Transcript Highlights:

• Contractors are prevented from being able to mobilize on site.
• The procurement of materials takes... ...being able to mobilize on site.
• And then it said, of course, there would need to be funding if those were going to be updated.
• And then finally, just a little bit about the process to build and fund schools.
• Those funds cannot be used to purchase school sites.

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• change through nonpartisan policy engagement that expands access to high-quality jobs, economic mobility
• and reduce ...of using better cross-system data and policy alignment to improve economic mobility and
• tying them to inflation, and reinvesting the penalty revenue into the state Public Works Enforcement Fund
• toward this critical work. ...help continuously reinvest funds toward this critical work.
• now is a growing gap between what the law requires and what is actually taking place on taxpayer-funded

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• However, for the City of Houston and for other cities across Texas.
• That's what the Monahans Broadband Project has sought funding for.
• Okay, rather than testifying, Todd Baxter with the Texas Cable Association is against the bill.
• Todd Baxter representing the Texas Cable Association.
• It would still be eligible for funding. And so that, you know, obviously is a great concern.

Bills: HB2838 , HB2964 , HB3213 , SB924

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• those funds are being threatened.
• those funds are being threatened.
• That 4.85% that's going to fund... Check it.
• That 4.85% that's going to fund the fortified roofs, it funds the firemen that's coming in, that y'all
• Does it only go to fund the Fortified Roof Program?

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Yeah. >> The majority of it's uh construction funding.
• Birmingham, Mobile, and Montgomery.
• The funds are self-generated department funds. >> Are there any questions, bottom page 12?
• The federal government would not replace those funds.
• We had placed it under state funds, and it should have been under federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is doing this in a neighboring state. So this is basically just ballot language.
• to the Veterans Service Grant Fund for use as provided by law.
• One would be set up a reserve fund that just puts... ...could be done, okay?
• One would be set up a reserve fund that just puts a certain amount into a reserve fund, a savings, okay
• HB 603 provides relative to the authorized uses of public funds.

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The Civil Law Committee met on May 5, 2026, and first considered House Bill 165 by Representative Abear, a constitutional amendment to dedicate $500,000 annually from lottery proceeds to a veterans service grant fund. The committee adopted a technical amendment removing “up to,” approved the 6.8A report, and reported the bill with amendments without objection. The committee then heard Senate Bill 185 by Senator Presley, which would make nondisclosure agreements in civil settlements involving child sexual abuse victims against public policy and unenforceable. Senator Presley and Elizabeth Phillips testified in support, describing the bill as part of the “Trey’s Law” movement to prevent survivors from being silenced. Additional supportive testimony came from Gillian Edwards Coburn, and committee members discussed how NDAs work in civil cases and the need to protect children’s ability to speak. The bill was reported favorably without objection. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 77 by Senator Miller, a Law Institute measure on the effects of leases of movable property. Testimony explained that the bill is intended to protect good-faith lessees of items such as heavy equipment when a merchant leasing the property lacks authority to do so. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard Senate Bill 140 by Senator Miller, which clarifies that multiple successions may be handled in the same proceeding when jurisdiction is proper. Members discussed the cost and efficiency benefits for families, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 603 by Representative Wright, a constitutional amendment authorizing state investment in digital assets and precious metals. Members questioned whether the language could include Bitcoin and how such investments would be monitored, with the sponsor saying implementation would be handled later by statute and public officials. The committee adopted the 6.8A report and then voted 5-3 to report the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resource sharing and education, funding flexibility, and peer support services.
• Are you looking toward requesting more funding in the future?
• Are you looking toward requesting more funding in the future?
• So is that going to be something where you might foresee needing more funding?
• Also, will you be using some of that funding for outreach?

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive an update from the Florida Department of Children and Families on implementation of House Bill 7021, which revised the Baker Act and Marchman Act and was funded with a $50 million appropriation. Deputy Assistant Secretary Bill Hardin reported that the department has updated reference guides, training, administrative rules, and forms; launched regional behavioral health collaboratives; and created the Office of Children’s Behavioral Health Ombudsman. He said early data show continued declines in Baker Act use, high diversion rates from involuntary examinations through 988, mobile response teams, and care coordination, along with generally positive provider feedback on changes such as allowing psychiatric nurses to initiate emergency treatment orders and clarifying the 72-hour examination period. Hardin also described Marchman Act changes, including a streamlined petition process, remote testimony, improved discharge planning, and a new annual data report. He said the department has completed or is completing multiple training courses for providers and law enforcement, and has adopted or is finalizing numerous rules and forms. He reported that the regional collaboratives are identifying common statewide needs such as service capacity, resource sharing, funding flexibility, and peer support, while the ombudsman office is handling complaints and helping families navigate services. Members asked about whether the current funding is sufficient, future budget needs, outreach for the new ombudsman office, and services for juveniles. Hardin said DCF has posted legislative budget requests for additional forensic FACT services and short-term residential treatment beds, including children’s beds, and noted the ombudsman office is staffed with two FTEs and supported through existing complaint-management and regional systems. He said outreach is being done through regional collaboratives and coordination with other agencies, especially the Department of Education, and that juvenile transport and placement issues have improved with the new law. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of general fund.
• out of general fund.
• Fund.
• or other funds for that instead of general fund dollars.
• So no state funds to be used. General fund dollars. So no state funds to be used.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem. A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote. The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency. In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office in Conroe, Texas.
• Although mail fraud is often considered a federal issue, Texas...
• Decker, you're registered as Kate Decker from the Texas Bankers Association? Yes.
• No, just the Texas Bankers Association. Are you testifying for or against House Bill 4414?
• Fish and Wildlife, USDA, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and other organizations to save species.

Transcript Highlights:

• These aren't mobile homes.
• These aren't mobile homes. down payment. These aren't mobile homes.
• to access funding resources to really diversify funding.
• $2 million in that fund.
• $2 million in that fund.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• a student's unmet need, which will cost $513 million General Fund and is the scholarship-based funding
• million ongoing General Fund.
• The current funding formula for our student financial aid administration funds is outdated.
• These funds support ESL classes.
• These funds support ESL classes.

Transcript Highlights:

• President has not had said thank you for those funds. Please see me after the meeting.
• In addition to funding for systemized strategic initiatives, annualized funding is requested for legislatively
• investment and the expansion of the new Texas Promise, which is keeping more and more students in Texas
• You mentioned that there is some effort to modernize the funding formula.
• to Oklahoma than Oklahoma to Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Self of Texas. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Texas, Mr.
• </c> Texas seek recognition? Texas seek recognition? &gt;&gt; Uh,<00:27:08.320><c> Mr.
• Self of Texas. offered by Mr. Self of Texas.
• </c> gentleman from Texas. gentleman from Texas. &gt;&gt; Uh,<00:27:31.039><c> Mr.
• Gentleman from Texas. Texas. Texas.

Bills: HCR89 , HB1722 , HB7283 , HB8205 , HB7008 , HB8800

Keywords: Iran, war powers, War Powers Resolution, hostilities, military force, Congressional authorization, declaration of war, AUMF, foreign policy, national security, self-defense, U.S. Armed Forces, Middle East, executive war powers, troop withdrawal, intelligence sharing, counterintelligence, diplomatic facilities, regional security, anti-war resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• We are actually at $48,000 and $10 in that fund. That is separate.
• And then actually I forgot about one more detail in the very back for that foundation fund.
• Those are those 18-wheeler mobile museums.
• Those are those 18-wheeler mobile museums.
• There are six of those that are traveling across the country. 18-wheeler mobile museums.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the July 2026 minutes, and received a financial update on America 250-related funds and expenditures. Staff reported that the Community Foundation fundraising account had reached $48,000.10, reviewed completed projects and those with remaining balances, and noted that some items, including America 250 promotion costs and the Idaho Centennial Spur Ride, had not yet had charges posted. Members discussed whether certain funds were still needed for upcoming activities, including the Veterans Mustang Ride and the Liberty Bell tour. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an update on recent service and outreach efforts, including the Veterans Mustang Boise Ride, which had been completed, and reported that the statewide service tally had reached 48,448,713 acts of service. She also outlined plans for the Liberty Bell statewide tour, which is scheduled to begin September 2 in Boise and continue through the state, including county seats, fairs, and the Veterans Day Parade, with an official return ceremony planned for November 19. Committee members asked for the detailed route and were told it would be shared after final edits; security, risk management, lodging, and transportation arrangements were also discussed. Director Gallimore and Hannah Lory Hine provided broader updates on Idaho and national America 250 activities. They highlighted ongoing community celebrations, the Move 250 partnership, 9/11 educational and service projects, the America Commemorative Flag Project, oral history efforts, and the statewide website as a hub for events. Hine also summarized federal America 250 initiatives, including the American Field Trip student contest, America Gives volunteer hours, 9/11 Day meal-packing plans, innovation and startup programs, the state dish vote, Freedom Trucks, and other national activations. Dr. Andrew Finstewan then presented the Reading the Republic project, an open-access civics and American thought curriculum for Idaho higher education institutions, available online and in person through the State Board of Education’s Next 250 initiative. The committee ended by tentatively scheduling its next meeting for October 15 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are transfers between either the general fund or other state funds into a designated fund.
• Fund?
• On line 168, the executive and OFC recommended some funds for operational costs for the Mobile Veteran
• General fund into that fund. Yes.
• an NMFA fund. ...of the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving Fund is that it is an NMFA fund.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• On this bill, this does not include the revolving loan fund. I support a revolving loan fund.
• We hold the purse, in a sense, and even things we fund can be changed by jail operations.
• So what happens if funding is provided one year and then goes away?
• But we also take it very seriously that we have to make good use of taxpayer funds.
• in our Carl Moyer program right now, which is where we fund our lawn and garden program out of.

Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, coastal, and infrastructure bills. AB 306 would create a statewide appeal and code-interpretation process for building code issues at the California Building Standards Commission; supporters said it would reduce inconsistent local interpretations and speed housing delivery, while no opposition testified, and it was moved on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 956 would clarify ADU law to allow up to two detached ADUs on a property and address ADUs in HOAs/common interest developments; supporters framed it as a flexibility and housing-supply measure, while local government and county groups raised concerns about ministerial approval, parking, density, and impacts on neighborhood character. After committee questions, the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote, with the bill remaining on call. Members also considered AB 1751, which would create a ministerial approval path for qualifying townhome projects and allow local inclusionary ordinances for larger projects. Supporters said it would expand attainable homeownership and help produce missing-middle housing, while cities and counties objected to reduced density, by-right approval, and potential housing-element net-loss issues. The bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and remained on call. AB 912, which would revise the governance structure of the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District board, drew unanimous support from the district, city, and county; it passed 3-0 to Appropriations and remained on call. AB 1710, aimed at preserving housing project entitlements from later regulatory changes, also advanced on a 4-0 do-pass-as-amended vote after opponents said they were awaiting the committee amendments. The committee also heard AB 2080, which would make county treasurer investment authority delegations ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal; supporters said it would reduce technical noncompliance and administrative burden without reducing oversight, and it was moved to the Senate Floor. AB 1740, a coastal bill for Santa Monica, would set timelines and reporting for a local coastal program and create an expedited Coastal Commission process for bike, transit, and pedestrian projects; supporters said it reflected a negotiated path forward with the city and commission, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2181, backed by Unite Here, would limit use of hypothetical density bonus value in hotel and motel appraisals; supporters said it would protect hospitality jobs from speculative lease-rent increases, and it was moved to the Senate Floor on a 4-0 vote. Finally, AB 2469 on data centers and water use drew the most extended debate. The bill would require water supply and water use assessments before approval, and shift infrastructure costs to project proponents; supporters said it would improve transparency, protect ratepayers, and ensure local governments have information before approving water-intensive facilities. Opponents, including business, city, county, and tech groups, argued existing law already covers water assessments and fees, warned the bill could create a separate permitting regime, and raised concerns about privacy, security, and investment impacts. The committee had not yet taken final action on AB 2469 when the transcript ended, and members were still asking technical questions about data center cooling and water reuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• state-funded program that has around $138 million per year that funds adoption accounts, infrastructure
• from broadband is now general fund.
• to general fund.
• When we talk about the federal funding, a few years ago about some funding was swapped out.
• ARPA, and then we had general fund.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• So Aaliyah won't lose that funding. It's just this is an AI that funding.
• Thank you for the the funding. I agree. Thank you for the the funding. I agree.
• Mobile Represent Clark.
• went into that fund.
• Chair recognizes a gentleman from Mobile Pro Timing. Mobile Pro Timing. Mobile Pro Timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• from the Statewide Affordable Housing Fund.
• from the Statewide Affordable funding from the Statewide Affordable Housing<00:56:11.360><c> Fund.
• . fund. fund.
• </c> into how those funds are used. into how those funds are used.
• Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, all Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, all right-to-work<02:48:44.280

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 343 requires recipients of funding from the DHCD Strategic Demolition Fund or the Baltimore
• House Bill 343 requires recipients of funding from the DHCD Strategic Demolition Fund or the Baltimore
• Program funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Mr.
• Requires REGGIE funds to be year.
• </c> One of the things that's funded is MEA. One of the things that's funded is MEA.