Transcript Highlights:

• I think it was two budget cycles ago, we had a request to hire 200 more social workers.
• I think it was two budget cycles ago, we had a request to hire 200 more social workers.
• I think it was two budget cycles ago, we had a request to hire 200 more social workers.
• budget cycles ago, we had a request to budget cycles ago, we had a request to hire<00:24:32.480><c> 200
• </c> the upcoming budget. the upcoming budget.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services heard a presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults with serious mental illness who do not qualify for nursing home care but need structured support, medication assistance, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and supervision. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and rely on a state supplementation rate of about $50.70 per day, which they argued no longer covers operating costs because of rising food, labor, insurance, and maintenance expenses. The presenters said the sector has shrunk significantly over time, citing a drop from 64 homes in 2002 to 34 today among the homes serving this population, with 30 closures over 23 years and two more closures since August. They argued that the closures have contributed to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer stays in psychiatric hospitals, and they gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before stabilizing in a personal care home. One provider also described spending more than $800,000 on capital improvements after acquiring Kentucky facilities and said reimbursement is too low to sustain safe operations. They asked for an incremental reimbursement increase over two years and said they have also proposed an assisted-living model for people with mental illness. Members asked about staffing, reimbursement, and the number of people still needing placement. The presenters said there is no requirement for licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use medication technicians and occasional LPNs. They estimated they are currently serving about 2,000 residents and said they receive roughly 30 referrals for every one person admitted, with many referrals involving people whose needs exceed the personal care home level. Senator Meredith and Representative Fleming said any funding request would need documentation of savings and corresponding budget offsets, while Representative Duval expressed support and asked about possible staffing and program improvements. The witnesses also compared Kentucky’s flat-rate reimbursement to a more individualized reimbursement model in Minnesota, saying a needs-based system would better match staffing and reduce hospitalizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can the budget absorb some... ...capacity?
• And thanks again to oil and gas for helping us have budget surpluses. Thank you, Mr.
• Utilities' request to private or government property to carry out approved mitigation plans.
• And I think that should be done on a regular basis with or without the request of the PRC.
• Should be done on a regular basis, with or without the request of the PRC.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can the budget absorb some... capacity.
• And thanks again to oil and gas for helping us have budget surpluses. Thank you, Mr.
• It says that the PRC can request that they be updated no more than once every five years.
• It says that the PRC can request that they be updated no more than one. can request that they be updated
• And I think that should be done on a regular basis with or without the request of the PRC.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 55, which would expand New Mexico’s solar market development income tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal solar credit expired, raise the per-credit cap from $6,000 to $15,000, and keep the existing overall $30 million cap with a sunset in 2032. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would help stabilize the residential solar sector, protect jobs, and support consumers, small businesses, small agriculture, and tribal communities. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, though some members raised questions about fiscal capacity and the bill’s impact. The committee passed SB 55 on a 7-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 267, the Wildfire Mitigation and Liability Act, on a committee substitute. The bill would require utilities to file and maintain wildfire mitigation plans, obtain PRC approval, and receive a rebuttable presumption in civil actions if they substantially comply; it also includes access provisions for mitigation work on private and public property, cost recovery, damage limits, and a one-year statute of limitations. Utilities and co-op representatives supported the bill as a way to reduce wildfire risk and address rising insurance costs, while insurers, OSI, and wildfire-victim advocates opposed it, arguing it overly limits liability, shifts losses to homeowners and insurers, and does not fully compensate victims. Several committee members expressed concern about the liability standards, deemed approval, access to property, and the short limitations period, but the bill ultimately passed on an 8-3 vote after the chair corrected the motion and revote. Next, House Bill 320, the Industrial Carbon Reduction Act, was presented. It would create production incentives and capital grants for industrial materials made at least 40% cleaner than the industry average, with clawbacks for underperformance and competitive review by EDD and Environment. Supporters from the gas company and chambers of commerce said it uses performance-based incentives to encourage cleaner manufacturing, attract investment, and create jobs. One member raised an anti-donation clause concern, but the sponsor said the bill’s performance requirements and clawbacks address that issue. The committee passed HB 320 on a 10-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, a follow-up to last year’s wildlife agency reform bill. It would replace vetoed language by creating a process for a governor’s removal of a wildlife commissioner that includes notice, a hearing, and direct review by the New Mexico Supreme Court, while keeping the governor’s removal authority for cause. Ranching, angling, outfitter, and conservation groups supported the bill as a bipartisan fix that adds accountability and avoids political retaliation. Members asked about the removal process and direct Supreme Court review, and some who had initially been skeptical said the testimony changed their view. The bill was moving forward with support at the end of the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am requesting this committee that the same panel come before this committee so that we can make every
• DOJ budget dime, basically.
• I have at least three more requests to make from that department.
• Requests to make from that department.
• for in my information requests, and of course have not received those yet.

Transcript Highlights:

• requests for information.
• Right now, typically, we can ask for information or use the public records request law, but it adds a
• specific provision for legislative requests.
• So this would take another step to put them on notice that this is a legislative request.
• I knew they knew information about this budget line item. We set up a meeting to discuss that.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee heard RS 32967 from Representative Manwaring, which would expand protections for state and public employees who communicate with the legislature. He said the proposal would treat good-faith communications with lawmakers as protected activity, prohibit gag policies or prior-approval requirements, tie violations to whistleblower-style remedies, and add a specific public-records provision for legislative requests. In response to a question, he gave an example of an employee being restricted from meeting without others present and said the measure was intended to address such situations while preserving existing subpoena authority. The committee moved to introduce RS 32967, and the motion carried. The committee then considered RS 33032 from Representative Church, a measure focused on political violence and public trust in government. Church explained that the RS had been revised after earlier discussion: language referring to "crimes against the state" was removed because it was unclear, and a 2025 limitation was removed so the measure would apply going forward, while still referencing the 2025 incidents involving Charlie Kirk and Representative Hortman. Members voiced support, and the committee voted to introduce RS 33032 and send it directly to the second reading calendar. Before adjourning, the chair noted that only one RS remained for the next day and encouraged members to get any remaining items to the committee quickly. No further business was taken up.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> finance committee to deliver a budget finance committee to deliver a budget that<00:05:39.160><c
• But yet when you look at our budget, our personnel costs are really less than 11% of our whole budget
• Most of our budget, a lot of our budget, is in Medicaid.
• ><00:15:44.959><c> we</c> budget the agency budget in August we budget the agency budget in August we
• </c><00:16:12.240><c> months</c><00:16:13.120><c> be</c> budget our agency budget 10 months be budget

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened an informational Division 3 Finance hearing focused on DHHS programmatic issues rather than budget line items. The chair emphasized that members should avoid questions requiring dollar figures and noted that the coming budget cycle would likely be difficult because revenues are expected to be tighter. Commissioner Lori Weaver said the department wanted to use the session to explain its functions at a high level, with more detailed presentations to follow, and to collect questions for later responses. Weaver outlined DHHS’s mission of supporting optimal health for state residents and described the department’s three main responsibilities: protection and prevention, client service delivery, and regulatory oversight. She said DHHS has eight divisions, a $3.6 billion total budget, about $1.217 billion in general funds, roughly a quarter of state positions, and personnel costs that are less than 11% of the budget. She also noted a recent hiring freeze, explained that the department did not request new positions except where required by law, and said vacancy rates had improved from 22% to 14% over the last two years but could rise again because of attrition and the hiring freeze. Weaver and CFO Nathan White then discussed why the DHHS budget is complex, explaining that it is built from multiple funding sources and is shaped by assumptions made months before the fiscal year begins, actual service demand, and cost allocation rules used to draw down federal funds. White highlighted maintenance-of-effort requirements, including TANF, where state spending is needed to secure federal matching funds and shortfalls can trigger penalties. At the committee’s request, DHHS agreed to provide a simplified historical accounting of TANF contributions to show how the match is assembled across positions, contracts, and other factors. The department also reviewed its roadmap, which Weaver described as a framework developed with staff and stakeholders around three themes: culture, community, and customer service. She highlighted priorities such as Mission Zero to end emergency department boarding, expanding access to community-based and residential behavioral health services, reducing reliance on institutional care, improving contract management with nonprofit and provider partners, using data dashboards to guide decisions, and investing in workforce stability and culture. No votes were taken; the main action was DHHS’s commitment to provide additional follow-up materials, including the TANF contribution breakdown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I move that measures reported by the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, June 3rd.
• Members, I move that measures reported by the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, June 15th
• I rise to request that AB 28 be taken off the inactive file at the request of the author.
• inactive file at the request of the author.
• He managed a budget of $2 billion.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled several procedural matters, including referral of AB 686 to Rules, approval of motions to advance Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures and adopt authors’ amendments, and requests to move AB 28 and AB 2539 to the inactive file. The chamber also confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Maggie Hallahan to the Bodina Waterways Commission and Kansasaki to the Building Standards Commission. On the floor, members took up two resolutions focused on public awareness and policy messaging. SCR 181 designated June 10 as Family Justice Center Day and highlighted the work of Family Justice Centers serving survivors of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking; it passed 36-0. SR 112 declared June 14-20 as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Awareness Week to encourage awareness, family health-history sharing, and early screening; it also passed unanimously. SJR 18, a resolution opposing the Citizens United decision and calling for limits on corporate influence and dark money in elections, generated extended debate over campaign finance, transparency, unions, nonprofits, and corporate political spending before passing 28-8. The consent calendar was then adopted on a 35-0 vote. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including Larry Mazzola, Sr., Steve Zaley, and James J. McClain, Sr., followed by announcements that the Senate would recess and reconvene on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I move that measures reported by the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, June 3rd.
• Members, I move that measures reported by the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, June 15th
• I rise to request that AB 28 be taken off the inactive file at the request of the author.
• file at the request of the author.
• AB 2539 be pulled from consent calendar and moved to the inactive file at the request of the author.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is the federal office that prescribes what must be tested
• Request an exception to some or all of the Medicaid RAC requirements, which is what Arkansas has done
• The feds will grant an exception for that if you go through the appropriate process and request that,
• Everyone wants to know about our budget.
• A waiver request cannot. Those are the big differences that we always get lots of questions about.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• A budget trailer bill that had the goal of stabilizing the budget for the Department of Toxic Substance
• DTSC would include in this response their request for additional information and other relevant timelines
• I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you. Thank you.
• We highly appreciate the work that Senator Arazo and her office have done and we respectfully request
• Nor are they requesting additional time to comply with the Chromium 6 MCL.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the information I present today comes from my examination of public budget materials and public
• records requests submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
• “Last year, I published a piece with the Budget and Policy Center estimating that collecting LFOs in
• That testing will shift to local budgets.
• my request.

Bills: HB2161, HB2332, HB2102

Keywords: attorney general, legal authority, state powers, judiciary, civil rights, driver privacy, data protection, personal information, surveillance, consumer rights, legal obligations, financial responsibility, debt management, consumer protection, court systems, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's not a lot more to fill in the blanks with respect to the bond request.
• For these reasons, we do request a no vote. Thank you. Thank you.
• And when we look at budgets every year, I don't see much in our budgets again.
• We know it's not enough, but it was the first time we got it in the budget.
• It's just the cost to the budget. But they're not talking about the ripple effects when you hear...

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the department I think the first request the department I think the first request sort<00:05:57.960
• </c> that you've noticed um after budget that you've noticed um after budget hearings<00:07:27.919><c
• </c> about it as we get into the budget about it as we get into the budget session<00:27:34.720><c> and
• </c><01:39:32.800><c> that</c> motion I've got a motion to request that motion I've got a motion to request
• </c><02:30:11.439><c> we</c> any issues so that's one request we any issues so that's one request we

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of limited our budget, I don't see how we can.
• I can speak to our program budget.
• We operate on a $1.2 million budget per year. $1.2 million budget? Yes.
• I can speak to our program budget.
• So we operate on a $1.2 million budget per year. 1.2 million dollar budget? Yes.

Bills: SB1095, SB1114, SB1116, SB1162, SB1164, SB1178, SB1179, SB1249, SB1253, SB1346, SB1347, SB1446, SB1561, SB1813

Keywords: gender transition, minors, irreversible surgery, health professionals, puberty-blocking drugs, medical procedures, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare compliance, behavioral health technicians, licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Committee will come to order.
• AB 107 is a budget bill junior, which includes a variety of changes to the Budget Acts of 2023, 2024,
• The first bill, AB 107, includes amendments to budget bill items in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Budget Acts
• the budget of our citizens and the budget of the utilities to make sure they are held accountable for
• We're also considering the budget of our citizens and the budget of the utilities to make sure they are

Summary: The Senate Budget Committee heard two bills: AB 107, a budget bill junior making largely technical changes to the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Budget Acts, and AB 117, a trailer bill authorizing a regional transit loan package for Bay Area agencies. Department of Finance staff said AB 107 contains no new state money or new policy items, but makes adjustments such as extending encumbrance periods, updating federal authority, moving $20 million in tourism promotion funding from Visit California to GoBiz, and adding an APA exemption for certain climate bond program guidelines. AB 117 would allow CalSTA to loan up to $590 million from unallocated Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds to MTC, which would then lend to BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit; the loans would run 12 years with two years interest-only, and the state said the structure is intended to be cost-neutral and protected by repayment safeguards. Committee discussion focused heavily on transparency, oversight, and whether the transit loan could jeopardize future projects or become a de facto bailout if a Bay Area sales tax measure fails. Several senators questioned the need for the APA exemption in AB 107, arguing that emergency or existing public processes might provide better oversight, while supporters said the exemption was needed to get voter-approved climate bond funds out the door and that the language had already been agreed to in the budget process. On AB 117, senators raised concerns about declining ridership, fare evasion, safety, post-pandemic travel patterns, repayment sources, and the impact on other TIRCP projects such as BART Phase 2. Finance staff and transit representatives responded that ridership changes were driven by COVID-era shifts, labor and safety issues, and changing commute patterns, and that the loan would be secured against existing state transit assistance streams rather than general fund dollars. Public comment was largely supportive of both bills. Water, natural resources, and environmental groups backed the APA exemption in AB 107, saying it would speed implementation of Proposition 4 funding for water recycling, wildfire, coastal resilience, and related projects. Transit agencies and labor groups supported AB 117, saying the loan is needed to stabilize operations and preserve service while local revenue measures and efficiency efforts are pursued; San Francisco, Caltrain, BART, and AC Transit all testified in favor, though San Jose asked for stronger protections for previously approved TIRCP-funded projects. The committee first passed AB 107 and AB 117 on 8-4 and 9-4 votes, placed them on call, then later lifted the calls and both bills ultimately passed with 11 votes each and were sent out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and this appropriation no longer required since it is already in the budget.
• So we have monies, um, in that, um, budget as well.
• </c><00:15:15.760><c> the</c> three and this was requesting the three and this was requesting the appropriation
• c><00:15:37.600><c> already</c><00:15:38.160><c> in</c><00:15:38.560><c> the</c><00:15:38.800><c> budget
• So we have it is already in the budget.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met on April 25 in Room 229 and handled several bills, often by rolling them over when finance or budget releases were still pending. HB 1007 HD2 SD2 on HCDA was simply continued to 1:00 p.m. in the same room. HB 1316 HD2 SD1 on DLNR rental vessels and registration was later taken up, with members noting a proposed CD1 based on the Senate draft; after quorum was confirmed, both chambers voted yes and the measure was approved. SB 465 HD1 on Kiki Aola small boat harbor was rolled to 4:00 p.m. in Room 441 because the required release had not yet been received. HB 86 on Makai Watch was also deferred for lack of quorum, and HB 800 HD1 SD2 on government real property and land transfer was eventually voted out after the missing House member arrived, with both House and Senate voting yes. SB 1221 SD2/HD3 on water safety and retention/detention ponds was described as requiring county ordinances and surveys of existing ponds; the conference draft added “Sharky’s Law,” set a January 1, 2027 start date for county ordinances, and was approved unanimously by both chambers. The committees also discussed SB 223 SD2/HD1 on wildfire prevention and forest reserve fire protection. The measure would create an independent DNR wildfire prevention program, authorize forestry and wildlife facilities for fire protection and related work, allow the State Fire Council to strengthen fire code requirements in hazardous fire areas, establish a community fuels reduction project, require legislative reporting, and provide funding. The conferees explained that section 3, which sought an additional appropriation for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, was removed because the money was already included in the budget. The bill’s effective dates were set for July 1, 2025, and it was rolled over to 4:00 p.m. in Room 411 rather than voted on at that time. Later, HB 1220 HD1 SD1 on invasive species in Kaneohe Bay was taken up and passed after quorum was confirmed, with both House and Senate members voting yes. HB 778 HD2 SD1 on the integrated land use office and land use study, SB 739 HD1 on land exchange, and HB 830 HD2 SD2 on historic preservation reviews were all agreed to in principle but rolled over to later meetings because finance or WAM releases were still outstanding. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly noted absences, excused members, and the need to reschedule items to later in the afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some state dollars that have been requested by 'Who We Play For' in appropriations.
• I think $975,000 is what they Requested this year.
• If Florida's budget had all of its eggs in one basket, Medicaid would be that basket.
• I think it's really probably just to align with our annual budgeting process.
• And it should be in time for us to do our budget for the following year.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So some agents do um request that too.
• It's a little request for this bill.
• </c> could request that somebody different. could request that somebody different.
• </c> board request in 60 days. Correct. board request in 60 days. Correct.
• </c> &gt;&gt; you request a new tester. &gt;&gt; you request a new tester.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it said that they could accept the request to withdraw by an agency or deny the request in writing
• So under that auspices, the request was made to withdraw funds, is my understanding.
• The fire district has sued EURA requesting that those funds be given.
• So under that auspices, the request was made to withdraw funds, is my understanding.
• The fire district has sued EURA requesting that those funds be given.

Summary: The Revenue and Taxation Committee met on March 2, 2006, and first introduced RS 33-260, a proposal by Representative Cannon to amend Idaho’s Community Infrastructure District Act. Cannon said the bill would extend CID authority from cities to counties, allow CIDs to fund fire protection and emergency medical services, and require CIDs to terminate after a set period rather than continue indefinitely. On motion, the committee agreed to introduce the RS with Section 5 left unchanged, and the motion carried without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 734 from Representative Furman, which would change how wind and geothermal tax revenues are distributed among taxing districts when a school district lacks a supplemental levy. Furman said the bill was intended to prevent schools from being pressured to run levies just to qualify for revenue distribution and would use the larger of certain local levy rates instead. He said the Idaho School Board Association supported the bill and the Idaho Association of Counties was neutral. After brief questions and no public testimony, the committee voted to send HB 734 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 670, sponsored by Representative Monks, drew the most discussion. Monks said it was meant to clarify last year’s urban renewal law so fire districts could opt out of urban renewal areas when there were no outstanding bonds or contractual obligations, and he argued fire districts were losing revenue while still providing service to new development. Testimony from the Association of Idaho Cities, the Eagle Urban Renewal Agency, and the Redevelopment Association of Idaho opposed the bill, warning it would further erode urban renewal financing, create ambiguity, and interfere with ongoing litigation over the meaning of contractual obligations. After debate over legislative intent and the effect on urban renewal districts, the committee approved HB 670 and sent it to the House floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request that you approve AB 790. Thank you very much.
• It reduces long-term costs across the state budget.
• What would 5% of the general fund budget be to be spent on homelessness?
• What would 5% of the general fund budget be to be spent on homelessness?
• And you never know with the way the budgets are on everything.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee met with quorum established after beginning as a subcommittee. The committee heard AB 790, which would require jurisdictions receiving state homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children, especially single mothers and survivors of domestic violence. Supporters said current homelessness programs overlook this population; the bill was amended and passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. The committee also heard ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which would dedicate a minimum share of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness programs. Supporters argued more stable funding is needed to address the housing crisis, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help; the measure passed 5-2 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Members then heard AB 349, which would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation. The author and sponsor described the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care and rising costs for diapers and formula; the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 779, which expands a domestic violence consultant pilot in child welfare offices statewide, also passed 6-0 after testimony that it would help keep families together safely and improve trauma-informed responses. AB 1335, which would remove a private CARF accreditation requirement for regional center employment programs and rely on state oversight instead, drew support from disability service providers but opposition from the chair over concerns about weakening quality checks; it failed on a 2-2 vote and reconsideration was denied. The committee also considered AB 1066, a bill to bar state-funded immigration legal services for people unlawfully present in the country who have certain serious felony convictions. Supporters framed it as a public-safety and fiscal-responsibility measure, while opponents said it would restrict due process and align California with mass-deportation policies. The bill failed on a 2-2 vote. Two bills, AB 277 and AB 318, were pulled by the author and not heard. After final roll calls on absent members, the committee adjourned.