Transcript Highlights:

• We have Idaho Code, Title 54, Chapter 35, We have Idaho Code, Title 54, Chapter 35.
• So we're just going to read it here: 'Compacts establish uniform guidelines and standards that must be
• The bill before you is obviously touching a lot of different code, but that's just because it's hitting
• There was an Idaho Code amendment back then through the Occupational Licensing Reform Act, and it kind
• examples if there are questions where this has been applicable and useful in different chapters of code

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the things that I think is important is that the sheriffs want to have greater uniformity
• system or some kind of uniform contracting.
• You want to make it uniform because it has to be more regionally focused.
• It doesn’t, not in the uniform sense, but at least in the Department of Corrections.
• There is a problem not just with the codes, but with the disparity in how someone is maintained.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission opened an informal discussion focused on developing recommendations for its September report on correctional consolidation and cooperation. Chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger emphasized that the group is still in an information-gathering phase, but should begin putting ideas on the table, including possible written recommendations, further hearings, and additional facility tours. Members discussed whether the commission should seek more input from frontline stakeholders such as sheriffs, probation, parole, reentry centers, unions, and the judiciary, and whether recommendations should be organized around specific issue areas like medical costs, programming, reentry, and facility operations. A major theme was the need for a more integrated and consistent correctional system. Participants raised concerns about fragmentation across DOC, county sheriffs, probation, and parole, and suggested exploring step-down pathways, minimum security, pre-release, day reporting, and regional reentry hubs to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism. Several speakers stressed the importance of uniform standards, evidence-based programming, better data on outcomes and spending, and clearer alignment between custody conditions and rehabilitation goals. There was also discussion of looking to other states and international models, as well as revisiting older reports and plans, including the 2009 commission report and the 2010 corrections master plan. Facility-specific issues were also raised, including the need to examine women’s facilities such as Framingham, Bridgewater, and restrictive housing practices in light of suicide concerns and mental health needs. Members discussed the relationship between correctional custody and behavioral health, the role of the judiciary in sentencing and reentry planning, and whether judges should be better informed about available programming and step-down options. There was broad agreement that collaboration, transparency, and accountability should be strengthened, with some members urging that recommendations be based on firsthand facts and data rather than opinion alone. The meeting also included presentation of a written set of eight high-level recommendations compiled by advocacy and legal organizations, which focused on clearer and more consistent programming, equitable application of rules, and reducing punitive conditions that function like solitary confinement. The chairs said the document would be shared with members and posted online. No formal votes were taken during the discussion, and the meeting ended with plans to continue the conversation at a future session, including possible follow-up on reentry centers, restrictive housing, and other systemwide reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's not being a rebel today, not being in uniform.
• Right now we're using that SIP code to impact funding.
• They say, what is it, seven years old now with the SIP codes?
• This formula maintains the SIP code that we currently use.
• This formula maintains the SIP code that we currently use.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this more commercial uh development.
• And we know on the tax committee the value of commercial property.
• I I think um in commercial property.
• </c> a commercial-rich a commercial-rich uh uh uh school<00:10:39.960><c> district</c><00:10:40.520><
• Code 42, section 4955.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I started a career as the commercial lines under... So I'll just mention my background.
• When you talk about ZIP codes adjacent to a recent fire, those same ZIP codes could have similar risk
• We're able to get that down to a ZIP code, but the problem is some of these ZIP codes can be very large
• Some ZIP codes are very large, some are very compact.
• Do we have data on non-renewals in adjacent ZIP codes?

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy insurance-focused agenda, including special-order bills on wildfire mitigation, Fair Plan accountability, aerial imagery, genetic testing, and wildfire moratoriums. AB 1888 would require California Safe Homes Grant Program work to be performed by a skilled and trained workforce at prevailing wage; it drew support from the author, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and labor representatives, with no opposition heard. AB 1680, the “Make-It-Fair Act,” would impose accountability and consumer-protection reforms on the California FAIR Plan in response to Department of Insurance examination findings; it passed out on a do-pass motion to Appropriations, though the FAIR Plan Association remained opposed unless amended. AB 1559 would require notice and access rights when insurers use aerial images of homes and allow in-person inspection requests; it passed on a do-pass motion to Privacy and Consumer Protection, with broad support and one “concern” witness. The committee also took up AB 1798, which would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer genetic testing, for underwriting below a $1.5 million coverage threshold. Supporters, including the author, the Insurance Commissioner, the ALS Association, and several consumer and biotech groups, argued the bill would reduce fear of genetic discrimination and encourage testing and research. Opponents from life insurance and financial advisor groups argued the bill could impair risk-based underwriting and raise premiums, especially in the middle market. After extensive back-and-forth on the distinction between predictive genetic data and doctor-assessed medical risk, the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a do-pass vote, with several members voting no. AB 2038 would extend wildfire-related nonrenewal moratoriums from two to three years for total-loss homes and from one to two years for homes in and around fire zones. Supporters said the change better matches the real rebuilding timeline after major fires and protects displaced homeowners from losing coverage while rebuilding. Insurers and trade groups opposed the measure, warning that longer moratoriums could force carriers to reduce exposure elsewhere and worsen the broader availability crisis. The bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote. The committee also approved AB 1800, which adds eyewear to portable electronics insurance coverage, and moved a consent calendar of additional bills, including AB 1554, AB 1683, AB 1781, and AB 2471. Later, AB 2198 was introduced to clarify title-rate filing responsibilities between title insurers and underwritten title companies and to require rate schedules to be posted publicly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Response: When you talk about zip codes adjacent to a recent fire, those same zip codes could have similar
• We were able to get that down to a zip code, but the problem is some of these zip codes can be very large
• Let me ask the authors on the selection of zip codes, and yeah, I think it’s true.
• Some zip codes are very large, some are very compact.
• Response: Do we have data on non-renewals in adjacent zip codes?

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commercialization. Commercialization. Oh yeah, absolutely.
• Speaking about commercialization...
• Talk about that and commercialization. Yeah.
• It's going to be a huge driver of commercial development.
• It's the second busiest non-commercial airport in Texas.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OPEC serves as the voice for Texas small commercial and residential consumers in utility proceedings.
• Residential and small commercial consumers will benefit from more accurate load growth forecasting and
• Over the past 10 years, small commercial and residential load has increased.
• So a thoughtful re-examination of 4cp would benefit residential and small commercial consumers.
• Striking a balance between resiliency and affordability for small commercial and residential consumers

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, local government code mandates that counties manage surplus or salvage property, including
• to, uh, basically bypass the requirement to auction these, which, uh, chapter 263 local government code
• Um, we've got Close to 1600 uniformed officers that work for the, the sheriff's office, or that's how
• everybody's in support of this, and we just need to, you know, kind of update the local government code
• Uh, currently, the occupations code, uh, allows for county commissioners' courts in counties that are

Transcript Highlights:

• Those family care homes still have to have commercial insurance, like a separate line of insurance.
• I don't know whether it's called a commercial line or what it's termed, but we found we believe there
• was 10 carriers that had a I don't know whether it's called a commercial line or what it's termed, but
• It's not up to code. It wouldn't pass any inspection.
• It's not up to code. It wouldn't pass any inspection.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee began with a roll call confirming a quorum, then heard a presentation of the proposed health care budget. The chair said the overall health care budget would total $46.7 billion, a 2.1% decrease in total spending and a 3% increase in general revenue, while reducing 3,585 state FTE. He highlighted funding for Medicaid, KidCare, developmental disabilities services, opioid settlement spending, mental health facilities, senior services, school health nurses, veterans’ dental care, and veterans nursing home improvements. The chair also presented PCB HCB 25-01, a conforming bill that eliminates the Health Care Innovation Program, the Health Care Innovation Council, and the revolving loan program; makes changes to cancer research and graduate medical education provisions; and adjusts Medicaid rebate-related language. The conforming bill passed favorably after no questions, public testimony, or debate. The committee then considered CS/HB 47 on child care. The bill, as explained by Rep. McFarland, would reduce regulation for child care providers in good standing, speed background screening for child care workers, allow provisional hiring status in some cases, create license-exempt status for certain employer-provided child care facilities and DOD child care facilities, and remove outdated paperwork requirements such as the flu brochure. An amendment restored language protecting large family child care homes from being dropped by residential insurers and cleaned up statutory language; it was adopted. Members debated the bill at length, with supporters emphasizing common-sense deregulation and helping working parents, while some members raised concerns about safety, early learning quality, and the loss of informational reminders to parents. The bill was reported favorably. The subcommittee also heard HB 1553 on a uterine fibroid research database. Rep. Dunkley explained that the bill would require health care providers to submit identified fibroid data to DOH so it can be de-identified for a research database, after the department had been unable to use prior de-identified submissions reliably. An amendment removed the current appropriation and was adopted. Members spoke in strong support, noting the prevalence of fibroids and the value of better diagnosis and treatment data. The bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1529, which addresses the home health aide program for medically fragile children. Rep. Tremont said the bill would direct AHCA to seek a federal waiver so parents’ earnings from caring for their children would not count against Medicaid eligibility, and would revise training requirements and remove mandated annual program assessments. The bill drew supportive public testimony from home care stakeholders, had no debate, and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, so I think building codes are there, so I think we're up, you know, updated building codes, but
• to those building codes.
• , or the codes are better.
• </c> to the codes that they were built to. to the codes that they were built to.
• </c> codes or the codes are better. codes or the codes are better.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• also amendments, Madam President, that I suspect will be adopted relative to further promoting our commercial
• also amendments, Madam President, that I suspect will be adopted relative to further promoting our commercial
• also amendments, Madam President, that I suspect will be adopted relative to further promoting our commercial
• legislation to protect firefighters with the requirement that they're saving lives with PFAS in their uniforms

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Construction of new schools, you know, changes in the building code.
• And we look at commerce: how much commercial real estate is out there?
• How much commercial real estate is vacant?
• Commercial access at the port.
• That New Glenn launch vehicle is that single configuration to support civil, commercial, and national

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session, with members introducing themselves and expressing support for veterans, military families, first responders, space industry growth, and domestic security. The first presentation was from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and recovery efforts. Officials described response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, including sheltering, meals, water, tarps, power restoration, flood control, debris removal, and public assistance funding. They emphasized that recovery is ongoing, that mitigation and resiliency investments are critical, and that Florida’s shelter space remains in deficit in many counties, especially for special needs populations. Senators asked about improving logistics capacity, technology for grant processing, HOA/private property debris issues, drainage and culvert maintenance, and ways to expand shelter capacity; the witness said more technology, better local coordination, and county-by-county planning would help, while noting limits on state authority over private property and county emergency manager qualifications. Committee members praised FDEM’s response and asked how the Legislature could help, including whether more logistical hubs, pumps, and flood-control equipment were needed. The witness said technology investments could reduce fatigue and improve grant and recovery processing, but that manpower would still be necessary. The committee also discussed the statewide emergency shelter plan, the use of schools as shelters, and the need to identify vacant commercial space and other facilities for future sheltering and special-needs needs. The witness said FDEM works with counties and commerce partners to identify available space and uses legislative funding for shelter retrofits and new construction when needed. The second presentation was from Blue Origin on its Florida operations. The company outlined its work in New Glenn, New Shepard, Blue Ring, lunar landers, and engine production, highlighting its Space Coast presence, more than 3,600 Florida employees, and over $3 billion invested in facilities. Blue Origin also described partnerships with Space Florida, public school Space Academies, internships, SkillBridge, and STEM outreach through Club for the Future. Members asked about the upcoming New Glenn launch window, which the company said was targeted for later that week, and the committee expressed interest in Blue Origin’s role in Florida’s space economy. The meeting ended with no further business and a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another post-disaster challenge is compliance with recently updated Florida Building Code and the National
• We just last week finished our commercial and residential debris pickup.
• Eric Olson: And before we had the storms, 2 days before Ian, we had a massive fire in our commercial
• So it's important that we do everything we can to continue to support these building codes.
• Having those better building codes, all those things will really help us.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be uniform increases, I think, either... Department... If they...
• Chairman Pettis: Okay, under existing law, the state procurement code governs all purchases made by the

Bills: SB45 , SB73 , SB169 , HB243 , SB177

Committee: House Fiscal Responsibility

Keywords: athlete agents, commission, state regulation, Alabama, higher education, athletics, membership diversity, catastrophe savings account, catastrophe fund, storm savings, disaster savings, hurricane, windstorm, floodwaters, hail, tornado, property insurance, homeowners insurance, insurance deductible, FORTIFIED

Transcript Highlights:

• many of the committee members present today, as we all work to address our state's homeowners and commercial
• We are working to ensure that no customer is left behind because of their ZIP code, the roof type that
• Again, if we're seeing the FAIR Plan diminish in size and scope and certain ZIP codes, and that insurance
• How are we engaging with the industry to see what characteristics in this specific zip code or county
• The last two years because of the lack of commercial habitational risk insurance.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, there was a conversation the previous speaker said about commercial and residential.
• radius, chances are you're in a commercial zone.
• </c><01:35:08.480><c> That's</c> about commercial and residential.
• That's about commercial and residential.
• </c> create districts where commercial create districts where commercial property<01:38:16.400><c> owners

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we found that the Boxing and MMA Commission issued licenses to some applicants who did not sign a code
• Boxing and MMA Commission modified its online application to require applicants to submit a signed code
• Boxing and MMA Commission modified its online application to require applicants to submit a signed code
• We work in partnership with tribal and commercial operators to maximize the economic impact of gaming
• And so as those deductions—and if you've ever seen the commercials, different things about free bets

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a blended rate that includes residential, commercial, and industrial electricity sectors.
• Serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
• But they are there by electric codes to turn the system off if there's a fire.
• The battery project has to be compliant with the county fire code.
• Do they follow the county fire code? They will follow the state law.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, poll standards are governed, governed by the National Electric Safety Code, but they are no mand
• OPEC serves as the voice for Texas small commercial and residential consumers in utility proceedings,
• Over the past 10 years, small commercial and residential load has increased by less than 25% in Texas
• So a thoughtful reexamination of 4CP would benefit residential and small commercial consumers.
• So these are not commercial units. They would be, uh, they would be pilot projects.

Committee: House State Affairs