Transcript Highlights:

• of Corrections execution protocol by applying the definition of the word agency, which exempts the Board
• So, once they're made public, can they be challenged by anybody, or is there a process where they are
• challenged or evaluated?
• Yes, I mean, they are challenged frequently.
• There's very little the state does where there is no right of any agency, no right of any legislative

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Thursday, January 29, 2026. Members were also told the next meeting would be the following Friday at 1:30 p.m. The agenda included three introduction hearings and one bill hearing. The committee introduced three RS drafts. Representative Monks presented RS 331-26C1, which would update an antiquated justifiable homicide provision by replacing references to specific family or household relationships with “another person.” Representative Shirts presented RS 331-1-1-1, a Title 18 cleanup bill repealing chapters on camcorder piracy, tape piracy, and motion picture fair bidding, which he said were outdated and apparently never prosecuted. Representative Scott presented RS 33036, which would create a formal process for the legislature to notify the Idaho Supreme Court by resolution when court rules appear to conflict with statute or affect substantive rights; all three RS drafts were moved for introduction and approved. The committee then heard House Bill 525 on execution procedures. Representative Skog and the Department of Correction said the bill would extend confidentiality protections and make explicit that execution protocols developed by the director are not subject to rulemaking or judicial review, describing it as a clarification of existing practice and recent court interpretations. Representative Rubel raised concerns that the language was too broad and could limit transparency and oversight, while other members noted the wording may need clarification to reflect only the development of procedures, not the procedures themselves. After discussion, the sponsor agreed that clarifying the language would be helpful. A motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation was replaced by a motion to send House Bill 525 to General Orders, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Corrections execution protocol by applying the definition of the word agency, which exempts the Board
• So, once they're made public, can they be challenged by anybody, or is there a process where they are
• challenged or evaluated?
• Yes, I mean, they are challenged frequently.
• There's very little the state does where there is no right of any agency, no right of any legislative

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill promotes government accountability by providing for review of existing agencies' rules over
• It requires agencies, after the review has occurred, to take action making a change, noting no change
• It requires agencies to submit licensing performance data in their agency regulatory plan and to submit
• It requires agencies to publish a notice of intended agency action within 90 days of the effective date
• the agency must initiate rulemaking.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of employment and economic development, and other relevant state and local agencies, as well as key
• </c> what are specific issues or challenges what are specific issues or challenges to<00:30:53.279><c
• So, I was going to of those challenges.
• that we have to be aware or challenges that we have to be aware of.
• Um, and I think that's a challenge if we're going to use terms like affordable.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:12.879><c> Is</c><00:08:13.039><c> that</c> agency or public high school.
• Is that agency or public high school. Is that correct? correct? correct?
• </c><00:18:08.960><c> associated</c><00:18:09.440><c> with</c> to address challenges associated with
• to address challenges associated with administering<00:18:10.240><c> the</c><00:18:10.480><c> program
• with the challenges associated with the facilitation<00:18:32.000><c> of</c><00:18:32.320><c> this</

Bills: HB517 , HB520 , HB233 , HB354 , HB517 , HB520 , HB233 , HB354

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response

Transcript Highlights:

• . that occurred before he gets to be head of that agency.
• What it boils down to is this agency should be above politics.
• He is not the man to answer the many challenges of the moment. Mr.
• gold standard for law enforcement agencies in the world, in the history of the world.
• They're the finest law enforcement agency in the country. I don't think they have any near peer.

Bills: SB331

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, drug trafficking, public health, research regulations, law enforcement, Kash Patel, FBI director nomination, S331, Fentanyl Act, committee meeting, legislative discussion

Summary: In this committee meeting, the primary focus was on the nomination of Kash Patel for the position of director of the FBI, which had sparked considerable debate over the past week. Members discussed the extensive vetting process Patel underwent, including a lengthy hearing where he addressed numerous questions, which emphasized his qualifications and the support he received from various law enforcement organizations. The meeting included significant arguments from both sides, reflecting the polarized nature of the nomination, especially regarding the allegations made against Patel by some committee members. As discussions continued, the committee decided to hold off on the Fentanyl Act, listed as S331, until the next meeting, indicating a prioritization of the nomination vote over new legislative measures at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think the training is going to be, um, Arduous for agencies to, to impact.
• And the agency is seeking to change in legislation.
• We more often refer that to other law enforcement agencies.
• I'm still going to look for people that might be ready to retire from another agency.
• House Bill 4993 directly addresses these challenges and delivers real solutions.

Bills: SB 36

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at our agency on slide 4, we're a large agency. Uh, we have more than 32,000 employees.
• and a lot of programming to the agency.
• You've got another roughly 20,000 that are going through the other programs in the agency.
• We are a statewide prosecutor's office, uh, independent of, uh, the agencies that we serve.
• We're a very small agency. We've got 41 people.

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the many other challenges we face. the many other challenges we face.
• As a result of the July forecast, the agency had already begun making hard choices on new projects and
• But I have faith in our team at AOT to manage their way through this challenge, as they've done before
• This is another structural challenge we can fix, and we have made progress toward rectifying that, but
• This is another structural challenge we can fix, and we have made progress toward rectifying that, but

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is challenging to say the least, and it only gets more challenging as time goes on.
• It is challenging to say the least, and it only gets more challenging as time goes on.
• It is challenging to say the least, and it only gets more challenging as time goes on.
• </c><00:39:37.359><c> C</c><00:39:37.760><c> challenging</c> in the same challenge C challenging in the
• We're a small agency. We're a $500,000 budget agency. Bare bones.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 530, a bill to increase funding for New Hampshire’s Affordable Housing Fund. Representative Jessica Lontine, the sponsor, described the state’s housing crisis, citing high rents, low vacancy, and the lack of affordable units. She said the bill would double the annual transfer-tax deposit into the fund from $5 million to $10 million, and she later presented an amendment to hold the Education Trust Fund harmless by directing the housing-fund deposit from remaining revenue after that trust fund is funded. She also explained a prospective appropriation idea tied to a possible future sale of the Laconia State School property, with the goal of supporting community housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Much of the testimony focused on the shortage of accessible and supportive housing for people with disabilities and aging family caregivers. Lontine, Ben Saul of Visions for Creative Housing Solutions, Lori McIntosh of Our Place NH, and Maddie Mandelbaum all described the difficulty families face in planning for adult children with disabilities as parents age or die. They emphasized that many people need not only affordable housing but accessible, supportive settings, and they argued that state investment would help nonprofit providers build such housing and prevent homelessness or inappropriate institutional placement. Several witnesses also noted that existing projects rely on capital funding and that operating revenues are limited because residents often depend on SSI and Medicaid. Committee members asked questions about the fiscal impact of the bill and amendment, including whether the proposal would shift money from the general fund or education trust fund and whether the Finance Committee should have final say over spending priorities. Lontine said she understood those concerns but argued that housing should be prioritized. Housing Action New Hampshire’s Tom Duroza also testified in support of the bill, saying the state’s housing shortage is driving record prices and vacancy rates below 1%, and that the Affordable Housing Fund has leveraged more than $500 million in private investment and helped build thousands of rental homes. He said his organization supported the underlying bill but had not yet reviewed the amendment. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In recent years, the Institute has been engaging government agencies, academic research institutions,
• When the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire raged across the Sangre Cristo Mountains in 2022, multiple agencies
• For the public, our Institute built a hub site at the request of the agencies.
• We also do work for state agencies like EMNRD.
• They recently formalized the ASECIA Bureau with expanded staff, and they operate according to agency

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a lot of grants in our state, you know, across our agencies.
• It provides food for all 53 counties and has over 200 partner agencies.
• And law enforcement agencies shall adopt a policy on the use of force by unmanned aerial vehicles or
• It does not come from any agency in state government. It is a report from an independent analysis.
• So that's the challenge of some of these things. Is it a cost or is it the cost-benefit analysis?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• previously relating to the provision of adoption cost and information by a licensed child placing agency
• It says that hearing officers have the power to require relevant agency representation.
• These young parents, many still early in their careers and now navigating the challenges in raising a
• So the 6,888 complaints were brought to us, we PIR-ed the Texas Education Agency.
• Conversations with the agency this just helps so apparent. It's art.

Bills: HB2646 , HB3941 , HB5153 , HB5155 , HB5394 , HB 1106 , HB426 , HB4529 , HB3984 , HB4273 , HB 1097 , HB3940 , HB1941 , HB4377 , HB3153

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is the challenge.
• I'll just mention one of the challenges is that there may be someone who was driving with alcohol and
• The challenge for me is that this is the area of the law.
• The challenge for me is that this is the area of the law.
• investigate any of us based on our speech or the color of our skin, our agencies say no.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until a quorum was established, then heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. SB 907 by Senator Archuleta proposed five DUI-related changes: requiring Watson advisements when DUI charges are pled down, allowing consecutive sentencing discretion for multiple deaths in one crash, adding enhancements for repeat felony DUI offenders, increasing penalties for hit-and-run by drivers with recent DUI history, and treating gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated as violent felonies. The author and supporters, including prosecutors, law enforcement, and victims’ family members, argued the bill would close loopholes and increase accountability. Opponents, including criminal defense and civil liberties groups, raised concerns about overbreadth, legal doctrine, and the violent felony designation. Committee members generally supported moving the bill but urged further changes, especially on the violent felony and consecutive sentencing provisions. SB 907 was passed as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee and kept on call. The committee then heard SB 1015, which would create new offenses aimed at online exploitation networks that use minors to coerce, recruit, or extort other minors, including through intimate images and AI-generated images. The author, sheriff’s officials, and district attorneys described rapidly growing online abuse networks and argued current laws do not clearly reach adults who use minors as intermediaries or minors who participate in coercive extortion schemes. Opponents said existing criminal statutes already cover much of the conduct and argued the bill could unnecessarily criminalize youth behavior instead of focusing on platforms and prevention. Members expressed concern about the harms to children and the need to address evolving online threats, while also noting the bill’s juvenile provisions. SB 1015 was passed as amended to Appropriations and kept on call. SB 1285, also by Senator Durazo, would clarify that juvenile record dismissal under Welfare and Institutions Code section 782 is a general dismissal statute and that dismissal and record sealing are separate processes. Supporters said the bill would preserve the rehabilitative purpose of juvenile court and help youth avoid lasting collateral consequences in employment, licensing, and military service. There was no opposition after PORAC withdrew its objection, and the committee approved the bill to the floor on a unanimous roll call, keeping it on call for absent members. SB 1342, another Durazo bill, would fix implementation problems in California’s automatic record clearance laws by addressing outdated pending charges, requiring local court records to match DOJ clearance records, and creating a way for people to obtain proof of relief. It drew broad support and no opposition, and was passed to Appropriations, with one no vote from Senator Seyarto. Finally, the committee heard SB 1330 by Senator Aitken, which would extend enhanced penalties for assault or battery to utility workers performing their duties. The author and utility worker witnesses described increasing threats and assaults, including a recent shooting at a work crew, and said the bill would help protect workers who maintain essential water, gas, and electric services. The bill drew strong support from labor, utilities, and local government representatives. The transcript ends during public testimony on SB 1330, before any committee vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are a very unique state agency.
• </c><00:31:19.559><c> public</c> 101 um we are a state agency public 101 um we are a state agency public
• I did mention that we have state agencies on the Clean Water Council.
• We have seven state agencies in the University.
• :18:05.719><c> as</c><01:18:05.880><c> the</c> uh uh the agencies meet regularly as the uh uh the agencies

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Often a dedicated fund is in a particular agency, and that agency either absorbs the cost on its own
• </c> dedicated fund is in a particular agency dedicated fund is in a particular agency and<00:09:25.079
• :09:27.440><c> absorbs</c> and that agency either somehow absorbs and that agency either somehow absorbs
• </c> New Hampshire faces Workforce challenges New Hampshire faces Workforce challenges in<00:34:21.159
• Further discussion. tougher challenges and I do believe that tougher challenges and I do believe that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division II work session considered several amendments to HB 2. The first two items were rejected: a proposal to add a new “Lakes” license plate with proceeds to the cyanobacteria fund failed 7-8, and Amendment 1040, which would have imposed a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds to raise general fund revenue, failed 4-5. Representative Maguire explained the fee would apply only to new revenue going forward and would not change existing fund balances; he also described exemptions for federal funds, bequests, and other special cases. Representative Murray questioned the consistency of the approach and who currently pays administrative costs, while Maguire said the charges are often handled case-by-case by agencies or the treasurer. The committee then revisited revenue distribution changes in HB 2. Members first reconsidered and reversed prior acceptance of sections affecting the Education Trust Fund, then adopted Amendment 1381H, which changes the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, along with related sections, to shift more money to the General Fund. Supporters argued the change was needed to address revenue shortfalls and to align with historical distributions; opponents said it reduced support for education. The reconsideration motion passed 7-3, and the amendment itself passed 5-3. The committee also adopted Amendment 1413H, incorporating the language of HB 741 on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools. Supporters said it was House policy and had sufficient policy and fiscal impact to belong in HB 2; opponents noted the underlying bill had been controversial and passed the House by a relatively close margin. Finally, the committee considered a USNH budget reduction proposal that would cut the University System of New Hampshire by $25 million per year net. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that K-12 obligations had to take priority, while opponents argued the cut would harm workforce development, the state economy, and student retention. The transcript cuts off during extended debate, and no final vote on the USNH item is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• that tells you what we're identifying, and just make it more standardize the process across all agencies
• and insert new language to allow them to continue to submit fingerprints for those governmental agencies
• It's challenging to get to... I couldn't have a one-mile radius.
• It's challenging to get this through.
• It's a challenging thing. As I said before, this is just opening up the tent.

Summary: The Judiciary and Rules Committee met to consider six introduction requests and emphasized that future RS packets should be submitted early, with meetings planned on odd-numbered calendar days until the committee’s work is complete. The committee quickly moved through the introductions without extended public-hearing style questioning, and all measures were introduced unanimously. RS 32828 would standardize hearing notices related to the Office of Administrative Hearings across agencies. RS 33011 would correct a prior fingerprinting rule for vulnerable populations by moving the authorization for certain non-criminal justice private entities to submit fingerprints into a new statutory section after federal guidance indicated the earlier placement was incorrect. RS 33026 would revise a prior proposal on drones near correctional facilities by limiting the security zone to the direct perimeter of Idaho Department of Correction facilities, up to 400 feet, and specifying a misdemeanor penalty. RS 32843 would expand Capitol Mall and state-building security authority, allowing the Department of Administration and Idaho State Police to bar disruptive or noncompliant individuals from the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings for up to a year and to regulate tents, camping, and related structures on state property. RS 33038 would address child custody interference by creating graduated penalties, shortening the time for return of a child from 24 hours to four hours, clarifying law enforcement duties, and allowing lost parenting time to be made up; sponsors said it was based on an interim task force that heard extensive testimony from citizens, judges, lawyers, law enforcement, and others. RS 32845 would be a cleanup bill extending discovery and disclosure protections for people and entities involved in carrying out executions by lethal injection or firing squad, ahead of the state’s planned shift to firing squad as the primary method of execution on July 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, you know, as an agency, we didn't do a really good job with the communication at the front end
• A fundamental shift from how we've done business for a significant portion of time within our agency.
• In addition to referring it for an investigation, the agency took a look at that incident.
• Do you feel like within the agency that message was received after all this? I do.
• We are challenging the visiting staff to create more of a family environment in our visiting rooms.

Summary: The committee first handled routine actions, including quorum, governor’s appointments not required to appear, references to bills, and floor acknowledgments, with those items approved on 3-1 or 4-0 votes and left open for add-ons where noted. It then heard testimony on several CDCR appointments: Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle as associate directors for adult institutions, and later Jason Johnson as Undersecretary of Operations. All three nominees emphasized long careers in corrections, support from family and colleagues, and a commitment to public safety, rehabilitation, and improving staff and institutional culture. Much of the questioning focused on the California model, staff safety, sexual abuse prevention, use-of-force incidents, visitation, and rehabilitation. Ratliff and Tuggle said the California model was poorly communicated at rollout but is intended to improve both staff wellness and rehabilitation, not weaken security. They described training, root-cause reviews, statewide calls, and direct engagement with staff and incarcerated people. On a widely criticized pepper-spray incident at Central California Women’s Facility, Ratliff said staff were disciplined, some terminated, and the facility received additional training on de-escalation, communication, use of force, and report writing. On sexual abuse and retaliation concerns, both nominees pointed to PREA training, multiple reporting channels, anti-retaliation monitoring, and a zero-tolerance policy. Members also pressed the nominees on visitation consistency, family reunification, contraband, and the San Quentin transition program. CDCR leaders said visitation is essential to rehabilitation and that the department is working toward more consistent statewide rules and a more family-friendly visiting environment. They also said contraband interdiction is being strengthened through K-9 searches, drone interdiction, and information sharing. Johnson, whose confirmation drew late opposition letters and a lawsuit alleging retaliation and workplace culture problems, said he was driving culture change, had improved reentry and community partnerships, and viewed rehabilitation as central to CDCR’s mission. After public support from former incarcerated people, advocates, and nonprofit leaders, the committee voted 4-0 to advance the appointments to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the bill would require the convening of agencies to develop a strategy to expand institutional
• the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the strategy must prioritize purchasing for state agencies
• , sometimes Ecology, all kinds of agencies that are interested in our businesses.
• , sometimes Ecology, all kinds of agencies that are interested in our businesses.
• As a Hispanic woman in this profession, I have faced many challenges throughout my career.

Summary: The Consumer Protection & Business Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 2616, described as an agriculturally resilient markets act, would create a broad package of agriculture-related policies and appropriations, including a strategy to expand state purchasing of Washington-grown food, temporary packaging and emissions exemptions for certain agricultural uses, changes to labor notice rules for agricultural and dairy layoffs, several grant and study programs, a transfer of cannabis production/processing/testing oversight to the Department of Agriculture, and an appropriation for the tree fruit leadership program. Representative Christine Reeves said the bill was intended as a state-level “farm bill” to address farm losses, food security, and regulatory burdens, and she emphasized stakeholder input and the need to support family farms and farmworker well-being. Testimony on HB 2616 was overwhelmingly supportive, with growers, commodity groups, dairy and potato representatives, and other agricultural stakeholders arguing that Washington farms face low margins, high regulatory and labor costs, refrigeration and processing challenges, and competition from foreign producers. Several speakers said the bill’s exemptions, grants, and studies would help keep farms viable and preserve local food production. Committee members asked about stakeholder outreach, the role of Washington State University and commodity commissions, the impact of federal versus state policy, and possible ways to reduce compliance burdens. The hearing ended without a vote, and the chair noted the bill was after cutoff and would not move this year, but that stakeholder meetings would continue over the summer. The committee then heard House Bill 2721, which would create a registration system for commercial interior designers, expand and rename the Board of Architects, set education, examination, and experience requirements, define the scope of practice, require seals and technical submission attestations, and establish penalties and a fee account. Supporters from interior design organizations said the bill would recognize a profession already performing code- and safety-related work in commercial spaces, align Washington with other states and national model law standards, and remove barriers to ownership and advancement, especially for women. Testifiers also said the bill would clarify responsibility for life safety, accessibility, and non-structural interior construction in schools, health care, and public buildings. The committee heard only supportive testimony, but members raised questions about how the profession compares with architecture, the impact of delaying the bill until 2027, and demographic diversity in the field. The chair closed the hearing noting the bill would not advance this session and that further interim work would be needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• . agencies. agencies.
• How prepared is your agency<00:26:51.600><c> to</c><00:26:51.840><c> absorb</c> agency to absorb agency
• </c> had three agencies come up. had three agencies come up. &gt;&gt; Huh.<00:54:00.480><c> Yes.
• </c> agency era. agency era. &gt;&gt; No,<02:07:26.079><c> either</c><02:07:26.400><c> one.
• We we know that's going to be a challenge, challenge, challenge, &gt;&gt; right? &gt;&gt; right?

Keywords: 924, joint, all