Transcript Highlights:

• We have a quorum present of both the House and the Senate committees; therefore, we're ready to rock
• Both the House and the Senate committees. Therefore, we're ready to rock and roll.
• For most of these funds, revenue is collected through fees or permits, and the money is used to fund
• Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 592, $225,000 was appropriated from the general fund to the depredation
• Revenue is generated through the sale of liquor and permits.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the State Liquor Division. For Agriculture, legislative staff reviewed the agency’s structure, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY 2026–2027 budget requests, including pay adjustments, replacement items, IT hardware, a reappropriation for the Resilient Food Systems Grant, and two major one-time requests: a deficiency warrant for exotic pest response and a supplemental appropriation for quagga mussel treatment. Director Chanel Tewalt emphasized the history and urgency of Idaho’s invasive species program, described the state’s rapid response to quagga mussels, and explained how the program uses inspections, stations, chemicals, and other tools to reduce risk. Members asked about grant timing, vehicle replacement, signage costs, research into alternative treatments, chemical costs, possible use of sturgeon, and whether budget cuts would affect inspection stations; the director said some station openings or hours could be delayed or reduced, but priority would be given to border crossings and higher-risk locations. The committee then reviewed the State Liquor Division budget. Staff outlined the division’s dedicated-fund operations, personnel levels, statutory distributions, and FY 2027 requests for inflation, replacement items, and IT/security equipment, all recommended by the governor. Director Andrew Arulenandum said his priorities were safety, legal exposure, and operational continuity, citing a store shelving collapse and warehouse safety needs as reasons for some requests. Members asked about a policy proposal to restrict bulk lottery ticket purchases by out-of-state syndicates, the division’s pricing and markup structure, and whether Idaho might move away from a state-run liquor model. The director and his staff said the lottery restriction would not have a fiscal impact, that the markup is standardized, and that while the division remains open to efficiency ideas, the current control-state structure is intended to support revenue and temperance. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would return the next day to take action on FY 2027 maintenance budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time we will not permit
• And as permitted by the chair, public comment must relate to the subject being discussed today and no
• And just earlier this year as well the House Democrats led by my Congressman and the Assembly Member
• They often came to school hungry or exhausted from bouncing between temporary housing or homes and in
• turn I served as a social worker housing navigator, college counselor on top of teaching because there

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 10, which we enacted during the 85th regular legislative session, requires health plans regulated
• That section also permits the examination to occur through audiovisual or other telecommunication technology
• Steve Yes, I think it could the provision that I mentioned five seventy two point oh two five does permit
• What I've yet to convey that happened in four testimonies in the house is how they come in here, they
• One time a doctor told me, when I was working on this in the House of Representatives, he goes, very

Bills: SB437, SB528, SB626, SB636, SB884, SB968, SB1044, SB1608, SB2336

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today to voice Hopewell's support of House 227 and Senate 105.
• I am here to express my strong support for SB 105 and House Bill 227.
• What's more, the House and the Senate are in agreement.
• a fundamental part of fixing our broken housing system.
• , more public housing, and all of the different components we know we need for a real housing system

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting foster youth, child welfare oversight, homelessness services, juvenile justice, social work licensure, and human services workforce supports. Committee co-chairs Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone opened the hybrid hearing by outlining testimony procedures and accessibility measures. Several members and legislators participated throughout the day, and many witnesses were invited to submit additional written testimony after speaking. A major portion of the hearing focused on House 227/Senate 105, which would protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care. Supporters, including advocates from Hopewell, the Disability Law Center, CPCS, the Children’s Law Center, More Than Words, Friends of Children, and youth witness Onyx Rosario, said DCF had already ended the practice of taking most Social Security and SSI benefits and now conserves them in accounts for youth, but argued the policy should be codified to prevent future reversals. Witnesses described how conserved benefits help with basic needs, housing, education, transportation, and transition to adulthood, and several noted the bill also adds financial literacy and transparency requirements. Senator Joan Comerford and others said the change would protect vulnerable youth, especially children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. The committee also heard testimony on House 225, which would expand the grandparents-raising-grandchildren commission by adding appointments and helping with quorum and representation. The committee also took testimony on Senate 136, which would improve emergency housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness by easing documentation requirements, allowing use of existing state data to verify eligibility, requiring notice before benefit reductions, and creating an ombudsperson. Senator Adam Gomez and other supporters said the bill would reduce barriers for families in crisis. On House 262/Senate 148, an omnibus child welfare bill, witnesses supported provisions on data reporting, education coordination, and Office of the Child Advocate reforms, while CPCS raised concerns about expanded access to sensitive records and the OCA’s role in certain proceedings. The Office of the Child Advocate supported codifying current practices and also backed child fatality review changes in House 234/Senate 133. The committee additionally heard support for Senate 108, which would require attorneys and audio/video recording during juvenile custodial interrogations, and for House 247/Senate 116, which would update the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board to add supported lived-experience seats. Finally, the committee heard competing testimony on Senate 135, a bill to ensure parity in social work licensure. SEIU Local 509 and supporters argued the current exam requirement disproportionately harms Black, Latino, multilingual, and multicultural applicants and worsens workforce shortages, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, saying the exam is a necessary public-protection measure and that removing it would conflict with interstate compact efforts. The hearing also included testimony in support of a loan repayment program for human service workers, with providers and workers describing low wages, high student debt, and the need to retain staff in essential services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will close the public hearing for house will close the public hearing for house 91 91 91 and<00:
• Representative Mark, PR Hillsboro, introduced House Bill 183.
• </c><05:01:38.760><c> on</c> of the water which are not permitted on of the water which are not permitted
• </c><05:15:48.480><c> Bill</c> Clos public hearing on House Bill Clos public hearing on House Bill 397
• </c><05:15:53.240><c> Bill</c> executive session on House Bill executive session on House Bill 511<05

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental Conservation Law in relation to certain commercial food fish licenses, commercial crab permits
• district party and charter boat licenses, and certain temporary authorizations for certain licenses and permits

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Environmental Conservation Committee, chaired by Senator Pete Harckham, met with a quorum and took up a 19-bill agenda, largely consisting of repassed environmental measures. Bills discussed included standards for ambient lead in soil, restrictions on false recyclability claims and plastic labeling, environmental restoration projects, commercial fishing and marine licenses, bans on unencapsulated foam flotation on docks and floating structures, indirect source review for warehouse operations, nuisance wildlife operator disclosure requirements, waterfront revitalization for Doodle Town Brook, a ban on fuel oil grade No. 4, renewable energy development rights on reforestation areas, fee exemptions for veterans and active-duty service members, a ban on mercury-added lamps, designation of water development representatives, bans on cleaning products containing triclosan or triclocarban, a composting symbol, bans on paper receipts for certain purchases, climate corporate data accountability, PFAS product restrictions, and prohibitions on tampering with emissions control devices. Members raised several policy concerns during the meeting. Senator Palumbo questioned the PFAS bill’s inclusion of cookware and suggested an incremental approach, while the sponsor defended keeping cookware in the bill because heating PFAS can increase exposure through food and inhalation. On the renewable energy/reforestation bill, Senator Stec noted implementation concerns about allowing solar development in reforestation areas, and Senator May responded that the bill is intended mainly to facilitate transmission lines across state forest lands. There were also questions about the climate corporate data accountability bill’s scope, including revenue thresholds, overlap with existing DEC greenhouse gas regulations, and the source of fee revenue, with staff explaining it would apply to large companies doing business in New York and use registration fees to cover program costs. Most bills were advanced either to the calendar or to finance. Bills including the lead standards, marine license changes, foam flotation ban, mercury lamp ban, water development representatives, composting symbol, and emissions tampering restrictions were advanced to the calendar. Several measures, including the recyclability labeling bill, environmental restoration projects, warehouse indirect source review, veterans’ fee exemption, and climate corporate data accountability bill, were referred to finance. The paper receipt bill was advanced to commerce, and the committee concluded after voting to move the final bills, including the PFAS restrictions and emissions tampering measure, with technical date fixes noted for the climate accountability and PFAS bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> colleagues to use emails from the house colleagues to use emails from the house or<00:15:14.839>
• And it allows the house to temporarily.
• </c><00:39:34.480><c> the</c> budget recommendations also permit the budget recommendations also permit
• </c> House DFL research. House DFL research.
• I would like to take move in the house.

Bills: HF4074

Keywords: retirement, pension, public employees, MSRS, PERA, TRA, St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, police and fire, correctional employees, probation officers, telecommunicators, dispatchers, 911 operators, public safety answering point, PSAP, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paid on-call firefighters, fire relief association, state aid

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:53.759><c> by</c> which he resides shall be permitted by which he resides shall be permitted
• House Bill 24 is the next bill up for our consideration.
• House Bill 24 is the next bill up for our consideration.
• And for where they're going to house it.
• This is a roll call vote for House Bill 25. This is a roll call vote for House Bill 25.

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm presenting House Bill 243.
• I'd like to presenting House Bill 243.
• It says House Bill 9, has on you on you.
• To this August body of leaders here in the House of Representatives, you have before you House Bill 309
• </c><00:32:56.559><c> of</c> body of leaders here in the House of body of leaders here in the House of

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Permitted to ask questions of the witness.
• Senator Seeberger, that I mean, but fish houses, we've had this problem with fish houses for years.
• Uh, Madam Chair, Senator House. So there's some differences between this and fish houses.
• So between this um and and fish houses.
• </c> house and and leave it sit. house and and leave it sit. Colonel<02:00:09.199><c> Smith.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They tell me about housing.
• Can you reveal what you know if you're permitted to discuss that?
• fraudulently agreeing not to discriminate on the basis of sex while discriminating against females by permitting
• males... ...discriminate on the basis of sex while discriminating against females by permitting males
• Under the law, students in California are permitted to participate in sex-segregated programs and access

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• go on that had not had a hearing in the House.
• And the example I use: if you have a new subdivision, say 30 houses go in, and those 30 houses are built
• Redevelopment, you mentioned a house burned down or whatever, and you redevelop and make a new house
• of permit to rebuild or to remodel.
• The example of you torn out of a three-bedroom house and you build a three-bedroom house is different

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move to suspend Senate Rule 8.02 to permit immediate consideration of SR 5.
• to have to deal with when they come before the House of Representatives.
• The only difference is that it doesn't include SBOE, Texas House, or Texas Senate.
• Senators are all permitted to ask questions.
• And it passed the House, is that correct? It did.

Bills: SR5, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SR5

Keywords: redistricting, Senate procedures, public input, Texas Legislature, amendments, Texas Senate, congressional districts, legislative procedures, legislative transparency, Senate rules, public hearings, committee procedures, hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes

Transcript Highlights:

• So he is over in the house right now? Okay. All right, thank you.
• And she's also still in the house.
• House, U.S. Senate, and President and Vice President.
• House and U.S.
• House of Representatives General election in Alaska.

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• housing and transportation.
• To the extent that we do fund housing with this, I say drive it all for a truly affordable. housing and
• So you can go in and you can say we got these people moved into affordable housing. housing that currently
• folks it seems from what I gathered from the comments the housing money is going to things beyond housing
• 67% of that has gone towards housing, so it's about 2.6. 2.6 to housing and we've gotten 22,000 units

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have farmers that have taken a financial loss this past year in 2024, and just hearing from the House
• ><00:04:45.919><c> hearing</c><00:04:46.600><c> from</c><00:04:46.759><c> the</c><00:04:46.919><c> house
• </c><00:04:47.280><c> side</c> 24 and just hearing from the house side 24 and just hearing from the house
• </c><00:28:49.679><c> permit</c><00:28:50.159><c> from</c> but that requires a permit permit from but
• that requires a permit permit from the<00:28:50.559><c> board</c><00:28:50.760><c> of</c><00:28:50.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know I was looking at the House bill, and the House has taken a little different approach based on
• But we have a House companion and some House members that we need to have a heavier conversation with
• the basic housing allowance.
• or long-term housing.
• If you can't find me, just come on by the house.' So people would come by our house a lot.

Summary: The Committee on Rules took up a long agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included CS for SB 678, allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital, and SB 466, which designates St. Johns County as the site for the Florida Museum of Black History and creates a board to work with the supporting foundation and county officials. Senators and public speakers largely supported the museum bill, though some members asked about feasibility studies and long-term planning. The committee also approved CS for SB 578 on wine containers, SB 582 on penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, CS for SB 1168 creating an aggravated offense for unlawful tracking-device use in furtherance of crimes, CS for SB 806 clarifying that only the Florida Attorney General may represent beneficiaries of Florida charitable trusts as a public official, and SB 1228 to support spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee and Santa Fe springs. The committee then heard and favorably reported CS for CS for SB 304, which addresses child protective investigations involving infants and young children with genetic or other pre-existing medical conditions. The bill requires a qualified medical opinion before permanent removal in cases where injuries may be explained by an underlying condition, and it drew strong support from the sponsor and several speakers. Members also approved SB 1286 clarifying that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities, such as biking or playing outside, do not by themselves constitute neglect unless reckless, and SB 1318, a hands-free driving bill that renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the handheld-device prohibition, and adds penalties for handheld use in work and school zones and for certain serious crashes. The hands-free bill prompted the most debate, with supporters citing crash and fatality data and families sharing personal losses, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, and potential disparate impacts on lower-income and minority drivers; the bill was still reported favorably after amendments. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 14 and SB 20, two claims bills for injuries and deaths involving local governments, and CS for SB 68, which updates health facilities authority financing rules to reflect modern hospital structures. The committee also approved CS for SB 172 on health care practitioner specialty titles and designations after adopting an amendment protecting CRNA titles; the bill generated questions about whether licensed practitioners with doctoral degrees may still use the title doctor under their practice acts. Throughout the meeting, most bills were adopted without opposition, and the committee repeatedly voted to report them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve 32,000 people, keeping them fed, clothed, healthy, and housed.
• Their original proposal was an integrated DMV into the housing site.
• I think they were really trying to maximize affordable housing.
• A preponderance of affordable housing was the preference.
• A preponderance of affordable housing was the preference.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, House Bill 15 and House Bill 17.
• I am Representative Yin from House District 16.
• </c> to House TRW. to House TRW. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:31:19.279><c> you,</c><00:31:19.520><c> Mr.
• </c> and welcome to House TRW. and welcome to House TRW.
• And we would suggest this permitted.

Bills: SF0052, SF0024

Keywords: wildlife management, environmental restoration, funding, invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, native fish, habitat conservation, lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature and providing for the addition of a new Joint Rule 24 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House
• 8th order of business, the Senate will now advance to the 9th order of business: Messages from the House
• House Concurrent Resolution 22, having been enrolled and signed by the Speaker, has now been signed by
• the President and will be returned to the House of Representatives.
• to alcoholic beverages, to revise the provision regarding a form of application and to establish a permit

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge of allegiance, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chaplain’s remarks focused on “Liberty Friday” and the story of Betsy Ross as a symbol of faithful, humble service. The chamber also welcomed visiting fourth-grade students from Coal Valley Christian and recognized guests and birthdays during miscellaneous business. Several committee reports and gubernatorial appointments were received and referred to the appropriate committees or held for one legislative day. These included appointments to the Commission of Pardons and Parole, the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, the State Board of Education, the State Insurance Fund Board, and the Parks and Recreation Board. The Senate also received House Concurrent Resolution 22, which had been enrolled and signed, and the President signed it for return to the House. Three new bills were introduced and sent to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for printing: Senate Bill 1228, which would make freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity a civil right; Senate Bill 1229, revising election provisions for single-county-wide highway district commissioners; and Senate Bill 1230, revising alcoholic beverage application and license fee provisions. The Senate then adjourned by motion until 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2026.