Transcript Highlights:

• Second, safety and reliability standards are essential.
• We're doing everything we can on our end to standardize the process.
• We're doing everything we can on our side to standardize the process.
• We need some standardization here, but if we can't even define what the hell we're standardizing, I'm
• But it's not standardized.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard Chair Bliss present HF 13, a bill to change Minnesota self-defense law so that a person using reasonable force in resisting an offense against the person would not be required to consider retreat. Bliss tied the proposal to a recent Minnesota Supreme Court case involving a man at a light rail station and argued the court had effectively created a duty to retreat that the legislature had never enacted. He said the bill would codify the right to stand one’s ground while still leaving reasonableness to judges and juries. Supporters Bryan Gosh of the NRA and Rob Door of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus testified that Minnesota’s duty-to-retreat rules are confusing, judicially created, and out of step with other states. They argued the bill would clarify self-defense law and protect people who defend themselves or others, citing examples from other states and a Texas church shooting to argue that a retreat requirement can endanger victims and bystanders. Opponents Maggie Emery of Protect Minnesota, Sarah Erickson of Giffords, and Don Einwalter of Moms Demand Action argued the bill would function as a “shoot-first” law, increase homicides, worsen racial disparities, and make communities and law enforcement less safe. They cited studies linking stand-your-ground laws to higher homicide rates and pointed to incidents in Florida and Minnesota involving firearms and children. The committee also took up two amendments. Representative Hollins offered an amendment on safe and secure firearm storage, saying it was intended to reduce child access to guns and suicides; she requested a roll call. Chair Bliss opposed it, saying current law already covers negligent storage and that the amendment was too broad, including for a rural constituent who keeps a shotgun by his door. Representative Hudson and Representative Pinto argued over whether current law is sufficient and whether the amendment would remove needed flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of the amendments, with no final vote or disposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We started screening patients for pain and having a standard form that the hospital used.
• Now, the changes to the substitute from last week are to beef up the standards.
• Really, it's the labeling standards and the safety standards for these products that are what we call
• So... meet these stricter safety standards.
• Specific limit on how many milligrams of THC, but there really isn't a standard there.

Bills: SB191, HB84, HB79, SB132, HB108, HB109, HB110, HB114, HB118, HB120, HB122, HB124, HB126, HB128, HB129, HB131

Keywords: postpartum depression, mental health, Medicaid, screening, education, maternal health, Chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, license renewal, continuing education, election procedures, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, SB132, Alabama, controlled substances, Schedule I

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Chapman, Director for Law Enforcement Standards and Training for the State of Arkansas.
• The accountability portion... ...of law enforcement standards for the State of Arkansas should be very
• on Law Enforcement Standards and Training that you can be removed, have your certification pulled.
• It's the commissioners of the Law Enforcement Standards and Training. It's that group...
• It's not standard practice, but again, it's based on the severity of the action, sir.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And third, the standards for determining eligibility for benefits from the fund are not well defined
• It adds a clear definition for standards of eligibility for the fund.
• . ...incentivizing agricultural employers to comply with heat illness prevention standards.
• Every employer should comply with the state's basic outdoor heat standards. They work.
• Is it the Cal/OSHA Standards Board? Is it the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board?

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Insurance met as a subcommittee and heard several bills related to workers’ compensation, insurance access, climate resilience, and farmworker protections. AB 815 would prevent social service workers who use personal vehicles to transport clients from being misclassified as commercial or for-hire drivers under personal auto policies; supporters said the current practice leads to unaffordable premiums and denied claims, while no opposition testified. AB 1329 would revise the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund to reduce litigation and medical-legal costs and lower employer assessments; insurers and business groups opposed unless amended, citing concerns about eligibility standards and the QME process, but the bill advanced after amendments were discussed. AB 1048 would allow disputed unauthorized payment reductions for medical providers to be reviewed through independent bill review; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while opposition argued IBR is the wrong forum and existing contract dispute processes should control, though the bill also passed. AB 1236 would create a Department of Insurance grant program for climate and sustainability risk-reduction projects, with broad support from the department, environmental groups, and insurers, and it passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 1336, the Farmworker Heat Illness Prevention Act, which would create a rebuttable presumption that a heat-related injury arose out of employment when an agricultural employer fails to comply with heat illness prevention standards. Supporters, including United Farm Workers, argued the bill would help protect farmworkers amid extreme heat and enforcement gaps; opponents from the workers’ compensation and agricultural sectors said the measure improperly uses the compensation system to enforce OSHA rules and could create unclear adjudication and delay issues. Members discussed Cal/OSHA enforcement limits, undocumented workers’ reluctance to report violations, and the relationship between the bill and existing workers’ compensation procedures. Despite opposition, AB 1336 passed on a divided vote. The committee also took up a consent calendar including AB 1125, AB 1293, and AB 1398, which were approved together. Roll calls were held open and later completed, and the bills that advanced were sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after final votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:21.280><c> Board</c> requirements of the Standards Board requirements of the Standards Board
• So, regarding the use of practice as a standardized test in many states, is there a standard cutoff score
• </c> the use of practice as a standardized the use of practice as a standardized test<01:07:24.359><c
• </c> test in many states is there a standard test in many states is there a standard cut<01:07:26.640
• I have questions for the Standards Board and also the DLE. Mr.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We seek to standardize the delivery of emergency medical care by ensuring that a physician is on duty
• The standardization is not quite as heavy.
• That is not an aspirational standard. It's a pretty basic one.
• Rural Missourians deserve that same standard of care.
• of care or to compromise on safety standards.

Summary: The committee first completed action on House Bill 3009, adopting an amendment, rolling the bill into a House Committee Substitute, and then voting do pass on the substitute by a 20-0 roll call vote. The meeting then moved into public hearing on House Bill 1963, which would reduce from five years to three years the amount of licensed practice required before certain social workers may supervise others. Representative Tara Peters said the change would help address Missouri’s behavioral health workforce shortage, especially in rural areas, and testimony from the National Association of Social Workers and Burrell Behavioral Health supported the bill as a way to remove a bottleneck without changing education or supervision-hour requirements. There was no opposition testimony on HB 1963. The committee then heard House Bill 2557, which would require a physician to be physically present in an emergency department during all hours of operation. Representative George Hruza argued the bill would improve patient safety and standardize emergency care, while noting possible telehealth accommodations for low-volume critical access hospitals. Supporters, including physicians and medical associations, said patients expect physician-led emergency care and that physician presence is the gold standard. Opponents, led by the Missouri Hospital Association and several rural hospital administrators, argued the mandate is not realistic given physician shortages, could force rural ER closures, and would reduce access to care; they emphasized that current hospital models rely on teams, telehealth, and transfer protocols. The bill drew extensive discussion but no vote was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 311, which would modernize Missouri’s bail bond laws by creating a professional board and tightening training, oversight, and recovery procedures. Representative Brandon Phelps said the industry itself wants clearer standards and that he may revise the bill in committee substitute form to merge the new board with an existing board to reduce costs. A bail bond industry representative testified in support, saying the profession wants higher standards and accountability. The chair then adjourned the meeting after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• DAHP is required to develop minimum standards for preservation in consultation with federally recognized
• DAP is required to develop minimum standards for preservation in consultation with federally recognized
• Introducing additional review requirements without clear standards or funding risks slowing projects
• Introducing additional review requirements without clear standards or funding risks slowing projects
• Clear standards reduce uncertainty. Cultural review does not stop development.

Bills: SB5609, SB6284

Keywords: cultural resources, land use, environmental policy, exemptions, state laws, artificial intelligence, consumer protection, regulation, data privacy, technological impacts, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Britschesee, I'm always a little concerned about shifting burdens of proof and shifting standards of
• And so the bill, as drafted, has this standard saying the unusual remedy of punitive damages is allowed
• So I hope that... ...from our standard textbook syllabus and actuarial exam coverage.
• Presumed liability is a standard, as we already heard, in other walks of life.
• We believe this bill... ...the standard, as we already heard, in other walks of life.

Bills: HB2095

Keywords: public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It turns what should be human decency into a legal standard.
• It turns what should be human decency into a legal standard.
• HB 2611 raises the standard of care for youth in group homes.
• HV 2611 raises the standard of care for youth in group homes.
• We need to make the standard easy and not shame parents.

Bills: HB2035, HB2086, HB2434, HB2611, HB2732, HB2733, HB2830, HB2923, HB2932, HB4004

Keywords: kinship care, child welfare, foster care, relative placement, child protection, vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, group homes, children's rights, safety protocols, employee training, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not dictate benefit design or medical necessity standards.
• This bill will allow some standardization.
• It standardizes the system a great deal.
• And this will help standardize that.
• They recognize that this standardization, ...standardization, transparency, and modernization will best

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 19 and March 11, then took up Senate Bill 1285, which would make non-public school diplomas, including homeschool diplomas, equivalent to public school diplomas or GEDs for occupational and professional licensing in Idaho. Representative Redmond presented the bill as a fairness measure for homeschool and private school graduates, and Melissa Nash of Homeschool Idaho testified in support. After questions about interstate recognition and diploma designation, the committee voted to send SB 1285 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 841, a major prior authorization reform bill aimed at setting clearer standards, timelines, appeal procedures, and reporting requirements for insurers and health plans. Representative Wheeler said the bill was intended to reduce delays in care without dictating prices or benefit design. Testimony from the Idaho Medical Association, a migraine patient, and the Idaho State Dental Association supported the bill as a way to improve transparency and patient access. Despite that support, the motion to send HB 841 to the floor with a due pass recommendation failed on a roll call vote, 9-5, with 4 absent. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 1262, a narrow insurance investment bill that would simplify a confusing “lesser of” standard by allowing certain miscellaneous investments up to 10% of an insurer’s assets. Representative Ayler’s and a United Heritage Life representative said the change would clarify the code and improve portfolio flexibility; the committee approved the bill and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 898, which would move the State Historic Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society to the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination. Supporters argued the move would streamline permitting and align related functions, while opponents—including SHPO staff, preservationists, and historians—warned of conflicts of interest, loss of independence, and possible financial impacts to the Historical Society and local preservation programs. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee did not reach a final vote in the portion provided, and discussion continued with a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• KCREP, the standards that are talked about often, and you probably received emails about those, only
• This bill, as it's written, currently ignores these standards, and it puts our clients and our public
• And the standards for TriWest are actually higher than other insurance companies: must hold an active
• It's a standardized test. That's out of Alexandria, Virginia. It's a standardized test.
• , so I... ...of what they're doing is upheld with those professional standards.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee approved the March 3 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 750 as amended on programmable money protections. Representative Heather Scott described the bill as a Consumer Payment Rights and Transparency Act intended to prevent programmable money from being used to discriminate, require use without a non-programmable alternative, or deny transactions based on protected characteristics. Testimony included support from David Lichty, who said similar legislation had passed in Utah, and questions from senators about whether the technology is already operational. Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s interaction with the Uniform Commercial Code and whether it would create legal confusion. The committee voted 5-3 against the motion to send HB 750 to the floor, so the bill was held in committee. The committee then advanced HB 585, which would extend the 48-hour inspection refund/private inspector option to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections; it passed on a due-pass recommendation. HB 562, which increases notice periods for nonrenewal of homeowners’ and fire loss insurance policies to 60 days, also passed to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 545, dealing with military chaplains and counselor licensure. Representative Barbara Ehardt and Senator Ben Adams argued the bill would recognize military chaplains’ counseling experience and allow them to apply that experience toward civilian licensure, while noting Idaho law already says licensing authorities may not require certain exams for military applicants. Supporters, including chaplains Jared Gifford and Robert Morris, said military chaplains receive extensive counseling training, work with trauma, suicide, and moral injury, and could help address Idaho’s mental health and veteran care shortages. They said the bill would help chaplains bill insurance and expand access to trusted care. Opponents, including licensed counselors Monique Barber, Kelly Loy, Christy Weissman, Carmen French, Susan Reading, and others, argued chaplain counseling is not equivalent to clinical mental health counseling, that the bill could lower licensure standards, and that it should require the National Counselor Exam and supervised clinical hours under licensed counselors. Senators also questioned whether chaplains could diagnose, whether insurance would reimburse them, and whether the bill should be limited to military settings. After extensive debate, Senator Lenney moved to send HB 545 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation, but Senator Guthrie offered a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee. Several senators said they respected military chaplains but were concerned about blending pastoral counseling with clinical licensure and about the bill’s broader application beyond the military. The transcript ends during the roll call on the substitute motion, before the final vote is announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• KCREP, the standards that are talked about often, and you probably received emails about those, only
• This bill, as it's written, currently ignores these standards, and it puts our clients and our public
• And the standards for TriWest are actually higher than other insurance companies must hold an active,
• The standards for TriWest are actually higher than other insurance companies: you must hold an active
• It is a standardized test.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee approved the March 3 and March 5, 2026 minutes, then heard House Bill 750 as amended on programmable money protections. Rep. Heather Scott described the bill as a consumer protection measure aimed at preventing programmable money from being used to deny transactions based on characteristics such as sex, race, political opinion, medical history, geography, or profession, while still allowing denials for criminal activity. Testimony and questions focused on whether programmable money is already operational, how it differs from ordinary digital payments, and whether the bill would conflict with the Uniform Commercial Code. After debate, the committee voted 5-3 against the motion to send HB 750 to the floor, and the bill was held in committee. The committee then heard House Bill 585, which would extend the inspection “shot clock” concept to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections. Rep. Josh Wheeler said the bill would let applicants use a private inspector and receive a refund if a local government could not complete an inspection within 48 hours, with private inspectors required to meet the same certification standards as public inspectors. With no opposition testimony, the committee unanimously moved HB 585 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 562, as amended, was next and would increase notice periods for nonrenewal or discontinuation of homeowners and fire loss policies from 30 to 60 days, and for commercial policies from 45 to 60 days. Sen. James Ruchti said the change would give policyholders more time to find replacement coverage amid wildfire-related insurance disruptions. The committee approved HB 562 unanimously and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 545, a contested bill concerning military chaplains and counseling licensure. Supporters, including Rep. Barbara Hart, chaplains Jared Gifford and Robert Morris, and others, argued that military chaplains receive extensive counseling training and should be able to use their experience toward civilian licensure without being required to take the standard national exam, citing Idaho Code provisions that they said already exempt certain military applicants from testing. Opponents, including licensed counselors and chaplain/clinician witnesses, argued that chaplain counseling is not equivalent to clinical mental health counseling, that the bill would lower licensure standards, and that diagnosis and treatment training should remain required. After a failed substitute motion to hold the bill in committee, the committee voted on the original motion to send HB 545 to the floor; that motion also failed on a 4-4 tie, so HB 545 was held in committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• driver's licenses and standard identification cards as well.
• the preponderance of evidence standard.
• I think it's a higher standard.
• I think it's a higher standard.
• . ...in being able to, essentially, the way I read it is that it does lower the standard.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no proposed standards or stipulations in this bill that set a minimum threshold of reaching
• All other standard requirements stay the same.
• Well, lawful and within the standard of practice. And so, you know, there’s nothing to stop it.
• I just don’t think that we need to eliminate the standard of care being... ...the standard of care being
• Why should there be a different standard of care in the Why should there be a different standard of care

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up two bills. SB 98, by Senator Harrell, would let self-storage facilities advertise lien sales either in a newspaper or on a qualifying website, while keeping other notice requirements in place and updating contact information provisions. Supporters, including the Florida Press Association and several newspaper/storage owners, argued print and digital newspaper notices already provide broad public notice and that the bill could reduce notice effectiveness; the sponsor said the bill is an optional modernization and does not affect government notices. After debate, the committee voted 8-1 to report SB 98 favorably. The committee then heard SB 164, by Senator Grall, which expands Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow parents to recover civil damages for the death of an unborn child at any stage of development, with carve-outs for the mother and lawful medical care. The sponsor said the bill aligns civil law with Florida’s criminal protections for unborn children and gives families a remedy where current law may not. Opponents, including the ACLU of Florida, health care workers, and others, warned it could invite lawsuits against doctors, hospitals, friends, family members, and people involved in abortion access, and could worsen OB-GYN shortages and deter care. Supporters said it recognizes unborn life and should be treated consistently with existing wrongful death law. The committee approved SB 164 on a 4-3 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.
• is a manufactured standard.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> gallons pounds we needed to standard gallons pounds we needed to standard standardize<00:51:09.559
• </c> sum it and use it um so we standardized sum it and use it um so we standardized it<00:51:13.799>
• </c><01:13:58.520><c> deviation</c> for each increase standard deviation for each increase standard deviation
• standardized to pounds and not to metric.
• to pounds and you standardized to pounds and you standardized<01:25:11.239><c> not</c><01:25:11.440>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing of Senate and House committees focused on restricted use pesticides in Hawaiʻi, with opening remarks framing the issue as one of health, environmental impact, and state-level regulation. The briefing reviewed the history of pesticide disclosure efforts, including prior county actions, a 2016 court ruling that shifted responsibility to the state, and Act 45, which enabled disclosure of restricted use pesticide data. Speakers highlighted 2019 reporting data showing concentrated use in parts of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, especially near schools and communities, and identified fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium as among the heaviest-used products. Concerns were raised about potential links to cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive harms, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental effects, as well as the lack of long-term mixture studies and the need for better buffer zones, reporting, and farmer transition support. The Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program manager described the state’s regulatory framework, explaining the distinction between general use and restricted use pesticides and the department’s role under FIFRA and Hawaiʻi law. He outlined the branch’s enforcement, education/certification, registration, and laboratory functions, including inspections, complaint response, market surveillance, applicator certification, product review, groundwater protection modeling, and special registrations. He also noted staffing and resource limitations, including the absence of an in-house toxicologist and long-term monitoring capacity, and compared Hawaiʻi’s resources to California’s much larger pesticide regulatory program. He said the department supports Act 231, which was passed the previous year and is moving forward this session. A pediatrician speaking for the Hawaiʻi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized concerns about chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children, citing AAP policy statements and technical reports that associate exposure with cancer, leukemia, birth defects, neurobehavioral issues, and asthma. Drawing on work with the Kauaʻi Joint Fact Finding Task Force, the speaker said the group found the west side of the island to be an unhealthy community but could not prove causation because of missing drift, geospatial, and biomarker data. The testimony pointed to elevated cancer mortality, pneumonia admissions, obesity, dialysis, and developmental delay indicators, and described concerns about pesticide drift near schools and homes, including reports of children becoming ill after nearby spraying and low levels of chlorpyrifos detected in dust samples. An environmental health scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi described a pilot project using restricted use pesticide data in a public health context. She said the project began after seeing maps of Central Oʻahu pesticide use and aimed to pair GIS data with health and ethnicity data, while also conducting community focus groups. Preliminary focus group themes included calls to action, voting and policymaker awareness, concern about pesticide use near homes and fields, lack of community consent, and a desire to stay engaged. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> establish a statewide uniform standards establish a statewide uniform standards to<00:01:28.080>
• We believe details of standards.
• a minimum standard.
• a minimum standard.
• </c> going to create a stand state standard going to create a stand state standard that<00:07:05.760>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.

Transcript Highlights:

• about is that the commission has no authority over Idaho law or its ability to impact the licensing standards
• This is to form a compact, but they do not set the law or the standards of Idaho's dietitian licensure
• This legislation establishes Idaho-specific consumer protection standards for paid assistance provided
• Senate Bill 1262 would set a clear standard and allowance.
• Senate Bill 1262 would set a clear standard and allowance for miscellaneous investments at 10% of an

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee heard several bills and resolutions and took action on each. RS 23-983, a dietician licensure compact, was introduced by Senator Cook; he said the compact has already been enacted in 15 states and would not give the compact authority over Idaho law or licensing standards. After questions about sovereignty, the committee voted to send it to print. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1265, a code cleanup measure tied to the DOGE Task Force that removes outdated provisions related to the Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund, and RS 33125, which would recognize a homeschool high school diploma as equivalent to a standard diploma or GED for professional and occupational licensing purposes. RS 33153, sponsored by Senator Nichols, would create Idaho consumer protection standards for paid assistance to veterans filing federal benefits claims, including disclosure, fee limits, and bans on deceptive practices; it was also sent to print. The committee approved minutes from February 3 and February 5, 2026. It then heard Senate Bill 1261, which would allow certain retired PERSI members appointed to fill elected local offices after a vacancy to keep their existing retirement benefits if they meet the bill’s conditions. Senator Lakey and Sheriff Getz said the measure is intended to treat appointed officials the same as elected ones in this context, and noted support from sheriffs, counties, cities, and no objection from PERSI. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1262, which would give insurance companies more flexibility in miscellaneous investments by replacing a confusing lesser-of standard with a clearer 10% of assets allowance. Senator Guthrie and United Heritage Life’s Jeff Niemeyer said the change would help insurers diversify, reduce risk, and potentially improve returns for policyholders; the Department of Insurance had no concerns. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• about is that the commission has no authority over Idaho law or its ability to impact the licensing standards
• The commission has no authority over Idaho law or its ability to impact the licensing standards of Idaho
• This is to form a compact, but they do not set the law or the standards of Idaho's dietitian licensure
• This legislation establishes Idaho-specific consumer protection standards for paid assistance provided
• Senate Bill 1262 would set a clear standard and allowance.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first considered RS 23-983, a proposed dietician licensure compact. Senator Cook said the compact has already been enacted in 15 states and emphasized that the commission would have no authority over Idaho law or Idaho licensing standards. Members raised sovereignty concerns, but the committee voted to send the RS to print. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1265, a code cleanup measure tied to the Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund. Senator Blaylock said it makes no policy changes and only removes outdated provisions related to board structure, appointments, and distributions that were completed decades ago. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also printed RS 33-125, which would recognize a homeschool high school diploma as equivalent to a standard diploma or GED for professional and occupational licensing purposes, and RS 33-153, which would create Idaho consumer protection standards for paid assistance to veterans filing federal benefits claims. Senator Nichols said the veterans bill would prohibit deceptive practices, upfront fees, and misleading advertising while preserving access to assistance. The committee approved minutes from February 3 and February 5, 2026. It then heard Senate Bill 1261, which would allow certain retired PERSI members appointed to fill elected local offices to keep their existing retirement benefits if they meet the six-month retirement requirement. Sheriff Chris Getz testified in support, saying the bill is backed by the Idaho Sheriffs Association, Idaho Association of Counties, Association of Idaho Cities, and has no objection from PERSI; the committee sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, Senate Bill 1262 was presented as an insurance investment flexibility bill that would replace a confusing lesser-of standard with a clearer 10% allowance for miscellaneous investments. Testimony from United Heritage Life said the change would help diversify portfolios and stabilize returns, and the committee likewise advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.