Transcript Highlights:

• and mental health programs that we've actually cut.
• as part of the division's program maintenance appropriation.
• The state lottery is organized as a single budgeted program under its director.
• The state lottery is organized as a single budgeted program under its director.
• The program maintenance budget this committee previously set is a 0.6% decrease.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first heard the Joint Millennium Fund Committee’s report. The co-chairs recommended one-time or ongoing funding for several programs: $692,200 for the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, $1 million for juvenile safety assessment centers, $3 million for child advocacy centers, $150,000 ongoing for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation, noting prior language against using Millennium Fund dollars to offset Medicaid; the co-chairs said the current recommendation was tied to the governor’s request and intended as one-time funding, with any unused money returned to the fund. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses budget. Legislative staff outlined the division’s structure, growth, fund balances, and fee-setting framework, including the requirement to keep board balances within a range tied to a five-year rolling average of expenditures. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced costs, consolidated boards, and used fee increases, fee reductions, and fee holidays to bring boards into range; he also said the division had improved retention after inspector pay increases. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for DEA license reimbursements, the request to remove a 10% transfer limitation, and whether cash balances should be redistributed among boards. Barron said the transfer exemption was largely a holdover and that cross-subsidizing boards would be possible but unpopular. He also explained that complaints drive enforcement, that a universal discipline bill could improve consistency, and that vehicle replacements were still needed because the fleet is aging despite possible future legislation. Finally, the committee heard the State Lottery budget. Staff reported that the lottery continues to generate dividends for schools and public buildings, with most expenditures tied to prizes and commissions. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts, and expects significant savings beginning in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; the director said detectives investigate theft and other crimes involving lottery inventory, advertising effectiveness depends heavily on jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design and artwork. The meeting ended with adjournment and a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work groups and future hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• ago, and we do have the Legislative Auditor who's uh been commissioned to conduct an analysis and program
• planning</c><00:21:32.800><c> and</c> Uh within the program planning and Uh within the program planning
• Voluntary incentive-based programs, grant programs in coordination with federal partners, are recommended
• programs, Voluntary incentive-based programs, grant<01:15:52.160><c> programs</c><01:15:52.760><c> in
• law and program for 3 years<01:23:09.240><c> unchallenged.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> then third the farm advocate program. then third the farm advocate program.
• They cover our programs from the department, but also a number of our partners' programs.
• They cover our programs from the department, but also a number of our partners' programs.
• He supervises this program.
• Just looking at the ROST program.

Bills: HF2103 , HF4508

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1 actually puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule
• It puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule as other elected
• Soil and water conservation districts have five supervisors elected in staggered terms.
• She added that she would prefer block grant type of programs.
• She added that she would prefer block grant-type of programs.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are seeing some significant rise in youth ridership that is good news for the future.
• The 10 goals establish a balanced approach to state investment in transportation programs.
• Do we have that in your future? I know there are some movements afoot.
• County that doesn't have a pilot program or somewhere else, how do they know the rules?
• So many of those cities have just begun their programs.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1 actually puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule
• It puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule as other elected
• Soil and water conservation districts have five supervisors elected in staggered terms.
• Organizations required to comply with this will be able to find many programs available for as low as
• She added that she would prefer block grant type of programs.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33584, introduced by Representative Tanner. He said the proposal would remove a current Idaho Code requirement that constitutional amendments and initiatives be separated from the ballot by a page break or separate form, allowing them to be printed in the next available space and potentially saving counties money on ballot printing. Representative Scott moved to introduce the RS, and the motion carried without opposition. The committee then heard RS 33633 from Representative Mitchell, a cleanup bill correcting election-related timelines from prior legislation. He said it would restore soil and water conservation districts to the same election schedule as other local offices, confirm mail-in ballot precinct timing at 45 days, and fix a canvassing deadline from 10 days to 9 days. Representative Scott asked about the odd-numbered November election timing, and Mitchell said it was intended to align with other elections. The motion to introduce the RS passed. Next, Representative Furman presented RS 33656, which would require youth service organizations to check the state and national sex offender registries for adults working with children, with limited exceptions for short-term or one-time volunteers. He said it was meant to protect children and align with practices already used by some organizations and insurers. Questions focused on churches, vacation Bible school, and the fiscal note; Furman said churches already doing background checks would generally satisfy the requirement and that there was no state budget impact, though private organizations might incur small training costs. The motion to introduce the RS carried. Finally, the committee debated RS 33683, a memorial supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and greater state control over education. Representative Monks said the memorial reflected the governor’s office and the Trump administration’s agenda, and argued that education should be managed by the state without federal bureaucracy. Representative Church moved a substitute motion to introduce the memorial and hold a hearing, arguing the committee should examine the costs and practical effects of shifting federal responsibilities to the state. Several members discussed federal education mandates, special education, Title IX, and whether state bureaucracy would replace federal bureaucracy. The substitute motion to introduce RS 33683 passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We tend to err on the side of conservative.
• But again, that does We tend to err on the side of conservative, but again, that does make U.S.
• to businesses, and then also being able to fund organizations like ours that maybe have federal programs
• Lastly, the bill continues this program indefinitely by repealing its termination date on... ...program
• Lastly, the bill continues this program indefinitely by repealing its termination date on July 1, 2026

Bills: HB2754

Committee: House International Trade

Keywords: Arizona Commerce Authority, business development, economic growth, small business support, job creation, Board of Directors, e-verify, grant administration, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lead to um cheaper energy in the future lead to um cheaper energy in the future follow-up<01:55:
• c><05:32:56.520><c> that's</c> program which is a program that's program which is a program that's modeled
• This is a voluntary program.
• </c><05:41:20.680><c> so</c> effect in the very near future so effect in the very near future so that
• c> that the program can be that the program can be administered administered administered Statewide<05

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It means that we will significantly simplify our property tax credit program.
• Section 17 was extending tax credits for a down payment assistance program with...
• Section 17 included a down payment assistance program with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.
• , summer programs, tutoring, and similar.
• and enrichment programs, summer camps, that kind of... ...programs, summer camps, that kind of thing

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• And so we have a new NOFA program through our MHP program. So we are not at zero.
• We have a lot of programs.
• These are not abstract programs. in California. These are not abstract programs.
• low-income housing tax credit program and the multifamily housing program.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the Senate’s budget plan for affordable housing and homelessness, including a proposed $2 billion housing investment and full funding for HHAP rounds 7 and 8. The first major item was the administration’s housing reorganization and trailer bill package, which would codify the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC), consolidate multifamily housing finance programs into a one-stop application and award process, and shift some authority over bonds, tax credits, and the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program. Administration officials said the goal was to reduce duplication, speed projects from award to construction, and improve accountability by aligning financing decisions. The LAO generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside and earlier reallocation of unused bond authority, and suggested preserving flexibility for integrated applications and reporting back on the proposed 70/30 split for housing versus sustainable communities funding. Committee members, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the new committee structure could add process and delay, and questioned whether the proposal was effectively repurposing the climate-oriented ASIC program into a housing finance tool without enough direct investment in core housing programs. Administration witnesses responded that the structure was meant to create transparency, public accountability, and simultaneous financing awards, and said the proposal was only a first step in a broader consolidation effort. Members also asked about specific programs such as the Joe Serna Farm Worker Housing Grant Program and the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, and staff said those would remain within the broader streamlined framework or the flexible sustainable communities allocation. The committee then heard from CDLAC and TCAC on federal tax credit changes and state housing finance. Staff explained that H.R. 1 increased the federal 9% LIHTC allocation and, more importantly, lowered the bond-financing threshold for 4% credits from 50% to 25%, allowing California to finance many more projects. They reported emergency regulations were adopted quickly to implement the change, resulting in 195 projects and more than 25,000 units in the 4% program, while the 9% program funded 58 projects and nearly 3,000 units. Members asked about the value of the state low-income housing tax credit program and rehabilitation projects; staff said state credits remain important for filling financing gaps and that a portion of bond and credit resources is now set aside for acquisition and rehabilitation. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights rollbacks and on three limited-term or expiring programs: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal closures and funding cuts have increased demand on the department, which now has more than 12,000 open matters, up from 8,700 a year earlier, and a six-month wait for intake interviews despite overtime triage and early case screening. Members urged continued funding for the programs, arguing they are essential as federal protections weaken; department staff said California vs. Hate connects callers quickly to support services, the conflict resolution unit fills a gap left by the shuttered federal counterpart, and the limited-term investigators have helped reduce wait times even as filings continue to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• That the program.
• Hate program.
• Hate program.
• low-income housing tax credit program and the multifamily housing program.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and um as well as the pilot program.
• And program with the paperwork issues.
• funding measures in the future.
• :36:01.199><c> half</c><01:36:01.600><c> also</c> conservative and my other half also conservative and
• </c> Stable funding could mean the program Stable funding could mean the program goes<01:41:46.400><c

Bills: HF1048 , HF1049 , HF745 , HF2210

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 616 CLOSA State Library Parks Pass Program.
• AB 937 Connolly organic transition program hold in committee.
• AB 294, Gallagher, OES, Program Priorities, hold in committee.
• Cal Account Program Holding Committee.
• CalWORKs Home Visiting Program do pass out on an A roll call.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Recognizing that coal must remain part of our energy future if we want to ensure future prosperity, meet
• Republicans want it to be the future.
• WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE DEBTS AND DEFICITS, C.B.O.
• , because that future is coming very fast.
• , because that future is coming very fast.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's take the conservative approach to dealing with the problems we have.
• The future of our republic, the future of our children, cannot depend on constantly changing executive
• </c><00:08:44.240><c> of</c> go with a stroke of a pen the future of go with a stroke of a pen the future
• </c> can create a sustainable economic future can create a sustainable economic future for<00:08:57.120
• </c><00:18:23.760><c> Generations</c> need to rely on the future Generations need to rely on the future

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1295 HD2, relating to clean energy, and then on Senate Concurrent Resolution 140 and Senate Resolution 158, which seek an Article V Convention of States application. HB 1295 drew brief supportive testimony from listed supporters and one witness who said the bill would help future generations and address pollution, runoff, watershed planning, and cleaner energy alternatives. No committee action or vote was taken on the clean energy bill during the portion provided. Most of the hearing focused on SCR 140 and SR 158. Supporters argued the resolutions would let states, including Hawaii, propose constitutional amendments to address federal overreach, fiscal responsibility, deficit spending, term limits, and the balance of power between Washington and the states. Several supporters said state legislators are closer to the people and that Article V gives states a legitimate role in proposing amendments; some also cited debt, executive orders, and the need for long-term reforms. One witness from Convention of States Action said the movement is active nationwide and that the convention process would still require ratification by 38 states. Opponents, including representatives of Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Common Cause, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, and individual testifiers, warned there are no real guardrails on a convention and that it could open the door to broader constitutional changes. They said the effort is unnecessary, risky, and potentially harmful to environmental protections, social safety net programs, and civil rights, and argued that federal action is sometimes needed during recessions and emergencies. Committee members asked questions about whether the proposal was merely procedural and whether the states should act without Congress; the discussion ended with continued questioning, and no vote or final committee action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've worked together on many issues, and we continue to look forward to working with you in the future
• At the request of Chair Ramos, we will also explore ways in which our UC field courses and programs can
• There are some very technical requirements for their background, and this is why the academic program
• The UCs have moved forward with a certificate program to start to bring in those.
• So identifying barriers like the certificate program, different barriers that are there.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Select Committee on Native American Affairs and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee focused on the University of California’s compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA and the return of Native American human remains and cultural items. Senators and Assembly Members opened by emphasizing the sacredness of repatriation, the ongoing trauma caused by delayed returns, and the need for stronger systemwide accountability. The State Auditor presented the third audit of UC’s repatriation efforts, concluding that UC still lacks the urgency, oversight, and clear timelines needed to promptly return remains and belongings. The audit found thousands of remains and hundreds of thousands of cultural items still in UC custody, new undisclosed collections at several campuses, weak budgeting and underspending, and repatriation plans that often lacked concrete deadlines. The auditor recommended stronger UCOP oversight, performance metrics, proactive searches for undiscovered items, and possible legislative action to tie funding to measurable progress. UC officials responded that the system is committed to full compliance and has accelerated its work since adopting a new policy in 2022. UC Provost Catherine Newman said the system repatriated more than 2,800 ancestors and nearly 80,000 funerary belongings in the past year, and that UC now says 80.3% of Native American remains are either repatriated or available for repatriation. UC announced a new systemwide plan to complete repatriation of human remains by the end of 2028, to finish high-risk campus reviews by June 2026, to recall all loans by January 2026, and to require quarterly reporting to UCOP. UC also said it will spend an additional $8.8 million over three years, expand staffing, improve databases, support tribal consultation costs, and identify potential reburial sites on UC land. Berkeley and San Diego described increased staffing, consultations, and repatriation activity, while Santa Barbara said it had corrected earlier omissions, notified tribes about previously unreported ancestors, and was working toward completing repatriations and updated inventories. Committee members pressed UC on why progress has been so slow, why the audit’s timelines differed from UC’s public reporting, and whether the 2028 goal applies only to human remains rather than all cultural items. UC said the 2028 target is for human remains, while cultural items will take longer, and acknowledged that more work remains. Members also asked about the technical expertise needed for repatriation, the role of tribal experts, and whether repatriation should be embedded more permanently in UC governance or statute. Tribal leaders and representatives then testified that remains and belongings were taken without consent and must be returned with tribal consent and leadership. They criticized the repeated delays, stressed that tribes are the experts on their ancestors and cultural heritage, and urged UC to treat repatriation as a top priority and to return all associated items, not just human remains, so ancestors can truly rest.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2114, Brian, educational asylum programs, held in committee.
• , strike the new program and apply the 10% requirement to Cal Fire's existing programs, out with Republicans
• AB 1679, Mark Gonzalez, local pop-up small business program.
• AB 2508, Hoover, public purpose programs, held in committee.
• AB 2430, Mertucci, after-school programs, held in committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I authored AB 1991 to address this challenge for shelter programs.
• Programs of the state of California that are adding substantial costs.
• Housing needs of current and future residents.
• Ensuring RD 108 can confidently plan for and participate in future projects.
• Dave was a co-founder of Wildlife Conservancy, and his advocacy led to the first ever designation of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, the Committee on Resources and Conservation, report that we have had under consideration
• 22-2701, Idaho Code, relating to the election, appointment, qualifications, and tenure of soil conservation
• 2721, Idaho Code, to provide for the election, appointment, qualifications, and tenure of soil conservation
• 27, 21, Idaho Code, to provide for the election appointment qualifications and tenure of soil conservation
• I move that the House now adjourn until 10:30 tomorrow for our page program, Thursday, February 19th,

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the non-lava program.
• and the non-lava program.
• and the non-lava program.
• </c> almost 50/50 between the lava program almost 50/50 between the lava program and<00:25:44.440><c>
• They went from a program with one insurer to a program with 18 insurers to now a program with about 32

Keywords: 910, house, all