Transcript Highlights:

• Just last fall, the NEA used these funds to help unseat a conservative member of the West City School
• Just last fall, the NEA used these funds to help unseat a conservative member of Just last fall, the
• N.A. use these funds to help unseat a conservative member of the West City School Board.
• office, and there's a lot of computerized programs that our districts use.
• , and there's a lot of computerized programs that our districts use.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 17 and introduced a new page. It then took up Senate Bill 1261, which would add the word “appointed” to code so that an appointed officeholder is treated the same as an elected one after a resignation and appointment. There was no opposition, and the committee voted to send SB 1261 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The main item was House Bill 745, a proposal by Rep. Judy Boyle to bar school districts from using public funds or payroll systems for certain union-related activities. Boyle said the bill would stop districts from paying union dues, increasing compensation to cover dues, providing paid leave for union work, sharing extra personal information with unions, or distributing union communications, while exempting police and firefighter unions and preserving collective bargaining. Committee members pressed her on why teachers were singled out, how the bill fit with existing law, and whether the claimed $1.2 million fiscal impact was consistent with the fiscal note. Boyle said the bill was aimed at keeping taxpayer money in classrooms and that some districts already use public funds for union-related costs. Public testimony on HB 745 was split. Supporters, including representatives of the Freedom Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, the National Right to Work Committee, parents, taxpayers, and several teachers or school employees, argued that payroll deductions, paid release time, and district support for union activities improperly subsidize private political organizations and should be paid for by unions themselves. Opponents, including the Idaho Education Association, the AFL-CIO, a superintendent, and an educator, argued the bill is aimed at teachers’ unions, is not neutral because it excludes police and fire, could interfere with local community events and school partnerships, and may create legal and administrative problems. No final vote on HB 745 was taken in the portion provided; testimony continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state's future and our students' futures need and deserve more. Thank you.
• Our state's future and our students' futures need and deserve more. Thank you. Thank you.
• Our state's future and our students future. The Senate's budget proposal gives them less.
• Our state's future and our students' futures need and deserve more. Thank you. Thank you.
• Wildfire Resilience Program.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be there to pay COLAs in the future.
• I think that's likely conservative in a sense.
• We are more conservative here.
• They are collecting money to put into that funding deposit account for future COLA funding and for future
• We believe we were conservative in the way we said it.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on February 23, 2026, approved the December 18, 2025 minutes, and heard no public comment. The committee then reviewed actuarial valuation reports and, for most systems, accompanying experience studies. The actuaries reported generally favorable investment and demographic experience across the systems, with funded ratios improving and employer contribution rates declining in several plans. They also explained the role of funding deposit accounts, frozen unfunded liabilities in some plans, and how recent legislative changes, especially the move to five-year DROP periods in some systems, affected assumptions and costs. For the Louisiana Clerk of Court Retirement Relief Fund, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum recommended employer rate of 14.75%. For the District Attorney’s Retirement System, it adopted the valuation and experience study and recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 3.00%. For the Firefighters’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 25.5%, and noted that DROP balances left on deposit will earn the market rate of return of 11.7%. The committee also adopted the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System valuation for both Plan A and Plan B, recognizing fiscal 2027 minimum rates of 20.75% and 8.75%, respectively. It adopted the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 26.5%, a DROP crediting rate of 7.4%, and a policy range up to 29.35% for future contributions. For the Registrars of Voters Employees’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 0%, and noted a $207,683 allocation to the Member Supplemental Savings Fund for fiscal 2026. Finally, it adopted the Sheriff’s Pension and Relief Fund valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 7.75%. All motions passed without objection, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are already many reusable devices that could be used for tobacco cessation programs.
• We've been struggling with how we could do an EPR program for this.
• But there's an existing embedded battery program as well.
• AB 1704 does not suspend the embodied carbon program.
• It could delay the program for at least five years before it's even begun.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• neighborhood, providing free art programming and creative opportunities for young people.
• The unique feature of this location is that the arts are central to their programming.
• And the next slide: Creative Aging and Creative Futures.
• The model is open to a diversity of arts disciplines, but the programming has to be sequential.
• We're thinking about funding and thinking about connecting and creating effective programming.

Keywords: Virginia Commission for the Arts Board Meeting, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:15.920><c> of</c> are continuing our current program of are continuing our current program
• The Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence program was a pilot program with all three partners.
• That's my future. Yeah.
• That's my future. That's my district. That's my future. Yeah.<00:40:01.760><c> Yeah.
• </c> egg water quality certification program. egg water quality certification program.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This person is already enrolled in an ACT program.
• I think it's an important program.
• SB 437 delays that work, and in so doing, it slows to a halt future reparations policies.
• These young people are future engineers, educators, doctors, and entrepreneurs.
• Megan Cleland, with The Nature Conservancy, in support.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote. The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 199 may be used for the administration of the local DWI grant program.
• We chose to spend money in other programs instead of in road safety and in roads, Mr.
• I know they have a federal accelerator program now.
• program in the RAID Act and fostering a more circular economy.
• Programs that we're seeking to implement, and are we trying to mirror other states with these?

Transcript Highlights:

• resolution stating findings of the legislature and supporting consolidation of the Soil and Water Conservation
• resolution stating findings of the legislature and supporting consolidation of the Soil and Water Conservation
• our mineral resources are still certainly very applicable, but it is critically important to our future
• of our mineral resources are still certainly very applicable, but it's critically important to our future
• Fellow Senators, I'd like to introduce the Idaho State University Nurse Anesthesia Program and the Idaho

Summary: The Senate convened with 31 members present, establishing a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The journal was approved as corrected, and the chamber moved through routine orders, including referral of Senate Concurrent Resolution 115, which supports consolidating the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into the Department of Water Resources, to Judiciary and Rules for printing. Committee reports also advanced Senate Bills 1222 and 1225, and House Bills 491 and 492 were received from the House and referred for introduction. The Senate then considered several gubernatorial appointments. By voice vote, it adopted committee reports confirming Scott Smith to the Commission of Pardons and Paroles, Megan Ronk to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights, Salvador Cruz to the Treasurer’s Investment Advisory Board, Dylan Hobson to the Commission of Pardons and Paroles, and Cynthia Fairfax to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board. Senators speaking in support emphasized each nominee’s professional experience and qualifications, particularly in corrections, finance, human rights, and health care. The chamber also adopted Senate Joint Memorial 107, which urges support for the permitting process for reopening the Delamar Mine in Owyhee County. Supporters highlighted the mine’s potential economic benefits, including jobs and tax revenue, and argued for a timely federal permitting process. During first reading, Senate Bills 1232, 1233, and 1234 were introduced and referred to Judiciary and Rules, along with House Bills 491 and 492. The Senate then moved to miscellaneous business, heard announcements, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is one of those programs that was a sleeper program when it was created 20-something years ago
• That legislation, one, it funded $10 million into the program, so it made the program more viable.
• : the Behavioral Health Care Program and the Primary Care Facilities Program.
• programs.
• program managers.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And it moves future regulation of lead in cookware into the Safer Products program.
• The program Commerce administers the low-income residential weatherization program.
• prevent future harm.
• and prevent future harm.
• scale up the program.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• oil produced, and we have tens of thousands of wells and billions of barrels of oil to go into the future
• What is the future of Continental in this basin?
• Essentially, the dot, dot, dot, or the subtext to that is, what is the future for my family?
• So that same 11 billion barrels of future recovery, or ultimate recovery across 200 billion barrels,
• I don't believe that's going to be the case in the future.

Committee: House Finance and Taxation

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met to consider Senate Bill 2397 and a proposed amendment creating a development incentive well program for North Dakota oil and gas production. Representative Dockter explained the amendment as a way to encourage exploratory and innovative drilling in light of the state’s financial outlook and the growing share of stripper wells. Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson and DMR geologist Timothy Nashim presented background on the Bakken and Three Forks formations, with Nashim describing research showing that Middle Three Forks second-bench development can add reserves in some areas but not others, and that roughly 600 additional wells in the strongest area could yield about 250 million barrels of oil. Continental Resources representatives William Houser and John Argo supported the amendment. They said the bill would give a temporary oil extraction tax exemption for certified development incentive wells, limited to 36 months or 300,000 barrels, and would also update tax treatment for gas used in enhanced oil recovery and on-site electric generation. They argued the measure would encourage new technology and testing in existing spacing units, complementing House Bill 1483, which they said focused on geographic expansion into non-Bakken and non-Three Forks areas. Argo said Continental still invests heavily in North Dakota but is shifting rigs elsewhere because of economics, and he urged incentives to spur exploration and preserve the basin’s long-term future. North Dakota Petroleum Council executive director Ron Ness also supported the concept, calling it a targeted, low-risk way to encourage innovation and future barrels. Committee members asked about royalty treatment, the difference from House Bill 1483, pressure maintenance, and how the program would be administered. DMR said the amendment should clarify that the operator bears the burden of proving a well qualifies and that only one incentive well per stratigraphic interval should be certified. No vote was taken; the committee paused to work on revised language and indicated the bill would likely need further adjustment, possibly in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the future that keeps Florida.
• And you should have your local governments with a matching program, with their own programs, by the way
• We have to conserve land.
• And by that program, and we're very proud of that program of the way it works, and we're very proud in
• I'm a huge fan of that program.

Summary: The committee received an overview from Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including staffing, licensing, forestry, law enforcement, and consumer services. He emphasized agriculture as a major economic driver and a national security issue, arguing that Florida should protect farmland, aquifer recharge areas, and the wildlife corridor through the Rural and Family Lands program. He said the program is cost-effective because the state buys development rights rather than land outright, keeps land on local tax rolls, and helps preserve farmland in perpetuity. He also highlighted the Fresh From Florida marketing program, increased social media reach, and the department’s efforts to reduce vacancies and improve pay and efficiency. Members asked about nutrient management, citrus disease, housing, disaster recovery, wildfire prevention, interdiction stations, and concealed carry permitting. Simpson said SB 1000 and updated best management practice manuals, informed by University of Florida research, are helping agriculture use less water and fertilizer, and he described citrus greening as having devastated the industry while noting research, replanting programs, and CUPS as possible paths to recovery. On housing, he argued that allowing H-2A farmworker housing on farms would ease pressure on the broader housing market, and on disasters he described a zero-interest loan program for farmers affected by hurricanes and other events. He also detailed wildfire preparedness improvements, including upgraded helicopters, dozers, drones, and prescribed burns. The commissioner said ag interdiction stations are catching stolen semis, drugs, human trafficking, and other illegal activity, and that the department wants more technology, including X-ray scanning, to inspect more trucks. He also discussed concealed carry administration, saying the department cleared a large backlog and that constitutional carry reduced but did not eliminate permit demand because permits still provide reciprocity and other benefits. Members generally praised the department’s work, expressed support for rural land protection, Fresh From Florida, water-quality improvements, and foreign-interference concerns, and the meeting ended with no formal votes or other committee action beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's get... comprehensive substance use... no, let's go family support and consumer support programs
• so what I'm as I'm reading that Program so what I'm as I'm reading that I<00:25:58.480><c> want</c><
• The proposal requires that, for new licensed residential programs, the commissioner of Human Services
• /c> mile of any existing residential program mile of any existing residential program program<00:45:57.839
• And, you know, we did have a conversation earlier about requiring a guardian or conservator.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 1229, halfway scholarship program. 1229, halfway scholarship program.
• </c> future that is brighter. future that is brighter.
• </c> will not have in the future. will not have in the future.
• and cheat the future.
• </c> helps strengthen our programs. helps strengthen our programs.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is additional need for baseload energy into the future that also complies with carbon-free law
• There is additional need for baseload energy into the future that also complies with carbon-free law
• There is additional need for baseload energy into the future that also complies with carbon-free law
• As I said, the plans look out 15 years in the future, but they're repeated every two years.
• So I think my best answer to your question is we would like, in the discussion of any future nuclear,

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She has been in Hidalgo County for six years overseeing the program.
• That's a program I think most of us love.
• She has been a part of the 4-H program for 10 years.
• Speaker, these are very accomplished students who have bright futures ahead of them.
• Speaker, do you know what the largest youth development program in the world? 4-H. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program and community resource. program and community resource.
• </c> power of the fund for future power of the fund for future generations. generations. generations.
• </c> even maybe being a bit more conservative even maybe being a bit more conservative on<01:41:04.640
• </c> statute, maybe we can look in the future statute, maybe we can look in the future that<01:41:52.400
• </c> the future. Thank you. the future. Thank you.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The lead agency... ...program in two regions.
• Then we ended up with an additional couple of programs: Golden State Pathways, the Strong Workforce Program
• , CTE, and the Innovation Grant Program.
• program.
• Senate Youth Program.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would give colleges flexibility similar to K-12, UC, and CSU and help avoid delays and costly change orders. Contractors and electrical subcontractors opposed the bill, saying its skilled-and-trained workforce requirement and safety provisions would narrow competition and disadvantage small and nonunion firms. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass vote and was placed on call. SB 1347 would clarify that stock albuterol may be stocked in all public schools, including preschool programs. The author and a physician testified that the bill would remove confusion in existing law and improve access to emergency asthma medication for students. School nurses, respiratory care advocates, and small school districts supported the measure, and there was no opposition. The bill passed unanimously on a due-pass to the floor vote and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program to designate a lead county office to help regions struggling with career technical education implementation. Supporters said many students remain disconnected from school and work and that the bill would spread proven regional CTE practices. Some committee members questioned whether another pilot was needed, arguing existing CTE programs need more funding and fewer new structures, while the author and sponsor said the bill would build regional capacity and share successful models. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1378 would create a California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program to recognize schools and districts with strong service-learning programs. Supporters said it would validate existing work and encourage civic engagement, while one member raised concerns about adding more designations and workload for schools. The bill passed as amended to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students demonstrating climate science knowledge through coursework and hands-on learning. Supporters, including the Department of Education and climate education groups, said it would align students with growing clean-energy careers; some members cautioned against adding more curriculum-related seals and noted equity and implementation concerns. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, was presented. It would require CSU, community colleges, independent colleges, and request UC to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights, and to limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters said recent federal investigations and subpoenas have created fear and a lack of transparency on campuses. Committee discussion focused on subpoena authority, constitutional limits, and whether notice should be required; one member said she would abstain because of legal concerns, while another said the bill would continue to be examined in the next committee. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1101 before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill aligns two key state programs more closely with the SCS.
• Matthew Baker with Planning Conservation.
• There's ways to cure it, and I think this is a good program.
• We've been supporters of the smog check program.
• program.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 987, senate, all