Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, it should be a budgeting decision based on context.
• So the governor's budget has cut over 1,000 FTEs.
• The adjustment in this budget, the governor's budget, does not result in layoffs of state workers.
• So there's a right way and a wrong way to budget.
• Budgeting with full context and full information is the right way.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call showing 29 present, and several guest introductions, including Scout groups from Phoenix/Levine, Dr. John Galgiani for Valley Fever Awareness, and Dr. Sarah Lee Davidson as Doctor of the Day. Senator Kavanagh read a proclamation recognizing Valley Fever Awareness and the work of the University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence. The chamber also adopted a death resolution for Victor E. Hardy and observed a moment of silence. The Committee of the Whole considered SB 1036 on unemployment insurance, SB 1056 on reporting vacant state positions, SB 1236 on AHCCCS enrollment verification and presumptive eligibility, and SB 1238 on the physician assistant licensure compact. SB 1036, SB 1056, and SB 1238 were approved in Committee of the Whole, with SB 1036 and SB 1238 amended. During floor debate, SB 1036 drew criticism from Democrats as adding burdens and reducing benefits for unemployed workers, while supporters said it was aimed at preventing fraud; it later passed the Senate 17-12. SB 1056 also passed 17-12 after debate over whether automatic elimination of long-vacant positions would improve efficiency or harm agency staffing. SB 1238 passed with a conforming amendment and later the House version HB 2190 was substituted and passed. The Senate then took up several third-reading bills. SB 1126 on educational records passed 29-0. SB 1189 on campaign expenditures passed 27-2 after debate about political violence and campaign-related expenses. SB 1211 on sentencing passed 29-0. The chamber also reconsidered and substituted House bills for identical Senate bills: HB 2206 for SB 1333 and HB 2396 for SB 1368, both related to SNAP. HB 2206 passed 17-12 after debate over a proposed SNAP error-rate penalty and its impact on food access, and HB 2396 passed 17-12 after debate over restricting SNAP purchases. Finally, HB 2796 was substituted for SB 1236 and passed after debate over AHCCCS enrollment barriers. The Senate adjourned until Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, it should be a budgeting decision based on context.
• So the governor's budget has cut over 1,000 FTEs.
• The adjustment in this budget, the governor's budget, does not result in layoffs of state workers.
• So there's a right way and a wrong way to budget.
• Budgeting with full context and full information is the right way.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it already in the budget? And I'm sorry if I missed it.
• . ...Amanda Dick Petty yesterday, and as you know, Representative is very busy taking care of the budget
• So they said it's not in the budget is the primary answer and correct answer, but they have maybe...
• is not clear in the bill it is rolled up and has gone into six other cabinet secretary's general budget
• You need to secure your budget, you need to have maybe engineering plans, you need to be able to gather

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When Governor Ducey vetoed such a bill, he said, 'We do not do money bills outside the budget.'
• Now, we can absorb the reduction in revenues into our budget.
• We have an over $17 billion budget. There is room... ...in spending last year.
• We have an over $17 billion budget.
• Arizona's budget is meant to invest in everyday Arizonans.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several guest groups, including JAG students and students from Heila Ben High School. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 2153, the annual tax conformity bill, which was described by supporters as aligning Arizona tax law with recent federal changes and providing relief through no tax on tips and overtime, a larger child tax credit, a new child care expense deduction, and a deduction for certain retirement income. Opponents argued the measure would primarily benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, reduce state revenue, and leave some seniors out because the retirement-income deduction is tied to retirement accounts. Members also discussed the Department of Revenue’s already-issued tax forms and the need for certainty for filers. After extended debate, the Committee of the Whole gave HB 2153 a do pass recommendation by a vote of 31-26, and the House adopted the report and sent the bill to engrossing. The House then took up the Senate mirror bill, SB 1106, substituted for HB 2153, and after floor explanations of vote, passed it 31-27 with 2 not voting. Supporters said the bill would help working families, seniors, and small businesses and prevent filing confusion, while opponents repeated concerns about cost, fairness, and impacts on public services. The bill was transmitted to the Senate. Following the tax vote, members made several announcements, including birthday wishes and a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and committee chairs announced upcoming cancellations. The House then recessed and reconvened for first reading and referral of a long list of new bills covering topics such as elections, health care, education, transportation, public safety, taxation, housing, and appropriations. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• When Governor Ducey vetoed such a bill, he said, 'We do not do money bills outside the budget.'
• Now, we can absorb the reduction in revenues into our budget.
• We grew the budget by more than double the rate of growth in population and inflation last year.
• We have an over $17 billion budget. There is room..." "...in spending last year.
• We have an over $17 billion budget.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the budget, our size, and the responsibilities that we carry as a coastal community, transparency
• The Delray Beach Mayor, Tom Carney, raised some concerns in regard to the DDA, including their budget
• timing and wanted to... ...findings or some questions to us that were raised during our budget timing
• The City Commission does approve our budget every year. And so, am I missing something?
• So for clarity, you are set up by state statute, but the city approves your budget?

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items related to local government accountability. The committee heard requests for operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member cited concerns about transparency, financial management, or compliance with state law. Representatives from Delray Beach DDA testified that an internal audit had already been completed, that findings were limited, and that they were working to cure issues such as procurement, credit card, and disbursement policies; the DDA chair also said the organization was willing to cooperate and was considering transitioning out of operating Old School Square. For Daytona Beach, the sponsor pointed to excess building permit revenues, vehicle purchases, and reported P-card irregularities as reasons for a broader audit. The committee approved all three audit requests, directing the Auditor General to finalize the scope while considering the stated concerns. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide performance reviews of 21 neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 districts were active and six inactive, with common issues including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and recommended that several districts be reviewed to determine whether they were still needed. Members asked about staffing, inactivity criteria, and how the districts were administered, and staff explained that city or county liaisons often supplement district staffing. Later, staff reviewed enforcement actions for local governments that failed to file required financial reports or omitted required information from submitted audits. The committee discussed a list of noncompliant counties, municipalities, and special districts, including the town of Rayford, which staff said had long-standing reporting problems, no apparent municipal services, and no response to repeated outreach. The committee voted to send a letter to the Union County legislative delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve Rayford. It also approved staff recommendations to proceed against entities still missing required filings or missing audit information, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is later provided in good faith.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Law Enforcement Fiscal Year 2026-27 will be presenting today their legislative budget request
• This is our current budget allocation.
• entity. $1,000 between categories within the same budget entity.
• I've got Deputy Director Chuck Murphy that'll be behind me, but I'll take any budget questions that you
• Our current year's projected budget need is $619 million. This leaves... ...need is $619 million.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding. FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed. The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are things that I think that on the federal side that federal funding is In their budget And
• But again, I don't want to speak before they've published their, their, their budget, but because it's
• Last year I requested $600,000 for my, my personnel budget to provide stability.
• Chair, I was kind of more focused on, on his budget shortfall, on his regular, and, and I think maybe
• Chair, but it was more for his budget shortfall because of all the raises that he gave and compounded

Transcript Highlights:

• Republican congressional members that may end up moving forward will definitely affect our state's budget
• Republican congressional members that may end up moving forward will definitely affect our state's budget
• Republican congressional members that may end up moving forward will definitely affect our state's budget
• cannot afford to provide state budget cannot afford to provide that<00:04:21.600><c> more</c><00:04:
• We know legislators will be faced with a challenging budget situation in the coming years, but we look

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have budget targets, but the judicial branch has made a budget request.
• </c> our budget bill such as it is this year. our budget bill such as it is this year.
• budget targets, but have budget targets, but the<01:15:32.560><c> judicial</c><01:15:33.080><c> branch
• </c> the judicial branch has made a budget the judicial branch has made a budget request. request. request
• ,</c> comes from the county budget, comes from the county budget, there's<01:25:54.160><c> no</c><01:

Bills: HF4077, HF3809, HF3639, HF4478, HF3363, HF3874

Keywords: municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations

Summary: The Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee approved the minutes from March 25 and March 26, then took up House File 4077, a bipartisan bill authored by Representatives Greenman and Roach. The bill would prohibit municipalities from entering into non-disclosure agreements with private entities that restrict disclosure about land development, economic development, or publicly funded projects, while preserving existing Chapter 13 data practices rules and trade secret protections. The authors argued the bill is needed to prevent secret agreements and backroom decision-making that undermine public transparency, and they moved that the bill be re-referred to the general register. Several local officials and residents testified in support, including a St. Louis County commissioner, the mayor of Lonsdale, and residents from Farmington and Hermantown. Supporters said NDAs had been used in connection with data center and other development projects to keep elected officials and the public in the dark, eroding trust and limiting community input. They described the bill as a common-sense transparency measure and said existing law already protects legitimate trade secrets. Opposition came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Business Partnership, which argued that NDAs are often necessary in early-stage economic development discussions to protect sensitive business information and remain competitive with other states. They warned the bill could discourage investment, jobs, and tax growth, and said it would impose a one-size-fits-all state mandate that limits local discretion. Committee members then debated whether the bill was too broad and whether it should be narrowed to data centers; supporters responded that the issue extends beyond data centers to other forms of economic development. A roll call vote was requested on the motion to re-refer the bill to the general register, but the final vote result was not stated in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> average they were 27% of their budget average they were 27% of their budget and<00:05:35.440><c>
• Know you budgeting to have these projects put out there if you don't know?
• </c><00:53:31.040><c> is</c> is before the Senate gets the budget is is before the Senate gets the budget
• The amount in the budget right now is $500,000.
• The amount in the budget right now is $500,000.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The roof project began in early 2024, as mentioned in a previous budget request.
• as our budget for this roof project.
• </c><00:04:57.039><c> for</c> what we had estimated as our budget for what we had estimated as our budget
• Yes, it's not going to be through a budget.
• Yes, it's not going to be through a budget.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh we'll be meeting again tomorrow for an updated budget resolution at that time.
• We didn't go and try and do a supplemental budget this year.
• We didn't go and try and do a supplemental budget this year.
• He also said the budget bill passed just a few minutes ago is another example.
• Uh, and as I'll note, Medicaid budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so having a few percent hit on their budget would be impactful.
• And we don't have the money to budget.
• This comes out of our budgets, the assessors' budget. Budgetary impact on state funding.
• This comes out of our budgets, the assessors' budgets, our district's budgets.
• There would be triggers when we have budget surplus.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 620, a constitutional amendment and companion legislation to centralize collection of state and local sales taxes. The author and supporters from the Tax Foundation, COST, NFIB, and LABI argued that Louisiana’s decentralized system creates high compliance costs, inconsistent administration, and lost revenue, especially for small businesses and out-of-state sellers. Several members raised concerns about the recent rollout of the hybrid e-file system, the effect on local cash flow and auditability, and whether the state could implement a fully centralized system without disrupting parish and municipal revenues. The author ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer HB 620 and its companion HB 658 so the committee could see how the current system performs and continue working with local stakeholders. The committee then heard HB 898, which would dedicate a portion of surplus revenue to reducing and eventually eliminating the state income tax. The author described it as a gradual, revenue-triggered approach to tax elimination, while another member suggested pairing it with reductions in tax exemptions and credits. The bill was voluntarily deferred for future consideration. Next, the committee considered HB 217 and HB 214, a bill and constitutional amendment creating an optional property tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted or derelict properties. Support came from local government and law enforcement groups, who said the measure would give parishes and municipalities a tool to encourage redevelopment and reduce blight. Members discussed safeguards, including local option, whether the exemption should follow the property for 20 years, and whether a step-down at the end of the exemption period should be considered. HB 217 was reported favorably as amended, and HB 214 was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 514 and HB 561, both by Rep. Farnum, which expand property tax relief for seniors and certain trusts. HB 514 creates an optional additional ad valorem tax exemption for homeowners age 65 and older, and HB 561 extends eligibility to certain trusts when the qualifying owner occupies the home. Both measures were described as local-option tools to help seniors remain in their homes, and both were reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 812, by the vice chair, was heard to allow limited annual compensation increases for parish assessors. Assessor representatives said their duties have expanded and their pay has fallen behind clerks of court; members questioned the lack of direct local voter input, but the bill was presented as optional and funded locally, with discussion of transparency and a possible task force to coordinate future compensation policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• While there's a DMA budget impact shown this year, the bill will not impact DMA's budget.
• While there's a DMA budget impact shown this year, the bill will not impact DMA's budget.
• </c><00:03:49.680><c> Emergency</c><00:03:50.160><c> funds</c><00:03:50.560><c> are</c> DMA's budget.
• Emergency funds are DMA's budget.
• It does not raise the budget at all, and we do have a couple of testifiers. Perfect.

Bills: HF4615, HF3532, HF4492, HF4171

Keywords: military, pay, officers, enlisted members, state active service, Minnesota Statutes, veterans, burial eligibility, honor guard, state cemeteries, military service, burial fees, veterans affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, advisory task force, commanders task force, veterans service organizations, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll call the Leadership Division of the Budget Section to order, and ask the clerk to take the roll.
• 1228 charged the board with reviewing specific issues related to management of the state's cash and budget
• These included reviewing existing policies, and if necessary, And budget.
• The board also examined how off-budget funds and specialized programs are managed.
• If it’s a pilot program... ...so they’re going to require that this next budget that they’re going to

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous minutes, and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has been reviewing statewide cash, liquidity, and investment practices, finding that the state generally manages money well but could improve forecasting, automation, and coordination across agencies. He highlighted that the state has about $35 billion in liquid assets and investments, with most in longer-term investments, and described a change already underway replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work. Members also discussed the impact of House Bill 1176 on Legacy Fund earnings and the possibility of future legislation to avoid losing investment returns when large transfers are made all at once. The board also noted that some agencies still hold funds outside the Bank of North Dakota system, and that this is being reviewed. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the Task Force on Government Efficiency, saying the group has focused on how to measure whether programs are actually working. He said the task force has not yet proposed legislation, but the administration has agreed that new and expanding programs should answer five questions, including who is affected, what outcome is expected, whether there is another way to do it, and how success will be measured. Members discussed the need for dashboards, program evaluators, better data collection, and possible use of artificial intelligence to identify duplicate or outdated programs. Toman said the task force will continue reviewing agency workflows, with upcoming presentations from courts, the university system, the auditor, and other agencies, and that future legislation or rule changes may be needed to require performance metrics. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota presented labor market and program updates. He reported that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5%, labor force participation is about 68.7%, and the state continues to rank near the top nationally. He reviewed job openings, in-demand occupations, and several workforce programs, including H-2A agricultural worker inspections, the Job Placement Partnership Program with DOCR, and virtual and in-person job fairs. Davis said the DOCR partnership has shown strong results, with lower recidivism and higher earnings for participants, and he emphasized that Job Service tracks outcomes and reports them to federal and state partners. Members asked about child care subsidies, workforce participation, agency coordination, and whether more staff are needed for H-2A inspections. Finally, Allen Knutson presented the updated S&P Global revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the last update, making the revenue outlook more favorable but still volatile. S&P’s baseline forecast showed the current biennium’s four major tax collections about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and a much larger increase for the next biennium, though he cautioned that federal tax changes and oil market uncertainty could alter the numbers. In an alternate scenario using higher near-term oil prices, he estimated about $242 million more in oil and gas tax collections and roughly $120 million more for the Strategic Investment Fund. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about changes in tribal oil production assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It certainly was not the intent to stifle budget discussions like that, but it is designed to stifle
• </c><00:18:32.720><c> budget</c> the intent to stifle um budgets budget the intent to stifle um budgets
• budget discussions<00:18:33.679><c> like</c><00:18:33.840><c> that,</c><00:18:34.080><c> but</c><00:
• I'm concerned about the budget whether it passes or not, which is why I just asked to bring this to a
• um and I think it'll survive, the budget um and I think it'll survive, but<02:09:07.599><c> I</c><02

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The committee of conference first met on Senate Bill 221, which concerned annual voter roll verification and the lookback period for checking voter registration lists. The Senate favored looking back to presidential elections to reduce the number of voters removed, while the House argued for annual verification with a one-year lookback because the voter roll database now makes the process easier and because of population mobility and student turnover. Members discussed possible refinements to the 30-day letter process and agreed to recess and return Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to continue negotiations. The committee then took up Senate Bill 213 and Senate Bill 218, both involving absentee voting and public employee electioneering restrictions. On SB 213, the discussion focused on clarifying identification/documentation requirements for absentee ballot-related applications and on a House amendment to preserve the ability of certain public employees to provide factual information to the public about official matters without violating the bill. On SB 218, the Senate wanted to remove outer envelopes from absentee voting materials, while the House supported keeping the bill but clarifying that only applicable documentation is required. Members raised concerns about voter access, clerks’ procedures, and whether the electioneering language was too broad; both bills were held over and recessed for further work. The committee also considered Senate Bill 287, which dealt with public employee electioneering and a related carve-out for factual responses by appointed public employees. The House and Senate discussed combining amendments, but the House member said the underlying bill was needed to curb partisan electioneering while still allowing factual public information. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 118, which would adjust a personal needs allowance for nursing home residents, address Hampstead Hospital employee bonuses, and create a maintenance fund for the hospital. The Senate objected to a House-added cannabis cultivation provision, saying it was unrelated to the bill and could jeopardize the measure because of the Senate’s and governor’s opposition to cannabis language; the committee recessed to revisit the issue later, with the House noting the base bill’s importance to nursing home residents and Hampstead Hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Republican budget and the economic policies of President Trump are a disaster for our country.
• The budget resolution passed by the Senate this weekend lays out a plan that would send trillions more
• Herman Center for the Federal Budget in Washington, D.C. Mr. Breshears. Mr.
• and the budget blueprint for fiscal year 2022.
• Herman Center for the Federal Budget.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• beginning to see that Donald Trump's disastrous economic policies are harming household and state budgets
• , and we had a no shenanigans handshake that we were going to be playing shenanigans with the budget.
• , and we had a no shenanigans handshake that we were going to be playing shenanigans with the budget.
• bills to ensure that we can get Minnesota's budget enacted on time.
• ><00:20:38.840><c> on</c> we can get Minnesota's budget enacted on we can get Minnesota's budget enacted

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Tomorrow we are going to have the co-chair of JFAC come before the committee, along with the budget analyst
• , and go over the Health and Welfare budget.
• And as you're going through those numbers, start thinking of which category or which section of the budget
• and have our committee have a chance to look at the budget also.
• So tomorrow we will have the budget in front of the committee.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee met with a quorum present, approved the January 15, 2026 minutes, and then considered several RS drafts for introduction. RS 32847, from the Department of Health and Welfare, would codify background-check requirements needed to maintain FBI database access for certain licenses and facility operators, based on six items the FBI said Idaho law needed to include; it was introduced without objection. The committee also introduced RS 32853, from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, which would merge the Board of Dentistry into the Board of Dentistry as stated in the transcript. RS 32859 would merge the Board of Podiatry into the Board of Medicine; members asked why the draft did not also eliminate related rules, and the division said it was focusing on the merger language now and could address moving rules to statute later. Despite that discussion, the RS was introduced. RS 32861, also from DOPL, would update Idaho’s Controlled Substances Act so the legislature can independently review scheduling decisions, rather than incorporating DEA scheduling by reference. The presenter said the draft included 11 new Schedule I substances and two Schedule II opioids, along with cleanup changes such as correcting drafting errors, adding abbreviations, removing references to board rule, and rewording for clarity. It was introduced without opposition. The chair then announced that the committee would hear the Health and Welfare budget the next day with JFAC leadership and staff, and the meeting adjourned.