Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expended and and how that's operating. expended and and how that's operating.
• And I operations on the front range.
• Uh, it mostly around zoning and things like that. regulations.
• Uh it mostly around zoning and him.
• Thank you. those operating systems are to make sure those operating systems are to make sure that<02:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• residential property insurance policies from providing liability coverage for claims arising from operation
• denying, canceling, or refusing new residential property insurance policies because the insured operates
• Children's Initiatives is a statewide initiative modeled after the nationally recognized Harlem Children's Zone
• They operate by creating local service networks, bringing together education, health care, employment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs heard several child welfare and early childhood bills and reported each favorably. SB 1690 on early childhood education was amended with a delete-all amendment that would require public posting of child care inspection and safety data, change certain child care disclosure and insurance rules, and create the Florida Endowment for Early Learning; the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. SB 1022 would add two new Florida Children’s Initiatives programs in Bay County and Pompano in Broward County, and it was also reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 996 on dependent children. Senator Rodriguez explained that the bill is intended to center lived experience in foster care policy and promote normalcy, including financial literacy and allowance-related supports. Multiple members of Florida Youth SHINE testified in strong support, describing the importance of youth voice, consistent allowances, and opportunities to build budgeting skills and confidence. Senator Sharief also voiced support, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered a bill on temporary cash assistance eligibility, presented with an amendment that narrowed a SNAP eligibility carve-out to people who were victims of human trafficking at the time of a drug conviction. The sponsor said the change recognizes coercion faced by trafficking victims and avoids a lifetime penalty tied to exploitation. After the amendment was adopted and several supporters waived in, the committee reported CS for SB 1462 favorably. The meeting then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've spent a lot of time going over vacancies and agency operations.
• To that end, we have invited Tom Berger, Deputy Secretary of Business Operations for the Department of
• North Loading Zone, so that was another part of continuing to secure the perimeter and make the parking
• We've relocated them so they're operable without disturbing the parking area.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met to receive an overview and tour of Capitol complex construction projects funded through the Department of Management Services (DMS). Deputy Secretary Tom Berger gave a historical and project-by-project presentation on the Capitol campus, explaining the evolution of the historic Capitol and the current tower complex, and describing major ongoing work including the Waller Park west entry/ADA and waterproofing project, the east entry security screening area, Cabinet meeting room modernization, historic Capitol re-roofing, the large Capitol HVAC replacement, window replacement, Memorial Park improvements, the Holocaust Memorial, the North Loading Zone, and Knott Plaza upgrades. He noted that the Capitol windows and HVAC work are intended to address aging systems and improve resilience, security, and accessibility, and said the broader Capitol window project will continue over several years. Members asked questions about the African-American memorial, the old bank/archives building with water damage, the roofing material and expected lifespan, the legal definition of the Capitol complex, and the history of early legislative meetings in Pensacola and St. Augustine. Berger said the African-American memorial base is built and the installation should be completed in March or April, while the archives building is owned and managed by the Department of State. He also explained that the roof uses a slate-like material designed for a 50-year life cycle, though major storms could still damage it, and clarified that the Capitol complex can be defined differently in statute versus operationally. Chair Lopez and other members requested follow-up information, including a rendering of the African-American memorial and a table summarizing the Capitol investments and when the facilities were last updated, so members can better explain the spending to constituents. Berger said he would provide the requested information, and the committee then concluded the presentation and proceeded to the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and that's why we operating under.
• </c> Brothers needs to operate sustainably. Brothers needs to operate sustainably.
• </c><00:38:21.280><c> electric</c> operating a high speeded electric operating a high speeded electric
• </c> or operated pedestrian signal heads. or operated pedestrian signal heads.
• access out emergency need an emergency access out emergency exit<01:30:56.800><c> out</c><01:30:56.960

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several transportation-related bills. HB 1688, which would provide a general excise tax exemption for certain aircraft maintenance materials, parts, tools, and facility construction, received comments from the Department of Taxation and support from Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Kohala Coast Resort, the Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii. Testimony indicated the measure was intended to clarify an existing exemption rather than create a new one. The bulk of the hearing focused on HB 2386, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms and a water carrier inflationary cost index. The Department of Transportation said it would change its testimony to support the bill, citing a 2020 working group recommendation, while the PUC and DCCA offered comments. Matson, the Maritime Group, Hawaii Harbors Users Group, and Young Brothers supported the measure, arguing it would modernize regulation, improve predictability, and help maintain reliable interisland shipping. Hawaii Farm Bureau offered comments, while Hawaii Food Industry Association, Maui Brewing Company, Lani Kai Brewing Company, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii opposed it, arguing automatic rate increases were not the solution and that underlying costs and efficiencies should be addressed first. The chair noted the bill was essentially the same as one previously considered, and asked questions about how Hawaii’s water carrier regulation compares with other states. The committee also heard HB 1691, which would allow electronic signatures for certain motor vehicle title transfers after total-loss insurance settlements and remove the notary requirement for that narrow transaction. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, and one individual supported it, with Copart saying the change would reduce delays and could allow a faster, largely electronic settlement process. Members asked about county impacts, and Copart said counties would only see a different form with no added cost or electronic integration. HB 1680, requiring county finance directors to notify agencies through a centralized system for vehicle transfers, drew opposition from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services and one individual in support. HB 2516, raising helmet requirements for electric foot scooters and bicycles and requiring helmets for high-speed or Class 3 electric bicycles, received support from DOT, DOH, AAA Hawaii, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. HB 193, allowing deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation visible to law enforcement, drew support from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, the Hawaii Disabilities Rights Center, and an individual who suggested amendments to broaden the bill to deaf and hard of hearing individuals and adjust the proof standard. HB 2442, increasing required accessible and van-accessible parking spaces in larger parking lots, was supported by the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Disability Rights Center, which said the bill would address shortages of accessible parking and may need technical amendments to align terminology with the ADA.

Transcript Highlights:

• It still has to go through the planning process and the zoning process.
• It still has to go through the planning process and the zoning process.
• </c><00:25:32.960><c> And</c><00:25:33.120><c> what</c> process and the zoning process.
• And what process and the zoning process.
• So, the DOT permit is obviously separate from what the local zoning board will approve and not approve

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing focused on Senate Bill 153, a proposal to speed up Department of Transportation driveway/entrance permitting for larger residential developments, generally 20 units or more. Senator Mark McConkey, the prime sponsor, said long permit delays can stall financing and housing construction, and explained that the bill creates a second, expedited permitting lane funded by a per-door fee. He said the original 90-day mandate was replaced with a more workable process developed with DOT and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, and noted that the fiscal note had been removed. Committee members asked about the fee structure, timing, whether the bill applied to 20 doors/units, and whether it affected income-restricted housing; McConkey said it does not include income-based incentives and does not change zoning or local planning requirements, only the DOT permit timeline. Industry witnesses strongly supported the bill. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the proposal is a public-private partnership the industry requested, that time delays can jeopardize financing, and that builders are willing to pay for faster review as long as safety remains the top priority. Joshua Reap of Associated Builders and Contractors gave similar support, saying DOT bottlenecks have long slowed projects and that the bill would help move approved developments forward without burdening taxpayers. Questions from members focused on whether the expedited lane would pressure DOT to approve unsafe projects, whether consultants would already be vetted, and how the process would work alongside local approvals; witnesses said DOT would still retain final sign-off and that the process would be transparent and safety-focused. Alan Hanscom of DOT then explained the department’s role in more detail. He said the bill would require DOT to issue permits within 60 business days after approval of the traffic impact study for qualifying residential projects, and would create a $120 per-unit fee to fund a dedicated liaison position and software upgrades. He said the applicant would also pay for third-party consultant engineer review under DOT oversight, with the consultant costs passed through at no DOT markup and any unused funds returned to the applicant. Hanscom said DOT has been working with the sponsor and builders to clarify the process and improve transparency, and estimated the fee would support a position that coordinates between applicants, districts, consultants, and DOT bureaus to reduce dead time in the review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• where vessels and captains were being fined because they were exceeding some sort of speed or wake zone
• or even offshore as it related to, you know, whale exclusion zones and things like this.
• 18:12.559><c> as</c><00:18:12.799><c> it</c><00:18:12.960><c> related</c><00:18:13.280><c> to,</c> zone
• or even offshore as it related to, zone or even offshore as it related to, you<00:18:14.080><c> know
• ><c> and</c> you know, whale exclusion zones and you know, whale exclusion zones and things<00:18:16.240

Bills: SB223, SB271, SB223, SB271

Keywords: expungement, nonviolent felony, criminal record, restoration of rights, human trafficking, SB271, Alabama, municipalities, city fees, town fees, franchise fees, utility franchise, natural gas, manufactured gas, gas utility, public streets, public places, right-of-way, municipal consent, gross receipts tax

Transcript Highlights:

• with operational technology.
• </c> experience with operational technology. experience with operational technology.
• </c> calculation to any asset owner operator. calculation to any asset owner operator.
• . emergency. emergency.
• </c> emergency relief valve here? emergency relief valve here?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They withdraw into a couple of the few safe zones we have here at Harvard.
• The problem of anti-Semitism has not emerged, especially with this, because of what the government is
• right now, you actually can't understand how it's operating unless you situate it with the quite vicious
• So we're seeing an emergence of real attunement to these issues and to these questions, but this is very
• So we're seeing an emergence of real attunement to these issues and to these questions, but this is very

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Anti-Semitism met for its 11th meeting and approved the minutes from its August 7 meeting. Co-chairs said the commission had recently completed preliminary K-12 recommendations and would continue work on higher education, with additional topics such as workplace issues, the medical sector, and the arts to be addressed before the November 30 reporting deadline. They also said another public comment meeting would be held this fall. The first testimony came from Dr. Mark Posnansky of Harvard Medical School, who described anti-Semitism affecting STEM, research, and higher education. He said Jewish and Israeli students and faculty reported ostracism, gaslighting, intimidation, discrimination, and hiding Jewish identity, and he urged clear leadership statements, mandatory anti-Semitism education, and stronger reporting and discipline procedures. Commissioners asked about Harvard training, spillover into teaching hospitals, and whether anti-Semitic climates were causing students to leave; he said some students had turned down opportunities because of the environment and that concerns also affected healthcare settings. Lindsey Gabbo, a Harvard Law student and mother, testified that campus discourse after October 7 had made Jewish and Zionist students feel isolated and unwelcome, with protests, defaced hostage posters, and a student council BDS vote contributing to the climate. She said Harvard had sent some emails acknowledging anti-Semitism but that she had not seen meaningful steps to restore dialogue, and she argued the school needed more structured venues for conversation. Commissioners also asked about campus security, the effect on students’ mental health, and the impact of chants and protests that she said many Jewish students understood as calls to violence. A panel of concerned Jewish faculty and staff then offered contrasting views. Professor Jeremy Menchick argued the commission should use data carefully, include non-Zionist Jews in its analysis, and avoid reinforcing divisions within the Jewish community. Professor Hilary Lustick described restorative-practice approaches and said structured dialogue could address conflict without immediate punishment. Professor Jonathan Feingold warned that anti-Semitism was being weaponized by the Trump administration and right-wing groups to attack universities and DEI, and he urged the commission not to adopt approaches that could be used to undermine civil rights institutions. Commissioners pushed back on claims that the problem was being exaggerated or reduced to a “problem” rather than a “crisis,” and the discussion ended with continued debate over data, context, and how to balance anti-Semitism concerns with broader civil-rights protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• As members of the committee are aware, the Idaho Lottery does not currently operate any online or iGaming
• Page 74, to put it quite simply, all we're trying to do is protect the people who operate Bingo, as many
• This is a streamlined approach and helps reduce administrative and operational expenses while maintaining
• the compliance and overall parking time. ...helps reduce administrative and operational expenses while
• It requires that somebody sits on at least five acres of ag-zone land.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 16 and then considered several administrative rule dockets. The Idaho State Lottery explained changes to clarify ownership language, update references to online/draw gaming, and strengthen bingo paper verification; the Secretary of State’s office said its docket removed outdated lobbying and sunshine-reporting rules that had been moved into statute; and the Department of Administration described housekeeping changes to Capitol Mall parking rules, including streamlining obsolete language. All three rule dockets were adopted without opposition, though members asked questions about Capitol parking fees and possible legislative parking accommodations. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1258, which would create a specialty liquor license for certain rural distilleries, allowing them to serve their own products by the drink on-site and exempting them from food-service requirements. Sponsors said the bill was intended to help a Koenig Distillery location outside Caldwell that cannot access city liquor licenses despite available licenses in the city, and to support agritourism and rural economic development. The distillery owner testified in favor, describing the business, its agricultural roots, and potential job growth. The bill received supportive comments and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 911, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would codify Public Utility Commission practice for new large electric loads of 50 megawatts or more. Sponsors said the bill is intended to prevent costs for new large loads from being shifted to existing ratepayers, require a no-harm review, and ensure financial security for any needed infrastructure so stranded costs are avoided. Representatives from Rocky Mountain Power said the measure aligns with existing PUC practice and helps protect current customers while allowing growth. The bill was also moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So land use issues, there are incompatibility issues when you look at different zoning ordinances throughout
• any grape producer from either planting new grapes or establishing a winery or expanding their operations
• hopefully resolve some of the issues that our folks have, the way they can continue to grow their operations
• This is just a quick overview of our budget, so 51% is devoted to operations.
• This is just a quick overview of our budget: 51% is devoted to operations, 38% to marketing, and 11%

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Tuesday, February 24, 2026, by motion and voice vote, with no opposition. Members then heard an annual update from the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission and the Idaho Wine Commission on the state’s wine industry. Presenters described the history and growth of Idaho wine, noting the first grapes planted in Lewiston in 1864, the industry’s decline during prohibition, and its revival beginning in the 1970s. They said Idaho now has about 1,300 to 1,400 acres of wine grapes, 65-plus wineries and cideries, and three federally designated AVAs. The commissions emphasized marketing, education, and grant-funded outreach, including seminars, social media promotion, and a recent grant for an Idaho-made wine campaign. They also highlighted industry growth in economic impact and jobs, and said many wineries are women-owned. Key challenges discussed were land-use restrictions, water supply, and labor. Roger Batt said some county zoning rules, especially in Ada County, make it difficult to plant, expand, or establish wineries without neighborhood approval, and he suggested legislation may be drafted for a future session. James Netteran explained that wine grapes are a high-value but labor-intensive crop, requiring significant hand work and upfront investment, while also using relatively little water. He also described agritourism and farm diversification as important parts of the industry’s business model. Members asked questions about industry growth, women-owned wineries, and tasting room traffic. Netteran explained that economic growth has outpaced tonnage because the industry has shifted from one dominant producer to many smaller family operations, and he said weekend visitation at his winery can range from about 100 to 500 people. The meeting concluded with thanks and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's one thing about the operation: they're moving a lot of different pieces at the same time, hoping
• And then there was also a requirement that they operate the facility for a minimum of 10 years.
• I'm fine with that okay I'll remove that part and then there was also a requirement that they operate
• all have day jobs, it's really hard to train, you know, all of the people at the county level or the zone
• On the page number three business operations, there were no changes on that particular page.

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met to finalize changes to the human services budget bill and related amendments. Members discussed several items, including a proposed $5 million appropriation for the Altru Hospital project to address inflationary costs, with the rest of the funding question left for conference committee. They also agreed to keep the 10-year operating requirement language for the project and remove a matching-funds provision that was no longer needed. The committee spent considerable time on the OASIS child welfare IT system. Donna Auckland explained that the project is still in the RFP stage, with vendor selection and contract negotiation likely taking months, and that the system will require 50-50 federal matching authority. Based on that testimony, the committee agreed to reduce the general fund amount from $14 million to $6 million and use a line of credit for the remaining authority, while preserving the federal match authority so the contract can be signed and the project can proceed. Members also approved a technical fix to add governor’s designee language for the Children’s Cabinet, which had been missed in another bill already on the governor’s desk. Keith reviewed updated long sheets showing additional budget adjustments, including provider inflation changes, a $50,000 Family Voices grant, reductions to CARES Act COVID funds, and moving the $5-per-day basic care rate increase from ongoing to one-time funding. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, and the committee adjourned with plans to reconvene Monday if the final bill version was ready.

Transcript Highlights:

• many years, back from the days when the 1% initiative in 1970 and '78, you've all seen the frozen zone
• services, and I just couldn't try ...with our friends in the emergency services, and I just couldn't
• a needed bill that will help in those situations where we're having a tough time providing those emergency
• provide for the medical education fund and to provide for a source of funding, and declaring an emergency
• Senate Bill 1439 by Thank you. 27 and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date.

Summary: The House convened with 68 members present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal. It also received communications appointing substitute legislators and committee reports on pending administrative rules, including recommendations to approve most rules while rejecting or partially rejecting a few dockets from State Affairs and Resources and Conservation. The chamber also received messages from the Governor and Senate listing numerous bills signed, enrolled, or transmitted for further action. The House then took up several measures on the second reading and motions calendar. It suspended rules and passed House Joint Memorial 22 on predatory birds after debate about pelican predation and fish losses, then passed House Bill 957 to repeal obsolete water-related code provisions, Senate Bill 1396 to repeal Idaho’s inactive participation in the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, House Bill 948 to have LSO provide an annual revenue estimate, and House Bill 959 to adjust property tax/new growth rules for fire and EMS districts. House Bill 967, which would provide a $4 million pay increase for Idaho State Police troopers by shifting liquor-account revenues, passed after substantial debate over whether it was a necessary retention measure or an improper tax shift to counties and cities. Later, the House passed House Bill 964 for the Fish and Game budget, House Bill 965 moving historic preservation funding to a new office, House Bill 966 funding county reimbursement for out-of-state placement costs tied to absconders, Senate Bill 1435 for Health and Welfare maintenance appropriations, Senate Bill 1429 for behavioral health enhancements, Senate Bill 1431 for Water Resources enhancements, Senate Bill 1389 on liability protections for private polling locations, Senate Bill 1391 as a trailer bill on surveyors and property rights, and Senate Joint Memorial 114 urging congressional action on college athletics NIL issues. Senate Bill 1401 on public health enhancements failed 30-36 after debate over funding priorities and program changes. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 730, 928, 758, and 822, and received additional bills and appropriations measures for first reading and committee referral before recessing and later resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't know how businesses operate.
• Operating or contracting. >> On-site tied to operating or contracting. >> On-site or nearby childcare
• </c> outside of an industrial zone outside of an industrial zone where<01:25:16.400><c> childcare</c>
• </c><01:25:39.600><c> or</c> running and add operating or running and add operating or contracting. contracting
• Operating &gt;&gt; I think that's what it said.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you have a municipality, a jurisdiction that operates like a business or tries to operate like a
• They fund public safety, emergency response, infrastructure, etc., etc.
• The legislation does not appear to align with how county government operates.
• It would be law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and 9-1-1 communications.
• Technical rescue and communications operations.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• This doesn't prevent a health care provider from charging a facility fee in inpatient or emergency settings
• It still continues to allow facility fees for inpatient or emergency hospital services.
• Representative Lord asked whether the bill also applies to emergency room visits.
• The response was that emergency room visits are exempt.
• In order to operate businesses need certainty around the installation of systems and technology like

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill by Assemblymember Moritsuchi, an act relating to emergencies.
• I declare the emergency thereof to take effect immediately.
• Bill 1530 from the Committee on Emergency Management presented by Assemblymember Ransom.
• Assembly Bill 1530 by the Committee on Emergency Management, an act relating to emergency services.
• I'd like to thank my colleagues on the Emergency Management Committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They feel like Caspian, a 12-year-old boy that I met at our emergency shelter.
• Um, and it sets limitations on when they can operate, how much, uh, they can produce, um.
• If you follow those operations, it is protective regardless of where you place that operation.
• It's not the way they operate. I wish they did.
• General liability associated with their operations. Uh, I'm assuming that. I don't know about.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1525, HB 1530, HB 1535, HB 2068, HB 2091, HB 2347, HB 2372, HB 2805, HB 2815, HB 2867, HB 3154, HB 3482, HB 3483, HB 3663, HB 3781, HB 3901, HB 3915, HB 4135, HB 4153, HB 4158, HB 4329, HB 4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• review and recommend ways to streamline, eliminate, or modify regulations related to land use and zoning
• Additionally, I own and operate, now with what is my seventh generation, on our farm in Ilma, where we
• The fact is fire operates very differently in the Snake River Valley as it does in the Olympic Peninsula
• So often people talk about wolves in terms of numbers, recovery goals, and management zones.
• So often people talk about wolves in terms of numbers, recovery goals, and management zones, but we live

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2619, which would create a joint legislative task force to review and recommend ways to reduce regulatory burdens in agriculture, and on House Joint Memorial 4009, which asks Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies remain capable of protecting communities, natural resources, and firefighter safety. On HB 2619, the prime sponsor and supporters from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, cattle, wheat, potato, onion, and dairy interests said the bill responds to farm stress and suicide concerns by examining regulatory overload; WSDA supported the concept but noted a fiscal note, and members discussed whether the task force scope and cost could be reduced before policy cutoff. On HJM 4009, staff and the sponsor described the memorial as a request for stronger federal wildfire capacity and coordination, with testimony from tribes, counties, forest landowners, conservation groups, and public employees emphasizing wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the importance of federal-state cooperation; the committee also repeatedly tied the memorial to support for state wildfire funding under 1168 and heard broad support for restoring that funding. The committee then took up House Bill 2221, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and begin predator mitigation when certain population declines occur, while also requiring annual reporting and white-tailed deer surveys. The sponsor argued the bill addresses rapidly declining deer and elk herds, predator pressure, food security, and rural economies in northeast Washington. Supporters included some local residents, ranchers, sheriffs, county officials, and the Colville Tribes, who said predators, livestock conflicts, and reduced hunting opportunity are harming communities and that the state should act more aggressively. Opponents included WDFW staff, Washington Wildlife First, the Sierra Club, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and other conservation voices, who said the bill is not scientifically supported, would be costly, and wrongly blames predators rather than habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions; several said predator control would have limited value and could undermine wolf recovery. Some agricultural and sportsmen groups supported the bill in principle but asked for amendments, especially to remove or revise the in-state wolf translocation provision. No final votes or executive action were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a trades training program that we operate here.
• So if you look outside of our region, where we do not operate the Enzo Building Institute, wages in about
• them to move into that's either, one, affordable, or two, addresses their lifestyle, and three, our zoning
• them to move into that's either, one, affordable, or two, addresses their lifestyle, and three, our zoning
• them to move into that's either, one, affordable, or two, addresses their lifestyle, and three, our zoning

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability. Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality. The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.

Transcript Highlights:

• So from an operational perspective for law enforcement, what exactly does all of this mean?
• So from an operational communities.
• </c> So these are both interstate emergencies So these are both interstate emergencies which<02:01:37.440
• The Bureau of Emergency problem.
• </c> effective municipal operations. effective municipal operations.

Keywords: 1189, house, all