Transcript Highlights:

• All those things affected the accuracy of our budgeting, but in the aggregate we got it very close.
• </c> of limitations of limitations deadline<00:48:44.760><c> we</c><00:48:44.920><c> recommended</c><
• </c><00:56:19.680><c> can</c><00:56:19.799><c> be</c> limits firm time limits that can be limits firm
• time limits that can be incorporated<00:56:20.480><c> into</c><00:56:20.720><c> the</c><00:56:20.880
• ><c> rules</c><00:56:21.559><c> limitations</c> incorporated into the rules limitations incorporated

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• 24.559><c> scope</c><00:25:24.799><c> of</c><00:25:24.960><c> rights</c><00:25:25.279><c> and</c> to limit
• the scope of rights and to limit the scope of rights and protections<00:25:26.000><c> afforded</c><00
• </c> Parakaquat in very limited ways. Parakaquat in very limited ways.
• Up next is House Bill 952, which is an act relating to capital construction and state bonding budget
• The bill pass bonding budget adjustment.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been limited communication from the state about the program specifics, and I'm left wondering
• There's been limited communication from the state about the program specifics, and I'm left wondering
• </c><00:32:09.519><c> its</c> 1976 to modify the law to limit its 1976 to modify the law to limit its
• </c> and in other cases drastically limiting and in other cases drastically limiting the<00:32:17.200
• </c><01:41:20.560><c> communication</c> be honest um about limited communication be honest um about limited

Bills: HF1976

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: paid leave, family leave, employment law, Minnesota statute, benefit eligibility, seasonal employment, workforce, labor rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Worked a lot with bond sales and with the financial advisors and also bond counsel on the sale of bonds
• There are challenges that we've seen, I believe, are just in, like we just did some financing, the bonds
• and finding reputable folks at reasonable rates that we can get financing for the state... ...the bonds

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met and first approved the February 25, 2026 minutes. It did not hear RS 33661 or Senate Bill 1366 at the sponsor’s request and because the Secretary of State wanted further changes. The committee also briefly considered a gubernatorial appointment for Shelly Enderud to the State Building Authority, but postponed action until a later meeting after technical issues prevented a full initial connection; Enderud later appeared and described her background in city finance, bonding, and construction-related work, and the committee said it would likely vote on her appointment on Wednesday. The committee then advanced several bills. House Bill 560, presented by Senator Hart, would let county clerks offer some prospective jurors the option of serving as poll workers instead of on a jury, with successful poll service excusing them from jury duty for two years; it passed unanimously to the floor. Senate Bill 1370, presented by Senator Lakey, would remove the word “recruiting” from Idaho’s abortion trafficking statute to better defend the rest of the law amid pending litigation; it passed to the floor, with Senator Shippy voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 697 and House Bill 698, both election-related cleanup measures presented by Senator Bernt and supported by Secretary of State Phil McGrane. HB 697 separates previously combined election-crime provisions so charges are clearer to the public, and HB 698 closes a loophole so people convicted of felony treason in another state cannot restore voting rights in Idaho; both were sent to the floor with do-pass recommendations. Finally, Senate Bill 1364, presented by Senator Guthrie, would address a gap in the expiration of temporary administrative rules so they do not lapse before pending rules take effect; it also passed to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• look at that, we are in the process of doing that project, but we are also in the process of issuing bonds
• Our plan is to issue bonds by the first week of June.
• If we're not able to issue those bonds, this project is going to be delayed and ...this project is going
• do this was yesterday." ...And there were letters that we received that created confusion about a bond
• That's a bond schedule, and those things change on a regular basis.

Bills: SB330

Committee: House Commerce and Small Business

Keywords: water management, regional boards, municipal governance, ethics compliance, public utility, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 143, Representative Elliot, an act relating to fiduciary bonds.
• House Bill relating to fiduciary bonds.
• >> To communicate with the body. >> Yes, sir. >> The capital bonds and capital projects and bond oversight
• The capital bonds and and capital &gt;&gt; Yes.
• The capital bonds and and capital projects<00:25:51.440><c> and</c><00:25:51.600><c> bond</c><00:25:51.840

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:45 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:20 Report of Committees 07:05 Orders of the Day 08:23 HB 214 08:33 HB 416 12:26 HB 281 16:20 HB 134 18:13 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 21:08 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 37:01 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 39:15 ConC/Rules Report 42:29 Floor Amendments 44:27 Correction to Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 46:14 Adjournment 46:40, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• people skills and her expertise as a paralegal covering a variety of law from medicine and insurance to bond
• So you put the 24-hour limit in there. It's there. What happens if they don't report in 24 hours?
• the amendment is simply some negotiations between all involved parties as we look to increase the limit
• The initial limit was high, and I think folks that were looking into this bill felt it was high.

Bills: HB1979 , HB1225 , HB3931 , HB4454 , HB3849 , HB1746 , HB3720 , HB4275 , HB4300 , HB3586 , HB2268 , HB3755 , HB4117 , HB4294 , HB3650 , HB4298

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: early childhood education, task force, governance structure, healthcare access, stakeholder engagement, quality services, vital records, birth certificate, birth registration, biological sex, sex designation, male, female, nonbinary, gender identity, X marker, transgender, vital statistics, State Department of Health, State Commissioner of Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, labor shortages, cost escalations, capacity limitations, lack of planning or project readiness
• Chair, I think actually this General Obligation Bond Project was passed out again.
• important for our tribal nations because we often face some of the highest energy costs due to our limited
• And I've always wondered how Can I invest, basically prepay my power, or something that has a limited

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a big proposal that involved a lot of bonding.
• A lot of bonding.
• using the bonding authority that was created.
• Bonding authority and not use the bonding authority that was created by those revenues that were enacted
• One that sticks out is the statute of limitations on student abuse.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a big proposal that involved a lot of bonding.
• A lot of bonding.
• use the bonding authority that was created.
• Bonding authority and not use the bonding authority that was created by those revenues that were enacted
• One that sticks out is the statute of limitations on student abuse.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then moved through caucuses and a series of transportation, elections, energy, historical records, cannabis, abortion-access, and fiscal bills. Members repeatedly emphasized that several measures were supplemental or technical updates to existing law, while others involved larger policy disputes over taxes, fees, clean energy, election security, and reproductive health. The chamber also received Senate messages on other bills and briefly recessed for caucus during the day. The most prominent action was final passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6005, the supplemental transportation budget, after adopting a technical amendment and a larger striker amendment. Supporters highlighted preservation and maintenance funding, rail investments, ferry maintenance, road safety, and continued work on major projects statewide; opponents largely reserved comments or noted concerns about future needs. The House passed the bill 93-0 with five excused. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711 on transportation resources, after adopting a technical amendment that removed the aircraft tax and delayed an RV-related tax change; supporters said it protected businesses and jobs, while opponents objected to trade-in treatment and other tax changes. That bill passed 83-10. On elections, the House considered Senate Bill 5892 to protect the voter registration database. An amendment to reduce penalties from a felony to a civil infraction and remove the emergency clause failed, while the committee amendment passed 50-34. Supporters said the bill was needed to safeguard sensitive voter data and clarify access; opponents argued it created conflicts with federal law and imposed excessive penalties on local election officials. The bill then passed 57-36. On energy, Substitute Senate Bill 5982 updating consumer-owned utility provisions drew debate over carbon capture, resource adequacy, data centers, and clean energy policy. Amendments on carbon capture and blackout-triggered termination failed, while an amendment preserving cogeneration exceptions passed; the bill then passed 57-37. The House also passed Senate Bill 5863 on preservation and inspection of state historical records, after rejecting an amendment to require longer retention but adopting the committee amendment; supporters stressed preserving the history of residential habilitation centers and the value to families seeking records. Substitute Senate Bill 5874, allowing the Employment Security Department to waive penalties for minor employer reporting errors, passed unanimously. Engrossed House Bill 2681, raising cannabis license fees while removing an escalator, passed 52-42. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5917 on access to abortion medications saw several failed amendments from opponents seeking to narrow, reframe, or add fiscal limits to the bill; supporters said it preserved flexibility to ensure access and avoid waste, and the bill passed 57-36.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the time that I've been commissioner, we've maintained the highest bond ratings from all three
• We've issued $1.7 billion in state bonds and saved the state $69 million by refinancing existing debt
• ratings from all three uh highest Bond ratings from all three uh major<00:05:33.520><c> credit</c><00
• and save the state 69 million by bonds and save the state 69 million by refinancing<00:05:42.680><c>
• Because of limited time, I will only highlight a few.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm talking outside city limits.
• For children especially, as it's been said, animals are often their first and strongest emotional bonds
• The bond between children and their animals is incredibly strong, and that bond can unfortunately be

Committee: House Special Committee on Urban Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We found that licensing scope of enforcement is limited.
• although administrative rules set some requirements that promote child safety, their enforcement is limited
• Licensing's processes limit the knowledge of what is happening in facilities.
• choose the children and staff that they interviewed during site visits, and we found that that could limit
• So when the department received... ...and unclear processes limited effectiveness.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 639 from Senator Ben Taves, which would modernize Idaho’s licensed midwifery laws by replacing a fixed statutory medication list with a board-defined formulary and protocol for maternal and neonatal care. Supporters, including licensed midwives Charity Catlin and Valerie Hall, said the bill would reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, especially for stable postpartum hemorrhage cases and other rural maternity situations, while lowering costs and preserving recovery and bonding. Senator Taves said he worked with the Idaho Midwifery Council and that the bill aligns Idaho with neighboring states. The committee voted to send HB 639 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then received a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on state oversight of children’s residential care. OPE reported concerns about limited licensing authority, unclear children’s rights information, lack of required reporting on restraint and seclusion, weak enforcement, and inconsistent monitoring practices. The report also found that foster youth placements in residential care had increased, including out-of-state placements, and that the state lacked a clear way to track whether children were in the most appropriate setting. OPE recommended more unannounced surveys, standardized contract monitoring, better communication across divisions, and clearer abuse-investigation procedures. Department of Health and Welfare officials responded that they had already reduced congregate care use, created a Continuity Care Bureau, and implemented or were implementing several recommendations. They said licensing had adopted priority response timelines similar to child protection cases and was working on resident-rights improvements, but acknowledged a remaining gap in placing substantiated perpetrators on a registry and said legislative action would be needed. The committee discussed the need for stronger oversight for both foster and privately placed children, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day for a Medicaid and managed care presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...to quickly and effectively treat postpartum hemorrhage without worry about exceeding statutory limits
• We found that licensing scope of enforcement is limited.
• Licensing's processes limit the knowledge of what is happening in facilities.
• choose the children and staff that they interviewed during site visits, and we found that that could limit
• So when the department received... ...and unclear processes limited effectiveness.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's in sort of, you know, uh, highly rated corporate bonds, treasuries, um, some cash equivalents
• And the consequence I'm thinking about there is the spending limit.
• Well, it, it provides more GR for you to spend under the pay as you go limit, the revenue limit.
• Um, the effects on the spending limit are tied to your appropriations from biennium to biennium, and
• You could have a spending limit that is lower than the pay as you go limit. Yeah, thank you. OK.

Bills: SJR 4

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: term limits, state offices, constitutional amendment, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform

Transcript Highlights:

• the very large number of people who have signed up to testify during today's hearing, we will be limiting
• Please consider the following: participation on local boards and commissions is extremely limited.
• My name is Jill Angelasanto. similar per dog limits to ensure that each animal has enough space.
• Any regulation limiting our ability to protect our health with masking would not Any regulation limiting
• I could go on with many, many examples, but we have a time limit. ...after COVID.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• the subsections, and it's restricted, so you're only ranking within the restrictions of that Prop 4 bond
• Before the program, there were just a very limited number of those vehicles on the used market.
• There are other changes to the Medi-Cal program, such as the asset limit test; we removed that.
• There are different income limits for some populations; it's a bit higher for children, for example.
• So we're talking about people with incredibly limited incomes.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know I've got slides up and we're on limited time.
• </c> slides up and we're on limited time. slides up and we're on limited time.
• We have limited time during the session as well, you know. Very good.
• We have limited time during the session as well, you know. >> Yes, sir.
• We have limited time during the session as well, you know. >> Yes, sir.

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:00:30 Kentucky Department of Education 00:27:10 Education and Labor Cabinet 00:31:35 Auditor of Public Accounts 00:36:55, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and four from the Senate, and is charged with evaluating judicial performance, including but not limited
• </c><00:26:24.320><c> for</c> judicial policy on the time limits for judicial policy on the time limits
• on the Chamber of Commerce, served on the Vermont<01:19:22.240><c> Municipal</c><01:19:22.800><c> Bond
• /c><01:19:23.200><c> Bank</c><01:19:23.560><c> Board</c><01:19:23.800><c> of</c> Vermont Municipal Bond
• Bank Board of Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Board of Directors,<01:19:24.920><c> and</c><01:19:25.120>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, again, I'm going to try to limit things to three questions, but go ahead, follow-up.
• conversations about what are the prices, what are the priorities we have, and how do we move forward with the limited
• those financial requirements can be met and provide bondholders with confidence moving forward as we bond
• represents the cash flow that's available to support upfront capital funding, whether that be through bond
• a mix of pay-as-you-go construction expenditures because of our pre-completion tolling, along with bond

Committee: Joint Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee

Summary: The Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge met remotely with Washington legislative members to receive updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, including environmental review, cost and funding, tolling, and procurement for construction. Program staff said the final supplemental environmental impact statement was published in April 2026, with a federal record of decision expected in early summer. They described the recommended design as a single-level fixed-span bridge, centered I-5 alignment, C Street ramps, one auxiliary lane in each direction, and dispersed park-and-ride parking. Members raised concerns about transparency, the closed chat function, and the decision not to include two auxiliary lanes; staff said the one-lane option was recommended through consultation with partner agencies and analysis, but the final decision would come with the record of decision. Staff also said the diversion analysis projected less than 3% traffic diversion to I-205 in 2045, though members from Oregon and Washington expressed concern about impacts to their communities and asked for more detail on mitigation and decision-making. The committee also reviewed a major cost update. Staff said the full five-mile program is now estimated at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from a 2022 estimate of $5 billion to $7.5 billion, citing inflation, schedule delays, scope changes, and more detailed risk modeling. They said the first funded phase has been reduced to a $5.68 billion package focused on the Columbia River bridge replacement, connections to I-5, Hayden Island and SR-14, bridge demolition, tolling infrastructure, and advancing light rail design. Funding for that phase was described as $5.69 billion, including $2.1 billion federal funds, $1 billion from each state, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue. Members asked what would happen if costs rise further; staff said the estimate includes substantial contingency, the project will use progressive design-build to manage risk, and the team will continue updating the finance plan annually. A separate tolling and traffic-revenue presentation explained that four toll scenarios were analyzed using regional travel demand modeling, a toll diversion model, and a post-processing review. All scenarios assume pre-completion tolling beginning July 1, 2028, a 50% low-income discount for eligible users, and exemptions for tribal preemptions, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and organized militia. Staff said the low-income discount would affect about 4% to 6% of annual transactions and reduce annual revenues by roughly 2% to 3%. They said Scenario 2 was used for the financial analysis and is sufficient to support the $1.5 billion toll contribution in the funded phase. Members asked about toll collection costs, revenue impacts of the discount, and how the scenarios differed; staff said collection costs are expected to be in line with other WSDOT toll facilities, but exact costs are not yet set because toll rates are not final. Finally, WSDOT staff outlined procurement and delivery steps for construction. They said WSDOT will be the lead contracting agency, using progressive design-build, with a request for qualifications targeted for early July 2026, a request for proposals in October, contractor selection in April 2027, construction starting in 2028, and tolling beginning in 2028. Staff said the approach is intended to consolidate scope, reduce interface risk, and allow transparent negotiation with an independent cost estimator, while preserving an off-ramp if a fair price cannot be reached. Members asked for more detail on timing, cost allocation, and the share of the first phase funded by tolls; staff estimated tolls account for about 26% of the first phase cost.