Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation provides for a limitation on annual increases in the maintenance budget of all entities
• However, the restrictions on annual increases to the maintenance budgets of the state entities may have
• This legislation will limit any annual increase in the maintenance budget of any entity of the state
• government of the state of Idaho to no more than the average entity of the state government of the state
• Now, if the consumer price index shows no average increase or decrease, the state entity maintenance

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're looking at some of the entities that have received funding, such as hospitals, schools, and what
• Some of those entities don't even Some of those entities don't even exist anymore.
• The people of Green County voted on parimutuel wagering, and since then in Green County, no entity has
• So, how do you determine how many funds will be needed for any particular entity?
• And some of these same entities now are trying to create a new business at the palace, which is not a

Bills: SB268, SB262

Keywords: mixed spirit beverages, alcohol regulation, licensing, excise tax, distribution agreements, retail sales, wholesalers, SB262, White Hall, Lowndes County, pari-mutuel wagering, simulcast, historical racing, historical horse racing, dog racing, horse racing, charitable bingo, off-track betting, OTB, gambling

Transcript Highlights:

• It was my understanding that those entities were exempt in the underlying bill.
• It was my understanding that those entities were exempt in the underlying bill.
• The bill adds federally recognized Indian tribes to the list of entities that may participate in and
• The bill adds federally recognized Indian tribes to the list of entities that may participate in and
• What type of entities are they? Are they nonprofits? Are they government entities?

Bills: SB5994, SB6244

Keywords: timber tax, school funding, levy failure, tax distribution, education funding, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Such improvements will enhance the public safety, public welfare, and public health of these entities
• projects such improvements will enhance the public safety public welfare and public health of these entities
• also madam chair Public welfare and public health of these entities.
• is more viewed as sort of an investment, this is sort of your operating costs of running a public entity
• is more a view as sort of an investment, this is sort of your operating costs of running a public entity

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that entity is the licensing board; that is the primary change.
• One is this HMIS database is not just data from the entity, from my clients.
• This is not just data from the entity, from my clients, the entities that would be audited.
• You do understand that we audit entities all the time to get both federal and state funds.
• How easy would it be for an entity to say, you know what we're going to do?

Bills: SB237

Keywords: child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews, confidentiality

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 20, 2026, with eight members present and approved the May 13 minutes. The committee quickly reported several bills favorably, including SB 1224, which requires DCFS review when a pregnancy involves a child under 17 and makes children under 12 a child in need of care; SB 1100, which repeals an old statute on unenriched bread; HB 1220, a continuation of prior work to codify certain provisions related to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners; HB 1231, clarifying that continuous glucose monitoring is covered through Medicaid for any insulin-dependent diabetic, including gestational diabetes; and HB 198, setting reimbursement rates for ambulatory surgery centers for certain Medicaid procedures. The committee also adopted a personal privilege welcome for physicians on White Coat Day and repeatedly noted that several bills were being advanced with the understanding that further work might continue before floor debate. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 1160, which would create a streamlined restricted license pathway for qualified international medical school graduates, especially for rural and shortage areas. Committee members pressed the Board of Medical Examiners about delays in promulgating rules under an earlier 2024 law and objected to rule language they said went beyond the statute. Board representatives acknowledged a misunderstanding about the original bill’s intent and said the program had been operating, but members warned against agencies writing rules that contradict enacted law. Despite the criticism, HB 1160 was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably HCR 67, which creates a task force to study gaps in acute care for special-needs adults and children, following emotional testimony from the sponsor about her son’s death and the lack of appropriate care options. The committee then approved HCR 27, calling for a coordinated statewide evaluation of autism services by the Department of Health and Department of Education, with testimony emphasizing rising diagnosis rates, rural provider shortages, and the need for better data and coordination between medical and school-based services. HCR 28, which would study school nurse orientation and training, was also reported favorably after school nurses described the lack of standardized onboarding for new graduates and the risks of placing them alone in schools without adequate supervision. HB 469, which would have allowed pharmacy license renewal fees to be directed to Xavier University’s pharmacy school as well as public schools, was deferred after concerns about diverting funds from public institutions and the absence of testimony from affected schools. The committee also took up HB 223, which recreates DCFS, and adopted an amendment shortening the sunset date and requiring law enforcement reports to be accepted through a secure web-based platform; the bill was then reported favorably as amended. Another major discussion centered on HB 457 and HB 616, both tied to homelessness. HB 457, establishing minimum standards for shelters and related facilities, was reported favorably as amended after sponsor testimony and support cards. HB 616, which would allow the legislative auditor and local officials access to records and databases for audits of homelessness initiatives, drew extensive debate over privacy, federal funding, and accountability. Supporters cited a 2025 audit showing more than $216 million in federal homelessness spending in New Orleans and argued that auditors need access to performance data to detect waste and abuse; opponents warned about client privacy and the impact of funding cutoffs. The committee adopted an amendment changing permissive language to mandatory language for enforcement and then continued hearing testimony, with the discussion still centered on balancing oversight with confidentiality.

Transcript Highlights:

• State law requires the leadership of California's energy entities to appear before the legislature and
• We call them load-serving entities, or LSEs.
• We call them load-serving entities or LSEs. providers. We call them load-serving entities or LSEs.
• Our load-serving entities, for the most part, are contracting with California resources.
• With respect to commercial entities, it's more complicated.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll send it on the SharePoint and say, you know, these are the top-scoring entities.
• It, you know, it appears that this entity, you know, would get awarded.
• Or these multiple entities, if it's one of those provider opportunities, Entity, you know, would get
• awarded, or these multiple entities if it's one of those provider opportunities.
• So my understanding then is that an entity applies, say an entity applies to add to an existing facility

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee met with a quorum and approved the April 22 minutes. The main presentation came from Kate Sapra of CMS, who outlined the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion, five-year cooperative agreement for all 50 states. She emphasized CMS oversight, annual rescoring based first on implementation progress and later on outcomes, strict deadlines for obligating and spending funds, and the possibility of clawbacks if funds are not used on time or for approved purposes. She also described CMS’s Idaho site visit and the broader federal-state collaboration, including reporting requirements and technical assistance. Director Juliet Sharon of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare then reviewed the state’s first round of planned sub-awards and solicitations. She explained the distinction between full RFPs, cooperative agreements, and smaller sub-grants, and said the first year will focus on building program structure, hiring support staff, data analysis, third-party administration, needs assessments, and initial service and infrastructure investments such as EMS, maternal and child health, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, transportation, and technology. Committee members asked for more detail on KPIs, scoring metrics, and access to the actual RFP documents, and Sharon said those materials could be shared through SharePoint with confidentiality protections. Members also raised questions about reimbursement versus upfront funding, especially for tribes and other rural providers that may not have capital to start projects. CMS said upfront funding is allowable if consistent with state procurement rules and that RHTP funds cannot supplant existing funds or pay for projects already underway without a strong new-project rationale. Questions were also raised about multi-year construction or renovation projects, minor renovation definitions, and whether funds could be shifted between categories; CMS said budget revisions are possible but time-consuming, and year one changes would be difficult. The committee agreed to submit feedback on the first batch of opportunities by May 29 and scheduled the next meeting for July 15.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both the Auditor General and DFS are required by law to notify the committee when the entities fail to
• And in late September, the committee sent correspondence to 229 entities that were reported noncompliant
• , municipalities, and special districts—and request that the entity provide significant items that are
• , counties, municipalities, special districts, and requests that the entity provide significant items
• Okay, I’ll accept the motion to accept the staff recommendation to take action against the entities that

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Our real water entities are all government not-for-profit organizations, which were created for
• </c><00:15:00.720><c> And</c> state on public entities right now.
• And state on public entities right now.
• </c> specifically adding small a small entity specifically adding small a small entity to<00:15:22.560
• </c><00:37:37.760><c> in</c> a extreme diversity of entities in a extreme diversity of entities in greater

Bills: HF1667, HF2526, HF68

Keywords: correctional fees, supervision fees, probation, Department of Corrections, criminal justice funding, electronic home monitoring, drug testing, restitution collection, community service work, postprison supervision, court-ordered services, fee sunset, fee phaseout, offender fees, community corrections, supervised individuals, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Water Resources Board is a distinct entity under the Idaho Constitution.
• And the last piece of that is to expand... in partnership with other entities.
• I think also we need a federal government and all of the entities that that entails to be committed to
• It's made repairing or replacing existing infrastructure very difficult for these entities.
• It's made repairing or replacing existing infrastructure very difficult for these entities.

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation for the Department of Water Resources. Analysts explained the agency’s structure, continuously appropriated funds, and the large budget increases tied to ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds and the ongoing $30 million infrastructure appropriation. Director Matthew Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould described the department’s role in managing water rights, aquifer recharge, stream gauges, groundwater monitoring, and major projects in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA), the Palouse area, Mountain Home, and the Bear River basin. Members asked about aquifer stabilization, the impact of budget holdbacks on field work and monitoring, water quality concerns, project delays caused by easements and federal coordination, and the effect of data centers on water use. Weaver said reductions are being managed through cuts to travel, training, maintenance, and some stream gauge funding, and that the department is working toward a long-term goal of stabilizing the ESPA through reduced pumping, increased recharge, and expanded management areas. Chairman Raybould and Director Weaver also discussed the use of the prior $30 million appropriation, saying it has been fully obligated for recharge, conversion from groundwater to surface water irrigation, telemetry, and related projects. They said the next $30 million would likely support additional ESPA work, a Bear River study, and other emerging needs, but that major projects can take years because of engineering, landowner, state, and federal coordination. Questions also covered recharge capacity, the current average recharge level, and whether the state could reach a 350,000 acre-foot annual recharge goal; the witnesses said current infrastructure could handle well over 500,000 acre-feet in a good year, but more capacity is needed. The committee also discussed private and local matching funds for aging irrigation infrastructure and the role of groundwater quality monitoring, with Weaver noting that contamination issues are referred to the Department of Environmental Quality. The committee then moved to the Soil and Water Conservation Commission budget. Analysts said the agency’s budget is driven largely by one-time water quality appropriations in recent years and a small ongoing base, with a supplemental and enhancement request tied to CREP funding. Weaver, serving as interim administrator, and two commissioners explained that the commission supports local conservation districts and that a stakeholder process led by the Langdon Group recommended merging the commission with the Department of Water Resources. Weaver said the merger would preserve the commission’s non-regulatory, locally led mission while creating administrative efficiencies, and that related legislation and a concurrent resolution are moving through the Legislature. Members asked about CREP data, acreage, and water savings; Weaver said the program is a voluntary federal-state partnership, mainly in southern Idaho and parts of the eastern Snake Plain, with about 11,000 acres enrolled out of a 50,000-acre cap. He said a fully utilized CREP program could significantly reduce groundwater diversions, and the committee adjourned after discussing the historical shift from soil conservation toward water conservation priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Madam Chair, Secretary, Madam Secretary, how long would a filing entity, if the cap were already
• Just depending on the nature of a transaction, ...around GRT, work with tribal entities.
• Majority, but not all, tribal entities. And local governments, same.
• We currently don't have clear language in statute in that regard for tribal entities.
• So the proposed amendment wouldn't change... ...statute in that regard for tribal entities.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that's applying is an eligible entity.
• They are determined as a prioritized project and an eligible entity.
• We want the money back to make loans to other entities.
• We need to make certain that if the entity is not successful, that... ...we have mechanisms in place
• The program is revolutionary for this program to be able to expand it to entities that are interested

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, I'll read from this note: "Expanding this tax credit to corporate entities further increases
• , if these improvements are owned or leased by a non-exempt entity, these improvements are subject to
• So again, the exempt entity in place, this situation would be UNM.
• Chair, um, Vice Chair Kadina, American Campus Communities is a for-profit entity.
• Because The improvements are owned by the exempt entity. Would that be correct? Yes. OK.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there public or private corporations to partner with private entities?
• Are there public or private corporations to partner with private entities?
• A subdivision, you mean a public subdivision or an entity?
• And it's in the public entities. They could partner with other public entities.
• They could partner with other public entities. ...public entities.

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, prayer, approval of the previous journal, and messages from the House, then moved through several recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the Texas chapters of Blue Star Mothers of America, Fine Arts Education Day, Donate Life Texas Day, Baha’i Capitol Day, County Government Day, Jack County Day, Crockett County Day, and a recognition of Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanik for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The chamber also heard remarks from visiting doctors, students, county officials, and community groups, with multiple senators speaking in support of military families, arts education, organ donation, and local government service. The Senate then took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2779, relating to the allocation and use of certain hotel occupancy tax revenues. Senator Birdwell said the bill would stop local governments from conditioning HOT funds on race- or class-based priorities and would require Galveston to transfer the full state rebate for beach cleaning and maintenance to its park board. After questions, the Senate suspended the rules, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed it, though the final vote showed significant opposition. The chamber also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2322, described as a cleanup bill removing the compelling-factor test for dispatchable generation from the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. A major debate centered on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2253, which would phase out uncertified teachers in core classrooms and strengthen educator certification requirements. Senator Creighton argued the bill responds to a teacher pipeline crisis, adds parent notification, creates multiple preparation pathways, and provides financial incentives for certification; Senator West and Senator Sparks pressed for rural flexibility and implementation details. An amendment from Senator Gutierrez to add a teacher student-loan repayment program failed on a 11-17 vote, while other technical and fiscal amendments were adopted. The bill then passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2371, updating skimmer-reporting rules to cover electronic terminals beyond fuel pumps, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2351, relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit. Senate Bill 619, a conscience-protection bill for health care workers, drew extended questioning from Senators Cook, Eckhardt, and Menendez about patient abandonment, scope, and whether it could allow refusals of legal services such as vaccines, antibiotics, contraception, or personal care; despite those concerns, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment. Finally, the chamber began consideration of Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1169, which would allow public entities to form public utility agencies to cooperate on water and wastewater projects without eminent domain or cross-collateralization, with Senator Hinojosa explaining it as a tool for small and rural communities facing utility infrastructure problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Partnerships are pass-through entities.
• than it was in 21 because of the SALT workaround you enacted in 2021, with the associated business entities
• and it was in 2021 because of the SALT workaround you enacted in 2021 with the associated business entities
• Chairman, Representative Barbieri, every pass-through entity will be encompassed with this, whether it's
• people who actually have the partnership can deal with their partners and with the tax-collecting entity

Summary: The committee first set aside RS 33066, Health Care Sharing Ministries, and then took up House Bill 733 on income taxes and partnerships. Representative Jeff Ehlers presented HB 733 as a way to let Idaho handle partnership audits at the partnership level, rather than auditing each individual partner, mirroring federal practice and reducing burden for both taxpayers and the Tax Commission. Ken McClure of the Idaho Society of CPAs and Jacob Swigart, a CPA partner, testified in support, explaining that the bill would simplify audits, reduce amended-return filings, and apply to pass-through entities such as partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations. Questions from members focused on interstate effects, limited partners, and how disputes would be handled; witnesses said the underlying audit and appeals process would remain unchanged, with only the payment and reporting mechanism shifting to the entity level. The committee then voted to send HB 733 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee next heard RS 33066 from Senator Ben Taves, which would amend Idaho law to treat health care sharing ministry expenses as eligible medical expenses for medical savings accounts. Senator Taves said the change would allow MSA funds to be used for these ministry expenses, which are not currently treated like traditional insurance premiums under Idaho tax law. After no questions, the committee voted to introduce RS 33066. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from February 23 and 24, 2026, and announced that it would not meet the following day, with the next meeting scheduled for the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Partnerships are pass-through entities.
• than it was in 2021 because of the SALT workaround you enacted in 2021 with the associated business entities
• and it was in 2021 because of the SALT workaround you enacted in 2021 with the associated business entities
• Chairman, Representative Barbieri, every pass-through entity will be encompassed with this, whether it's
• people who actually have the partnership can deal with their partners and with the tax-collecting entity

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with at least one entity with at least one entity that<00:06:31.360><c> um</c> that um that um doesn't
• . entity. entity.
• I just get frustrated when I see government entities or quasi-government entities come before us that
• government entities or quasi-government entities<00:18:36.919><c> come</c><00:18:37.120><c> before</
• if the entity makes a payment that is rejected or dishonored.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as I'm reading it says entity of the state.
• I would think that the legislature might be an entity of the state.
• Yes, I suppose you could say that we are an entity of the state or we are the state, Senator Goodwin.
• Then, what I just read in line eight on this bill, it says no agency, entity, or instrumentality of the
• However, I can't get over that maybe that entity has specific insight into maybe which school prepares

Bills: SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966

Keywords: motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, auxiliary driving lamps, spot lamps, off-road lamps, bicycle lights, bicycle reflectors, vehicle lighting, roadway visibility, low visibility, rain, snow, wipers, night driving, traffic safety, Oklahoma Title 47, vehicle code

Transcript Highlights:

• First, digital ID cannot be required by a public entity, which is defined in the bill.
• If a violation occurs, the person harmed can seek relief, and the public entity is given notice and an
• Are there current public entities issuing digital identifications? Senator Nichols: Mr.
• Chairman and Senator Shippy, unless we have a government entity that's wanting to move that direction
• Entities, government entities, could still do it.

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard a series of routing slips and bills, mostly on property, housing, elections, state investment, and government administration. Several RSs were introduced to print without objection, including a memorial recognizing Idaho rangelands and pastoralists, a fee increase proposal to raise Idaho State Patrol trooper pay, penny-rounding guidance for cash transactions, updates to a bill involving state universities, limits on reappointing a gubernatorial appointee after Senate rejection, ADU and duplex/starter-home housing measures, a fix to the education career ladder for teachers returning from administrative roles, a private-property measure allowing farmers to gift five acres to immediate family, a partisan countywide highway district election proposal, and memorials recognizing Taiwan and Italy-related ties. One wildlife crossings memorial was flagged as incorrectly drafted in the wrong form and was not acted on pending correction. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1338, which would allow the state treasurer, with advisory board approval, to invest idle state funds in gold or silver bullion stored in a class-one vault, including possible storage in Idaho, Utah, or Texas. Supporters argued it would diversify investments and hedge inflation; some senators expressed caution but the bill advanced on a due-pass recommendation, with several senators recorded voting no. Senate Bill 1323, which would enforce gold-clause contracts involving precious metals, also advanced to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after brief discussion. Finally, Senate Bill 1299, dealing with digital ID, was discussed at length. The bill would prohibit government from requiring digital identification, preserve physical ID as valid, and bar government from requiring someone to unlock a phone for identification. Senators questioned the civil penalty language and whether the bill was proactive or would affect current Idaho practice; the sponsor said it was intended to prevent future mandates, not ban digital ID. On motion, the committee sent the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than advancing it directly. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, digital ID cannot be required by a public entity, which is defined in the bill.
• If a violation occurs, the person harmed can seek relief, and the public entity is given notice and an
• Are there current public entities issuing digital identifications? Senator Nichols: Mr.
• Chairman and Senator Shippy, unless we have a government entity that's wanting to move that direction
• Entities, government entities, could still do it.

Keywords: 989, all