405
Keywords:
sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the daily prayer and pledges, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several student and guest groups to the gallery. The chamber also laid over a few agenda items before moving through a long general order calendar of bills, most of them explained briefly by their authors and then advanced without objection to final passage.
Measures passed included SB 44 on extending sales tax exemption treatment to contractors working for certain exempt entities; SB 546 on biometric data and controlled dangerous substance-related changes; SB 1213 on Department of Corrections inmate credit levels; SB 1256 requiring ignition interlock devices for repeat DUI bond situations; SB 1287 on abstractor licensing eligibility; SB 1443 on anesthetist physical status modifiers with an amendment excluding Medicaid plans; SB 1644 adding a reportable disease; SB 1653 joining the occupational therapy licensure compact; SB 1716 updating security breach notification rules and limiting class actions; SB 1826 removing a sunset from the local development and enterprise zone incentive leverage act; SB 1919 increasing the Tourism Development Act cap; SB 1930 on produced water handling and compensation; SB 1976 creating a tiered surety plan for small producers and then being adopted as an emergency; SB 2028 on raw milk advertising and labeling, also passed as an emergency; SB 2067 on financial institutions helping protect vulnerable adults from scams; SB 2072 on deed fraud and title theft; SB 2117 on contaminated grain authority and emergency treatment; SB 710 on teacher pathway pilot flexibility; SB 1477 restricting concurrent enrollment to traditional high school students and passed as an emergency; and SB 1405 reauthorizing the wildlife diversity income tax checkoff.
The only bill to draw notable floor debate was SB 1209, which was reconsidered after initially failing, sent back to general order, and then passed 26-18. Supporters said it would reduce delays in eviction proceedings by excluding Sundays and holidays from summons timing, while opponents argued it would mainly help tenants who are already behind and burden small landlords. Senator Pugh later noted a personal-interest abstention on that vote. Several other bills passed with recorded votes ranging from narrow to unanimous, and some were designated emergency measures after final passage.
The Senate concluded with announcements about upcoming events, including a reception, a visit from the Christian Employer Association, and the Bible reading marathon, and then adjourned until Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the APRN to submit to, in this case, the department, but it could be to your provider or to your insurance
- And the physician would need to go to the insurance provider to say, this is what I'm proposing to do
- , then the insurance provider reviews that.
- is not the outcome that we're looking for, even for this population that is not paying for their insurance
- to just say, or stakeholders and both on the provider side of the aisle and we also talked to the insurance
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from February 12, 16, and 17, 2026. It then heard House Bill 593, a Department of Environmental Quality cleanup bill tied to the DOGE Task Force review. Senator Semmelroth explained that the bill removes obsolete references and repeals outdated provisions related to the state hazardous waste management planning committee and the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Act council. After brief support from a Republic Services representative and DEQ’s hazardous waste bureau chief, the committee voted to send HB 593 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Next, the committee heard House Bill 714, which repeals the Hazardous Waste Siting Act and consolidates hazardous waste siting provisions into the Hazardous Waste Management Act. Senator Burkey said the bill streamlines Idaho’s hazardous waste laws while preserving safety, public notice, hearings, and expert review. Republic Services and DEQ testified in support, describing the measure as protective, efficient, and the product of stakeholder review. The committee then voted to send HB 714 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
The committee also considered House Bill 788, a pilot program intended to reduce Medicaid prior authorization burdens for certain medical professionals who precept medical students in high-need specialties. Representative Wheeler said the goal is to increase preceptorships by giving eligible providers a temporary “gold card” exemption, and he asked for a sunset date of July 1, 2030. The Idaho Freedom Foundation testified in opposition, arguing prior authorization is a cost-control tool and that the bill could raise Medicaid costs. The committee voted to send HB 788 to amending orders, with several senators recorded as no.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 724, which would establish foster child safety rights, require written notice of those rights, and direct courts and the Department of Health and Welfare to consider safety in placement and visitation decisions. Representative Wheeler said the bill responds to concerns from foster parents and aims to ensure children in state custody have clear protections. Multiple foster parents, a child psychologist, and a former foster youth testified in support, describing serious safety failures and arguing that children need clearer rights and more complete information before reunification or placement decisions. The committee voted to send HB 724 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.