Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 842, by the Revenue and Taxation Committee, regarding budget limits.
• Just because we kill a budget doesn't mean that that is completely unfunded.
• A budget gets killed and something gets brought back.
• Speaker, I ask for a green light on this budget. Further debate on the motion?
• There's no budget impact on this. And with that, I would ask for your green light.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with 53 members present, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate announcing several signed bills, enrolled measures, and new Senate bills and resolutions. Committee reports moved multiple bills forward, including measures on elections, health and welfare, education, revenue and taxation, transportation, and state affairs. The House also introduced new bills on property, land use, conversational AI safety, and housing, and referred them to committee. A Senate concurrent resolution supporting Idaho’s partnership with Taiwan was referred to State Affairs. The chamber then took up a long series of third-reading bills. Among the major policy debates were House Bill 928, the “Merit-based Health Care Act,” which would restrict DEI-related practices in Medicaid and health care provider agreements; supporters framed it as a merit and patient-care measure, while opponents argued it would block anti-racism and implicit-bias training and worsen health disparities. House Bill 929, allowing patients to negotiate discounted cash prices with providers and have them count toward deductibles, passed after brief debate. House Bill 930, revising campaign finance reporting, loans, and investment rules, also passed after concerns about credit card treatment and reporting complexity. House Bill 879, aimed at closing a loophole in industrial hemp regulation to prevent THC products from being sold as CBD, passed as well. Several other notable bills passed the House, including House Bill 932 creating an advisory ballot question on an official state gun for America 250; House Bill 896 establishing a process for the Attorney General to investigate and seek remedies for alleged failures by public officers or entities to follow the law; House Bill 895 regulating water use for new data centers; House Bill 856 closing a loophole involving the sale of human remains; and House Bill 911 codifying protections so large electrical loads do not shift costs onto other ratepayers. The House also passed House Bill 898, which reorganizes the State Historic Preservation Office within a new administrative structure, despite concerns that it could weaken preservation independence. In addition, the House approved a number of appropriation and enhancement bills, including funding for the Commission on Aging, the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Idaho State Lottery, Veterans Services, the Public Utilities Commission, the Industrial Commission, and Pardon and Parole. The House returned some bills to committee or moved them to General Orders, including House Bills 529, 828, 862, and 903. It also adopted House Resolution 28, which approved House Agriculture Committee rules. The session ended with announcements and adjournment until Monday, March 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• That could be unappropriated reserve funds, funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund, etc.
• The Legislative Budget Commission.
• And I'd like to talk about the Legislative Budget Commission.
• I have a number of motions related to our budget rollout that I want to share with you today.
• I have a number of motions related to our budget rollout that I want to share with you today.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, the line item budget. A budget that cannot be understood cannot be audited by the public.
• Secondly, the line item budget. A budget that cannot be understood cannot be audited by the public.
• Additionally, not having access to a line item budget is a real issue.
• So we really need to have access to the line item budget. Thank you.
• So we really need to have access to the line-item budget.

Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can first tell you that the 2026 budget was balanced for Yakima County, or is balanced.
• The 2026 budget was balanced for Yakima County, or is balanced.
• It's clear from all sides that this is a tough budget year and will be for some years to come.
• Our county is having tough two to four years with our budget.
• The point is we still budgeted the money necessary for us to have a new judge.

Bills: SB6256, SB6275, SB5868, SB5954

Keywords: tax exemptions, affordable housing, nonprofit, unoccupied property, housing policy, community reinvestment, economic development, local investment, financial assistance, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges

Transcript Highlights:

• proviso in the Operating Budget Bill, Senate Bill 5167.
• In Part 4 of that bill, and a budget proviso in the Operating Budget Bill, Senate Bill 5167.
• All of Washington state school districts' budgets are due July 10th with board approval.
• The school budget process is a four- to six-month-long process.
• This tax will put them out of budget, so they will need to cut advertising instead.

Summary: The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved. The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers. The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Janice Thomas, deputy state budget director.
• Next is a pool project in excess of 1 million pursuant to the authority in the budget bill.
• </c> Janice Thomas, deputy state budget Janice Thomas, deputy state budget director.<00:07:22.720><c>
• Um part two per uh budget bill.
• No additional work originally budgeted.

Keywords: November 20, 2025 00:12 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:58 Information Items 06:50 Finance and Administration Cabinet 09:10 KY Infrastructure Authority 21:20 Office of Financial Management 29:14 Meeting Recessed 44:58 Reconvened 45:07 Approval of Minutes 46:35 Next Meeting Date 47:05 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum for much of the meeting, so several agenda items were initially heard only for information. Early updates included six informational reports, such as an Auditor of Public Accounts compliance examination with no findings, university equipment and allocation reports, school district bond issuances, Western Kentucky University’s planned public-private partnership housing redevelopment, and quarterly Kentucky Communications Network Authority reports. Members then questioned WKU officials about the P3 housing project, including the number of RFQ responses, property tax responsibility, ownership of the student life foundation, and the status of repairs to residence halls. WKU said the foundation has owned the property since 2000, one hall would be razed or demolished at the end of the academic year, and repairs to the other two were expected to be completed by fall 2027. The committee also heard a Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources acquisition project for Mount River Farms in Wayne County and a Department of Corrections roof replacement project at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, but no votes were taken until a quorum was later established. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and four grant reallocations, including loan increases for Adair County Water District and the City of Harlan, new loans for Litchfield, Louisa, Southeastern Water Association, and Flatwoods, and grant reallocations under the Cleaner Water Program. Members asked about Harlan’s 30-year term and special condition requiring a revenue increase; KIA explained the longer term is reserved for disadvantaged communities and that the condition was meant to reinforce standard debt coverage requirements, while depreciation is reviewed but not included in cash-flow calculations. After a recess, Senator Thomas arrived and a quorum was reached. The committee approved the prior minutes and then took a consolidated vote on the action items, which passed. The final items included a Kentucky Economic Development Authority revenue bond refunding for CommonSpirit Health, several Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit and single-family bond issuances, a Western Kentucky University bond issuance, and SFCC debt issues. Members discussed the housing transactions, noting they are developer-financed and not subject to a traditional bidding process, and expressed concern about whether the process could produce more units for the same amount of money. The meeting adjourned after all information items were approved and the next meeting date was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm, I'm reading that because what I'm seeing, especially as we're moving forward with your budget
• We're starting to feel it in how we do our budget and, and I think that the biggest problem for DOT is
• And our entire budget is based on crude oil, and, and I know that DOT, Mr.
• However, uh, if the budget allows for us to go the safest alternative, that's typically what we'll do
• Uh Non-reoccurring funds in this year's budget. I mean, we're sitting on piles of cash.

Transcript Highlights:

• We mandate a 10% administrative budget cut for agencies that fail to protect public funds.
• We mandate a 10% administrative budget cut for agencies that fail to protect public funds.
• I'm Ana Mingi, deputy commissioner at Minnesota Management and Budget.
• Management and Budget. As I mentioned Management and Budget.
• They get a a budget increase to fix it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE SENATE ACCEPTS THE HOUSE OFFER ON CRIMINAL AND CIVIL JUSTICE JUSTICE BUDGET
• ACCEPTS THE SENATES OFFER ON TRANSPORTATION TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOURISM BUDGET
• SEEING NONE REPRESENTATIVE McCLURE THE SENATE HAS OFFERS ON PRE-K-12 EDUCATION BUDGETS AND PROJECTS AND
• ADMINISTERED FUNDS BUDGET I RECOGNIZE TIM ELWELL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN PRE-K-12 EDUCATION.
• CHAIRMAN, FOR SENATE OFFER ON THE BUDGET IN THE FEP PROJECT BUDGET SPREADSHEET INCLUDES THE INITIAL SENATE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Representative Ulery, that is the New Hampshire state budget that is the New Hampshire state budget
• </c> budget for the tobacco control program. budget for the tobacco control program.
• </c> have the right to vote on the budgets have the right to vote on the budgets which<01:22:12.159><
• </c> dream about what we might do in a budget dream about what we might do in a budget with<01:55:06.719
• </c><04:13:05.279><c> more</c> so that they can maybe budget more so that they can maybe budget more

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Given the projected budget deficit or structural deficit that we have...
• Given the projected budget deficit or structural deficit that we have in our budget and the agreements
• So currently, as part of a budget change proposal, we, we, as part of a budget change proposal, So, currently
• , as part of a budget change proposal, we did receive some resources for a DEIA unit.
• a budget sub-chair, there are some positions that are very hard to staff.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met with quorum and first approved several non-appearance items, including the appointments of Armin Meyer to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved references to bills, a request to suspend Senate Rule 55 for guest access on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard the appointment of Arania Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members questioned her about her background at CalHR and Finance, PERB’s case backlog, implementation of AB 288, recusal rules tied to her prior work, the ride-share caseload, and the board’s role in legislative employee unionization. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is prepared to implement AB 288 if litigation changes, and has strong recusal procedures; she also said the state employee cases affected by her recusal would be a small share of PERB’s workload. Public testimony supported the nominee, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard Monica Erickson’s appointment as Director of the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on labor negotiations, CalPERS fiduciary responsibilities, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and accountability, DEIA efforts, hard-to-fill classifications, degree requirements, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR is working on recruitment tools, class consolidations, apprenticeship pathways, policy forums, and a skills-matching pilot to help applicants, while also addressing pay equity and reducing barriers such as unnecessary degree requirements. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her appointment 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you let us know why you're running this in a time when we have such a budget crisis?
• We have such a budget crisis, yes, we do have such a budget crisis.
• This bill will pull $200 million a year from the state budget.
• This budget would cut services for 3,600 developmentally disabled infants and toddlers.
• Giving up tax revenue during an extremely difficult budget year doesn't make sense.

Summary: House Finance met on February 26 and heard several tax and housing-related bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6343 would extend the deadline to apply for a property tax exemption for improvements to single-family homes damaged by natural disasters, with sponsors citing recent flooding and the need to help displaced homeowners in multiple counties. Local officials from Kent and Algona testified in support, describing flood damage and ongoing recovery needs. The bill was heard but no vote was taken. Senate Bill 6347 would roll back the higher estate tax rates enacted in 2025, while leaving the higher exemption amount in place. Committee staff said the bill would reduce revenue to the Education Legacy Trust account by about $44.8 million starting in fiscal year 2027 and about $389.9 million over the 2027-29 biennium. Supporters argued the higher rates could harm family businesses and encourage wealthy residents to leave; opponents said the bill would mainly benefit very large estates and would worsen budget pressures by reducing funds for education and child care. Public testimony was mixed, and the bill was heard without action. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6244, which would extend a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products stored in Washington for out-of-state sale until 2038. The sponsor and a logistics witness said the exemption helps farmers get products faster, supports regional distribution, and improves competitiveness; staff said the revenue impact would be small. Finally, Senate Bill 6114 would define “fixture” and “affixed” for real estate excise tax purposes to make tax treatment of attached property clearer, and Senate Bill 6027 would broaden allowable uses of several local affordable housing funding sources, including rehabilitation and operations of existing housing, rental assistance in some counties, and expanded uses for Affordable Housing for All grants. Both of those bills drew support from state and local housing officials and advocates, and the committee adjourned after the hearings with no recorded votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That way we can prioritize projects that will serve our customers and keep costs at budgeted amounts.
• to meet our franchise agreement requirements and still budget for the projects that will maintain and
• Budget challenges.
• Haven't they been, like, way over budget on most everything they've done and often late as well?
• Wasn't it, like, way, way, I mean, like, extremely over budget?

Bills: SB5750, SB6148

Keywords: electric vehicles, charging fees, state facilities, sustainability, infrastructure, regional transit authority, RTA, transit bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond maturity, debt limit, 25-year cap, regional mobility grant program, public transit financing, transportation funding, Washington RCW, bond issuance, municipal finance, infrastructure finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been an honor to work with both budget committees over the last few months as they have studied
• We’ve been very grateful to the budget chairman for looking into this and to members of the commission
• So, we've seen significant increases through budgets that have been passed by this body.
• We did see in the governor's budget today that she put a number of $100 million.
• We got a preview from the governor today about what should be allocated for this budget.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you had a balanced budget for what? Eight days?
• Current budget has $1.4 billion...
• So what does that do to those budgets?
• But to tell them that, I'm sorry, your budget lid is But to tell them that, I'm sorry, your budget lid
• But first, of course, was the budget and related revenue bills necessary to balance the budget.

Bills: LR509, LR510, LR511

Keywords: congratulations, Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame, Deloris Marshall Adamson, recognition, achievement, service, retirement, Nebraska Legislature, public service, legislature, Nebraska, 956, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, there is a budget surplus that belongs to the people.
• </c> their budgets. their budgets.
• </c> increase in pressures on their budgets. increase in pressures on their budgets.
• </c> their budgets moving forward. their budgets moving forward.
• </c> into family budgets. into family budgets. It's<01:32:56.920><c> simple.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives our children a real chance to succeed while having no fiscal impact on the state budget
• I did this by saving up my allowance for specific items I wanted or budgeting for a specific activity
• This bill helps by providing a consistent allowance to ensure that we can learn to budget as a teenager
• I don't know how to budget or save.
• And I don't know how to budget or save money, because so many of us do not receive an allowance.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs heard several child welfare and early childhood bills and reported each favorably. SB 1690 on early childhood education was amended with a delete-all amendment that would require public posting of child care inspection and safety data, change certain child care disclosure and insurance rules, and create the Florida Endowment for Early Learning; the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. SB 1022 would add two new Florida Children’s Initiatives programs in Bay County and Pompano in Broward County, and it was also reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 996 on dependent children. Senator Rodriguez explained that the bill is intended to center lived experience in foster care policy and promote normalcy, including financial literacy and allowance-related supports. Multiple members of Florida Youth SHINE testified in strong support, describing the importance of youth voice, consistent allowances, and opportunities to build budgeting skills and confidence. Senator Sharief also voiced support, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered a bill on temporary cash assistance eligibility, presented with an amendment that narrowed a SNAP eligibility carve-out to people who were victims of human trafficking at the time of a drug conviction. The sponsor said the change recognizes coercion faced by trafficking victims and avoids a lifetime penalty tied to exploitation. After the amendment was adopted and several supporters waived in, the committee reported CS for SB 1462 favorably. The meeting then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• does is it spreads out some of that cost into future years, so it doesn't all hit the state's fiscal budget
• So it makes it a little easier on the state's budget.
• The 155 is also similar to the governor's budget, which is right in the middle. Their high was 192.
• For budgeting purposes, we need a number. I have looked at Montana.
• How that fits in with the other budget discussions that are going on in building around K-12 education

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on January 29, 2026, to consider RS 33142, an Internal Revenue Code conformity proposal presented by Rep. Jeff Ehlers. Ehlers said the revised RS would preserve individual tax relief retroactive to 2025, update Idaho’s treatment of research and experimentation expenses by allowing full expensing for new costs starting in 2025 while phasing out prior-year amortization, continue Idaho’s nonconformity with bonus depreciation, and prevent double-dipping by disallowing the same expenses for both deductions and certain credits. He said the changes were intended to spread corporate costs over time and reduce the immediate budget impact. Members focused heavily on the fiscal note and the range of outside estimates. Rep. Gannon cited estimates from ATI, the Tax Foundation, and the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy that were higher than the sponsor’s figure, and asked whether the fiscal note should reflect a broader range. Ehlers responded that the committee must choose a single fiscal note number and defended the $155 million estimate as a reasonable middle-ground projection, explaining differences in how various analysts treated R&E timing and other assumptions. He also said nonconformity would reduce tax benefits for individuals, including seniors and working taxpayers, and noted the corporate impact was much smaller than the individual-side relief. Several members asked for more context on how the bill’s fiscal impact would fit into the broader state budget picture, and Ehlers said he would work with JFAC co-chairs and provide more information later. Rep. Birch supported introduction but emphasized the uncertainty around the fiscal note, while Rep. Monks argued that fiscal notes are attachments prepared by the bill sponsor and should not determine whether a bill is introduced. The committee voted to introduce RS 33142, and the motion carried with Rep. Gannon recorded as opposed. The committee then adjourned and announced it would not meet the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regional Market Rates table, as a percentage increase for each rate beginning January 1st of the budget
• interim rate reform adjustment to the SRR, or Standard Reimbursement Rate, beginning January 1st of the budget
• know, "Hey, there were changes, and we are notifying you of those changes that are reflective of budget
• in the 25-26 budget for the cost of care.
• So, as we work on transitioning, they need relief this year, and that must be in the budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Administration Budget Subcommittee will come to order.
• The budget on this was 55 million dollars.
• The budget on that was $1.3 million.
• Total budget for that was $400,000.
• The budget for that was $3.9 million, and that one is complete.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met to receive an overview and tour of Capitol complex construction projects funded through the Department of Management Services (DMS). Deputy Secretary Tom Berger gave a historical and project-by-project presentation on the Capitol campus, explaining the evolution of the historic Capitol and the current tower complex, and describing major ongoing work including the Waller Park west entry/ADA and waterproofing project, the east entry security screening area, Cabinet meeting room modernization, historic Capitol re-roofing, the large Capitol HVAC replacement, window replacement, Memorial Park improvements, the Holocaust Memorial, the North Loading Zone, and Knott Plaza upgrades. He noted that the Capitol windows and HVAC work are intended to address aging systems and improve resilience, security, and accessibility, and said the broader Capitol window project will continue over several years. Members asked questions about the African-American memorial, the old bank/archives building with water damage, the roofing material and expected lifespan, the legal definition of the Capitol complex, and the history of early legislative meetings in Pensacola and St. Augustine. Berger said the African-American memorial base is built and the installation should be completed in March or April, while the archives building is owned and managed by the Department of State. He also explained that the roof uses a slate-like material designed for a 50-year life cycle, though major storms could still damage it, and clarified that the Capitol complex can be defined differently in statute versus operationally. Chair Lopez and other members requested follow-up information, including a rendering of the African-American memorial and a table summarizing the Capitol investments and when the facilities were last updated, so members can better explain the spending to constituents. Berger said he would provide the requested information, and the committee then concluded the presentation and proceeded to the tour.