Transcript Highlights:

• Today, as Executive Vice President of Agriculture and Research, my primary area of responsibility is
• focused upon the research and production aspects of the agricultural arena.
• three-legged stool with one leg as government entities, one is academia, and the other is the agricultural
• I do want to acknowledge that agriculture, including the sugar beet industry, is an incredibly important
• , agriculture, aviation, and advanced<00:56:59.200><c> mobility</c><00:56:59.760><c> systems.

Bills: HF3553 , HF3513 , HF3576

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: vehicle platooning, transportation, public safety, pilot project, Wilkin County, Grant County, autonomous vehicles, transportation regulations, driverless cars, safety standards, first responder interaction, school bus, third-party testing, driver certification, transportation regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I mean, Texas has got considerably more injection pressure right here on the Texas line.
• But then also when you’re thinking about Texas, as we discuss, I mean, Texas has East Texas, but going
• It was in South Texas and West Texas where the EPA made their adjustments on pressure.
• It was in South Texas and West Texas where the EPA made their adjustments on pressure.
• Or are they the Class II disposal wells in Texas?” “Okay, and the Texas line being...”

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Tricia Garringer with the Agricultural Council of California, respectfully opposed.
• for that code.
• for that code.
• with it below what the The submitted EM code and the payment that goes along with it below what the
• These algorithms target providers whose EM codes are consistently above average, treating statistical

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, beginning with AB 2651 by Bonta, which would require schools to notify parents when school vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds. Supporters, including family physicians, PTA representatives, and medical groups, said the bill would improve transparency and help parents protect children and vulnerable family members. Opponents argued the data could be misleading, could identify medically exempt or conditional students, and might lead to stigma or discrimination. The bill was later moved out of committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with one no vote recorded on the roll call. The committee also heard AB 2123 by Aguirre-Curry on medical debt relief, AB 1570 by Wilson to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast diagnostic and supplemental imaging, AB 2201 by Berner to restore Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal flexibilities, AB 2448 by Berman to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care records, AB 2034 by Addis on food additive safety and transparency, and AB 2598 by Krell to require better notification of next of kin when a patient dies in a hospital. Each bill drew strong support from authors, advocates, and affected individuals, while some drew opposition from insurers, industry groups, or transparency critics who raised concerns about cost, duplication, implementation, or unintended harm. Several bills were moved forward on due-pass-as-amended motions, including AB 2123, AB 2201, AB 2448, AB 2034, and AB 2598. The committee also heard AB 2551 by Elhawary, which would require health plans to collect and publish data on how often enrollees must go out of network for behavioral health care and why. Supporters said the measure would expose access barriers and high out-of-pocket costs, especially for communities of color and people with language access needs; opponents said it would add another reporting mandate and might not solve provider shortage problems. Members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals and several described personal or district-level experiences with behavioral health access problems. The bill was then moved out of committee on a due-pass motion. The committee also took up consent items and other procedural motions, with multiple bills reported out and some placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• The water stored and managed here drives the agriculture and economic prosperity for the entire southern
• And the Magic Valley, of course, is the region that supports the nation's most concentrated agricultural
• And when we see that growth in contrast to the continued need to have water to support this agricultural
• powerhouse, the investment... ...to support this agricultural powerhouse, the investments we're making
• an act relating to taxation to revise a provision regarding the application of the Internal Revenue Code

Transcript Highlights:

• State Fire Code has a number of access requirements; it's Chapter 18.
• /c><01:05:00.960><c> a</c><01:05:01.079><c> number</c><01:05:01.319><c> of</c> code State Fire code has
• a number of code State Fire code has a number of access<01:05:01.920><c> requirements</c><01:05:02.440
• It tends to be in a zone that permits agricultural uses.
• zones in towns and how this could really have a potentially negative impact on agricultural uses, agricultural

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Senate, Senate Bill 1241 as amended by the Agricultural Affairs Committee, an act relating to
• Including agriculture and ranching and outfitting and guiding tourism, rodeo.
• I'm a doctoral student with the University of Idaho Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• I'm a doctoral student with the University of Idaho Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• and the Idaho Hop Growers Commission have been reviewed and approved by the Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Inclusivity of meats: while other regions specialize in other meats—Texas, of course, beef; North Carolina
• While other regions specialize in other meats, Texas, of course, beef, North Carolina, pork, Kansas City
• Department of Energy, the National Institute of Agricultural Research in France, and Duke University.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• I know California, Texas, I believe Utah was in there, and I'm missing a couple of others.
• I know California, Texas, I believe Utah was in there, and I'm missing a couple of others.
• It’s utilized heavily in the transportation sector, the energy sector, even agriculture, retail, and

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism considered a series of bills affecting tax policy, workforce development, business regulation, consumer protection, rural development, and artificial intelligence. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1266 would create a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida; an amendment removed an appropriation from the bill, and the committee reported it favorably. SB 554, a broad update to Florida’s not-for-profit corporation law, was also reported favorably after supportive testimony from Florida Bar representatives. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales and predatory financing practices, received strong support from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which provides rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, was likewise reported favorably. SB 214, expanding the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties for economic development purposes, was reported favorably. SPB 7030, a public records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations, was adopted as a committee bill and favorably reported. The committee also heard extensive discussion on SB 998, the Department of Commerce package. The bill would modernize the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program, clarify rural community eligibility for certain unincorporated areas, exempt military entities from a reverter clause on land conveyances, and revise E-Verify enforcement procedures. Members questioned the E-Verify provisions, including penalties, protections for workers incorrectly flagged, and the treatment of gig workers. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal treatment between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. Despite the debate, SB 998 was reported favorably, with Senators Bracy Davis, Smith, and Errington voting no. The committee also took up SB 482, an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” that would create consumer protections for companion chatbots, require parental consent and access for minors, mandate periodic disclosures that users are interacting with AI, restrict certain uses of personal data and likenesses, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. The bill drew both support and criticism: supporters emphasized child safety, transparency, and consumer protection, while opponents raised concerns about privacy, broad definitions, lack of audit mechanisms, and the absence of a private right of action for adults. Senators Smith and Davis urged clearer definitions and stronger accountability, but both said the bill was a starting point. The committee reported SB 482 favorably. The meeting ended with recorded affirmative votes requested by Senators Yarbrough, Wright, and Davis on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know California, Texas, I believe Utah was in there, and I'm missing a couple of others.
• I know California, Texas, I believe Utah was in there, and I'm missing a couple of others.
• It’s utilized heavily in the transportation sector, the energy business sector, even agriculture, retail

Bills: S0214 , S0482 , S7030 , S0554 , S0994 , S0998 , S1004 , S1074 , S1076 , S1266

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million, with the higher cap first applying to the 2027 allocation; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1266 would create a Cybersecurity Experiential Internship and Clearance Readiness Program with the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida, but an amendment removed the bill’s funding appropriation; the amended bill was reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was also reported favorably after support testimony from the Bar and others. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive financing and undisclosed health conditions at retail pet stores, drew strong support from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, was reported favorably as well. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package. The bill would modernize the small cities CDBG program, clarify rural community eligibility to include certain unincorporated areas, exempt military conveyances from a reverter clause, and revise E-Verify enforcement and penalties. Members questioned the E-Verify provisions, including the fine structure, treatment of workers incorrectly flagged, and whether the bill could affect gig workers or retroactive cases. Senator Smith opposed the bill during debate, arguing it created unequal treatment for employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably. SB 214 would expand the rural economic development initiative to include special districts in rural counties and was reported favorably. SB 482, the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, generated the most extensive discussion; it would create consumer protections for companion chatbots, require parental consent and access for minors, mandate disclosures and de-identification rules, restrict unauthorized use of name, image, and likeness, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Supporters emphasized child safety, privacy, and the need for guardrails, while opponents and some informational witnesses raised concerns about privacy, age verification, enforcement, and the bill’s breadth. The bill was reported favorably, and the committee also approved SPB 7030, a committee bill creating a public records exemption for Department of Legal Affairs investigations tied to the AI enforcement provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That messes with agriculture, and that messes with municipalities.
• now, but one of my last neighborhoods that I used to live in, I could literally take a rock and hit Texas
• Texas does not have a five-mallard limit.

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE

Summary: The committee first heard from Arkansas State Police leadership about the agency’s role in federal immigration enforcement. Colonel Mike Hager said State Police has completed 287(g) training for all but 12 personnel and is now authorized to assist ICE in an assisting role only, not as a primary immigration enforcement agency. He explained that troopers do not stop people based on appearance or conduct immigration checks during traffic stops; instead, when someone is lawfully detained for another offense and cannot be identified, officers may notify ICE for further vetting. Members asked about tracking, costs, and local participation, and Hager said the agency began keeping records in September and had detained 48 people since then, mostly in connection with other criminal matters such as pursuits, narcotics, DWI, or domestic violence. He also said any ICE-related operation would require approval up the chain of command and that State Police would use discretion and common sense. Members raised concerns about civil liberties, the treatment of long-term undocumented residents, and whether State Police could be drawn into aggressive federal operations. Hager said the agency was not conducting raids or proactive immigration sweeps and emphasized that troopers work for the state and will make the final decision on whether to participate in any operation. Questions also covered reimbursement and recordkeeping for local agencies and county jails, with Hager saying State Police training costs were absorbed during normal duty time and that counties generally keep separate records for federal billing. The chair said the committee would try to bring in the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training at a later meeting to answer questions about statewide training records. The committee then received an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission update from Director Doug Schoenrock on water management, duck season, and related issues. He reported that most moist-soil units and green-tree reservoirs were flooded or otherwise in usable condition, with only one pump issue tied to a new area lacking a gas connection. He also updated members on Lake Conway construction, dock removal notices, and a recent fatal boating accident at Biomito WMA, saying the agency is working on safety outreach and a memorial effort with the victim’s widow. On waterfowl, Schoenrock said Arkansas remains the nation’s top duck destination, but drought has reduced water availability and shifted bird numbers; he cited survey figures showing about 1.4 million ducks in late December and 545,000 in early January, with mallards making up most of the total. He rejected claims from the Louisiana-based Flyway Federation that standing corn is illegally holding ducks in the mid-latitudes, saying federal law still governs waterfowl hunting framework and that Arkansas is working with other states and federal officials on the issue. Members also questioned the commission about private-land hunting, U.S. Fish and Wildlife coordination, and possible impacts from wind turbines and solar panels on migration. Schoenrock said the commission works with federal officers when needed, but Arkansas largely enforces the same migratory bird rules on its own because federal resources are limited. He said the agency has a Conservation Incentive Program and other habitat programs, and acknowledged ongoing research at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s waterfowl center on wind-related avoidance behavior, which he said could take at least two years. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they pass bills that would increase the cost of food, increase the cost to our agriculture sector
• And they pass bills that would increase the cost of food, increased cost to our agriculture sector, and
• This isn’t about right-sizing our tax code or anything.
• This isn't about right-sizing our tax code or anything.
• Washington, whether it's the income tax or taxes on increasing the cost of food or clothing or agriculture

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a press availability focused on the late-session legislative agenda, with repeated criticism of Democratic proposals they said would raise costs and expand state control. Their main targets were a proposed state income tax on high earners, which they described as an unconstitutional income tax likely to expand over time, and an anti-initiative bill they said would make it harder for voters to use direct democracy. They also objected to bills they said would restrict local authority over camping bans and housing permits, and to a series of tax and fee increases affecting bottles, tires, groceries, food, health care, energy, labor, and licensing costs. The Republicans said the income tax proposal drew more than 60,000 opposition sign-ins and argued that the level of opposition showed Washingtonians broadly reject it. They said any legal challenge would likely come from outside the Legislature, not from caucuses, and cited former Attorney General Rob McKenna’s testimony as support for their view that the measure violates the state constitution. They also discussed capital flight and said prior tax increases, including the estate tax and capital gains tax, were already prompting businesses and wealthy residents to leave the state. The caucus highlighted several Republican-backed affordability bills they said remain alive, including a diaper tax exemption, a prepared-food tax exemption, repeal of last year’s services tax, and sales tax exemptions for certain continuing education and licensing fees. They also said they had helped block or weaken several Democratic bills, including proposals involving grocery stores, wildfire utility costs, college encampments, plastic bag fees, and a juvenile justice bill they said would have allowed earlier release of violent offenders. On child welfare, members criticized a bill addressing the Keeping Families Together Act as insufficient and said they would keep pushing to change the “imminent harm” standard, while also supporting a separate bill to add fentanyl exposure to the child endangerment statute. No formal votes were taken in the press event itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Navajo and a daughter of a Navajo code talker. I'm sharing my story to show that this...
• I'm also a daughter of a Navajo code talker, and that's how I got to meet Jean through that organization
• I think it went through Agriculture and Government unanimously.
• Excuse me, you must not have—we amended that in Agriculture, so I don't know if you guys have the amended
• The day this bill ran through Agriculture, I was signing up for Congress and I missed all this bill,

Summary: The committee met on American Indian Day and first rolled Committee Substitute House Bill 110 at the sponsor’s request. It then heard House Memorial 32, which would direct the Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women to study the history and ongoing impacts of forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color in New Mexico, including known cases, access to reproductive health services, educational policy, and possible reparations. The sponsor, survivors, and expert witnesses described personal experiences and historical research, arguing the issue remains unresolved and that New Mexico could become the first state to formally acknowledge it through a memorial and study. Support came from the Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood, ACLU of New Mexico, and others; one member objected to the phrase “reproductive justice,” but the sponsor declined to change the language. The committee approved the memorial on a 7-1 vote, with Representative Block voting no. The committee then heard House Bill 109, which would speed up the approval and release of Water Trust Board funding by suspending the current legislative authorization step and relying on a more streamlined review process. The sponsor and NMFA witnesses said the bill would help rural and small communities avoid delays that drive up construction costs, especially given inflation, drought, and the large number of water projects needing funding. They noted the bill would still involve review by multiple state agencies and that legislators could still obtain project information from NMFA. Members asked about oversight, transparency, and whether the change would reduce legislative control, but supporters said the current process adds months and can force communities to reapply when costs rise. The committee passed the bill on a voice vote after a motion for due pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have from Houston, Texas, Jennifer Doliac, who is the former—she's an economist, former...
• We have from Houston, Texas, Jennifer Doliac, who is the former—she's an economist, former professor
• at Texas A&M.
• Is that something that happens in Texas through this law?
• I had the opportunity to study the impact of a similar diversion option in Harris County, Texas.

Bills: HB2217 , HB2558 , HB2641 , HB2648 , HB1239 , HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2310 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: rehabilitation, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, first-time offenders, pathways to rehabilitation, mental health, sentencing alternative, criminal justice, diversion programs, HB 2641, ICE out act, law enforcement hiring, immigration and customs enforcement, ICE officers, former federal employees, sworn officer, police staffing, general authority law enforcement agency, limited authority law enforcement agency, immigration enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• at Texas A&M.
• at Texas A&M.
• Is that something that happens in Texas through this law?
• I had the opportunity to study the impact of a similar diversion option in Harris County, Texas.
• Tunheim indicated, I reached out to my colleague in Texas. They have a deferral sentence there.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and announced it would not hold executive session that day because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups; those executive sessions were pushed to the following Monday. The committee first heard House Bill 2558, relating to the mental health sentencing alternative (MHSA). Staff explained that the bill narrows eligibility to people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, adds restrictions for certain domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, requires more detailed DOC reports, lengthens some community custody terms, mandates regular progress hearings, and shifts assessment work to contracted providers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to refocus the program on people whose offenses are tied to serious mental illness and to reduce misuse in domestic violence and other violent cases. No public testimony was taken on HB 2558 that day, and the hearing was held open for later testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with a pretrial deferral option and a suspended sentence option for eligible first-time felony defendants. Supporters, including public defense, immigration advocates, judges, economists, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, argued the bill would create a meaningful rehabilitation pathway, reduce recidivism, improve employment outcomes, and avoid the long-term harm of an immediate felony conviction. They also said the deferred-adjudication structure could help immigrants avoid immigration consequences and would better incentivize restitution and compliance. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocates, raised concerns about expanding eligibility to offenses such as assault 2 and robbery 2, the meaning of “violent offense,” the possibility of judicial diversion without prosecutor consent, and the impact on victims and public safety. After testimony, the sponsor said she would remove the bill’s strong presumption in favor of relief, and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2217. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from hiring people who were sworn ICE officers after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively beginning October 1, 2026. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect communities and prevent hiring officers associated with federal immigration enforcement practices she described as harmful. The committee then heard House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE employees conducting immigration enforcement to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, and document it, while providing state indemnification for officers acting in good faith. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and protect communities and officers; the Washington State Patrol said many of the practices already align with its policies. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs expressed concerns about added reporting requirements, possible effects on federal-local cooperation, and asked for changes to soften mandatory language and strengthen indemnification. The committee ended the hearing without further testimony and adjourned, noting executive sessions on about a dozen bills would occur the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would require the State Building Code Council to conduct rulemaking on the portions of the State
• Building Code applicable to kit homes by March 31, 2027.
• For nearly two years, Bellevue has been updating our land use code to increase housing and affordable
• Remove barriers and align our code with market realities.
• I think immediately we would have to... ...rewrite our codes to fit into this.

Bills: SB5820 , SB5995 , SB5467

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentleman from Texas, for what purpose do you rise? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• The gentleman from Texas has moved that the title be agreed to. Discussion on the title?
• Does the gentleman from Texas yield to the gentleman from St. Louis County behind you? Yes.
• Does the gentleman from Texas yield? Yes. Proceed. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
• Seeing no further discussion, gentlemen from Texas. Mr. Speaker, I close.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, approved the previous day’s journal unanimously, and then adopted a motion suspending House Rule 98 to allow members to wear hats on the floor. Members also introduced several special guests, including the Eugene High School Class 2 basketball champions, family members, scholarship recipients, and other visitors. One member used a lengthy personal privilege speech to criticize a recent U.S. Supreme Court voting-rights decision and warn about threats to democracy and minority voting power. The chamber then took up committee reports and several bills. It approved a motion to go to conference on the property-tax omnibus measure tied to Senate Bills 1066 and 1088. House Bill 3329, repealing expired tax credits, passed 142-0. House Bill 3405, clarifying the SALT deduction and improving tax-credit accounting, also passed 138-0. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2426, a parental-rights bill that also drew criticism over a school financial-ledger requirement and possible burdens on schools and student safety, failed on third reading 70-60. The House next passed House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1233, a professional-licensing bill involving CPA exam access and other occupational licensing changes, by 129-6 after adopting an amendment removing compact language and rejecting a nursing-home physicals amendment. It then passed House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1408, which raises the maximum rural interstate speed limit to 75 mph and, through multiple amendments, also carried a mix of transportation-related provisions including vehicle inspections, hands-free enforcement, motorcycle lighting, driver education, and specialty license plates for women’s professional sports; the final vote was 82-53. The Speaker also appointed a conference committee for Senate Bill 1066. The final item mentioned was Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 863, described as an interscholastic athletic oversight/appeals bill, but the transcript cuts off before its final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• just some articles over the weekend about the aerospace industry, they were saying that places like Texas
• Does this set Louisiana on the path to become the next Texas or Florida for the aerospace industry?
• Truly, Florida and Texas are the two obvious ones who have capitalized most on this sector, and so we're
• Florida and Texas. This call over-the-counter. And I mean, that's the term that they've given it.
• She asked whether Texas, Mississippi, or Florida are doing this.

Bills: HCR35 , HB440 , HB515 , HB543 , HB614 , HB1010 , HB1039 , HB1088 , HB1122 , HB1179 , HB1200

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: tax delinquency, property sale, rehabilitation, Louisiana State Law Institute, legislation, homestead exemption, property tax, parish governance, Louisiana Constitution, voter approval, adjudicated property, real estate, political subdivisions, property sales, government authority, residential lease, tax credit, property valuation, Louisiana constitution, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• Denial under the insurance code must be reviewed and decided by a qualified human professional.
• As mentioned by the treasurer, Utah, but also Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and 20-some other states have
• As mentioned by the treasurer, Utah, but also Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and 20-some other states have
• I participated in the study, including the one in Utah, but also Oklahoma Senate and Texas and other
• So the research that I've done over the past three years, I think one of the things the state of Texas

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• as miscellaneous, it had been coded as sales tax?
• about agriculture.
• To Idaho agriculture?
• And second question is the slowdown on agriculture in Idaho.
• As we talk about trade and Idaho agriculture, trade's very important.

Summary: The committee was convened to review Idaho’s economic outlook and general fund revenue projections for fiscal years 2025-2028, with members instructed to submit “homework” revenue estimates by noon the next day so staff could compile committee averages and medians for deliberations and a final recommendation to JFAC. Opening remarks emphasized the committee’s constitutional charge, the use of the binder materials and online packet, and that the committee would meet again the next day to discuss and vote on the revenue projection recommendation. Staff and agency presentations focused on the state’s budget and revenue picture. Legislative Services Office staff described structural imbalance concerns, noting that statutory spending changes and earmarked sales tax distributions have crowded out flexibility, while cash reserves remain substantial. The Division of Financial Management’s economist explained the official revenue forecast, including revised treatment of sales tax and tax relief fund accruals, and said the forecast largely held steady overall even as corporate and individual income tax categories shifted. She also discussed the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act on SALT deductions and said recent corporate collections had rebounded sharply, suggesting timing and behavior changes rather than a broad economic downturn. Outside economists and labor experts painted a generally stable to positive economic picture. Zions Bank’s economist said the Federal Reserve is likely near the end of major rate cuts, long-term rates and mortgage rates remain elevated, tariffs have risen sharply, but inflation has not yet shown broad tariff-driven acceleration; he described the national labor market as slowing but not contracting and said 2026 could be a rebuilding year. The Idaho Department of Labor reported that Idaho’s unemployment remains historically low, job growth is steady, wage growth is moderating from overheated pandemic-era levels, and the state’s labor market remains healthier and more balanced than the national picture. The committee also heard from Idaho Power’s economist, who began a presentation on broader economic conditions and utility-related demand trends before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows local agencies to enter into contracts with landowners to preserve agricultural land, and in
• SB 568 simply updates the code to account for new and improved medication on the market.
• This bill helps agricultural operations comply with the ban on open burning of agricultural waste while
• Over 70% of agricultural families in the United States have experienced child care, child Over 70% of
• Senate amendments incorporated feedback from stakeholders representing agriculture and outdoor sports

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and prayer, then handled a long consent and third-reading file with many Senate bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Early procedural actions included rescinding the prior passage of SB 351, suspending the floor-amendment deadline for SBs 80, 351, and 415, and referring several measures to committees. Members also welcomed new Assembly Member Natasha Johnson and recognized guests and an intern. The floor then took up a wide range of policy bills. Major topics included housing and land use (including SB 5 on Williamson Act land and EIFDs, SB 516 on EIFDs, SB 233 on housing element timing, SB 262 on pro-housing policies, SB 21 on SRO conversions, SB 340 on emergency shelters, and SB 625 on disaster rebuilding), public health and health care (SB 386 on dental virtual credit card fees, SB 504 on HIV confidentiality, SB 520 on nurse midwifery education, SB 568 on epinephrine in schools, SB 582 on inactive licenses for damaged health facilities, SB 306 on prior authorization, SB 454 on PFOS cleanup, and SB 317 on wastewater surveillance), labor and consumer protections (SB 261 on wage theft enforcement, SB 291 on workers’ compensation compliance, SB 355 on wage theft judgments, SB 517 on home improvement disclosures, and SB 82 on limiting arbitration clauses), and elections/government transparency (SB 3 on signature curing, SB 398 on paying people to vote or register, SB 470 on teleconferencing for state boards, and SB 595 on local financial reports). Other measures addressed transportation and infrastructure, including SB 371 on TNC insurance coverage, SB 78 on dangerous highways, SB 419 on hydrogen vehicle tax treatment, and SB 86 on the clean energy financing tax exclusion. The Assembly also approved bills on criminal justice and public safety such as SB 734 on due process for law enforcement officers, SB 701 banning signal jamming devices, SB 380 on transitional housing for sexually violent predators, and SB 20 on silicosis prevention. Several bills focused on education and equity, including SB 241 on AI guardrails in community colleges, SB 670 on immigrant integration in adult education, SB 411 on Sun Bucks and student food insecurity, SB 437 on descendant-status verification for reparations-related work, SB 388 creating a California Latino Commission, and SB 373 strengthening oversight of out-of-state nonpublic schools for students with disabilities. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, often unanimously; a few drew notable debate, especially SB 388, which saw opposition over creating another commission, and SB 398, which prompted discussion about election-related incentives. The session ended with continued passage of additional bills, including SB 514 on wildfire defensible space reporting, with the chamber moving through the file and recording numerous aye votes and immediate transmittals where required.