Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute prohibits law enforcement officers from placing a surveillance or game camera
• I think as drafted, it relates to placing a surveillance camera or game camera on private land.
• The, what in the bill it says surveillance cameras and game cameras.
• Based on the elements, they take a risk if they go to trial.
• And it's based on the facts of the case that they have in front of them at that time.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I will share some of the many skills that we learned at the youth farm.
• I will share some of the many skills that we learned at the youth farm.
• I listed a few of the many skills that help us prepare for the real world and, well, still a job, but
• How the, I listed a few of the many skills that help us.
• How the, I listed a few of the many skills that help us prepare for the real outworld and, well, it's

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Game and Fish.
• We have somebody from Game and water.
• We're setting up the Gillette base.
• </c><02:41:37.080><c> So,</c> base to open on June 15th. So, base to open on June 15th.
• </c> Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Game Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Game and<02:47:39.760

Committee: Joint Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're, you know, you're really basing this on kind of proven experience in this area.
• So you're, you know, you're really basing this on kind of proven experience in this area.
• And I think you need to up your game.
• Can they put some skin in the game?
• Based on... and let's see, do you have my slides here to come up? Thank you, Samantha.

Committee: Joint Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:59.440><c> in</c> that if that is written out based in that if that is written out based in
• Um, it is in general based on less population.
• /c><01:51:49.040><c> in</c><01:51:49.360><c> very</c> base residual auction coming in very base residual
• We make it harder for that to be, you know, the game plan.
• </c> to be, you know, be the the game plan. to be, you know, be the the game plan.

Summary: The committee meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the prior minutes. Members also observed a moment of reflection for Charlie Kirk and offered condolences to Representative Bobby McCool on the death of his mother. Representative Fugate then made announcements about the ongoing ATV/UTV trail system, including an October 21 opening in Letcher County and an October 2 groundbreaking in Knott County, and staff was asked to circulate the dates to members. The main agenda item was Senate Bill 137, presented by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong with testimony from George Ecklan of the Coalition of the Homeless and Wesley Bryant, a flood survivor and Eastern Kentucky resident. The bill would prohibit utility disconnections for non-payment during dangerous weather and emergencies, including extreme cold, excessive heat, and declared natural disasters. Supporters said the measure is narrow, does not forgive past-due balances or change reconnection policies, and is intended to protect vulnerable residents, reduce risks to first responders, and create a minimum statewide standard amid a patchwork of utility policies. They cited weather thresholds and historical examples of extreme weather and disaster declarations in Kentucky. Testimony emphasized the human impact of shutoffs, especially for low-income households, older adults, and families facing illness or disaster recovery. Bryant described experiences with people shivering without heat or struggling to keep children cool when power was cut off, calling electricity a lifeline rather than a luxury. Representative Gu raised concerns that utility bills have become unaffordable due to broader policy and rate issues, argued that some customers may not pay if shutoffs are prohibited, and questioned whether the bill was needed. Senator Chambers Armstrong responded that the proposal is limited to non-payment shutoffs during short periods of dangerous conditions and is meant to keep people safe during emergencies. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• is replacing Eckert Bridge, which is just downstream, and we've also partnered with Idaho Fish and Game
• is replacing Eckert Bridge, which is just downstream, and we've also partnered with Idaho Fish and Game
• When we pull out from finishing construction, they will actually use that as their parking lot base.
• Obviously, there's some fluctuations in each year based on weather patterns, but generally a decline
• And so same game on the Highline as it was on Lateral 1: we've got to get that nice shape, we've got

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• UHS is a for-profit corporation based on the East Coast. I read their press releases to investors.
• In closing, the employee said, each aspect of this bill could be a real game changer for the industry
• </span> <span marker="23" data-time="575">...said each aspect of this bill could be a real game changer
• pharmacists versus retail-based pharmacists.
• And they provide different access to care, whether you&#039;re based in communities, which is wonderful

Summary: The Alaska Legislature met in joint session to consider gubernatorial vetoes of five bills. Members first took up House Bill 52 on minors and psychiatric hospitals, with supporters arguing it would improve transparency, family communication, oversight, and reporting around seclusion and restraint in psychiatric facilities. Opponents of the veto cited DOJ findings and media reports about abuses at a North Star facility. The override failed, 36-24, falling short of the 40 votes needed. The joint session then considered Senate Bill 41 on mental health education. Supporters said it would help develop age-appropriate mental health curriculum and could aid suicide prevention, while critics argued it was mischaracterized and did not impose a state takeover of local schools. The veto override failed, 38-22. Members next considered House Bill 314 on architects, engineers, surveyors, and interior designers, focusing on the AELS Board’s continuation and the need for professional oversight during major infrastructure work. That override passed, 45-15. The legislature then voted on Senate Bill 21, the Alaska Work and Save Program, which supporters said would expand retirement savings access for workers and small businesses, including an option to direct PFD funds into retirement accounts. The override failed, 39-21. Finally, House Bill 195 on pharmacists and physician assistants was debated as a health care access measure that would let pharmacists provide more services under a standard-of-care model; supporters said it would reduce costs and improve access, while some members raised concerns about scope and abortion-related issues. The veto override passed, 43-17. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 1 focuses on our commitment to foundational literacy skills, which we heard a lot about from
• the testifiers, literacy skills for reading instruction delivered through the science of reading.
• Article 1 focuses on our commitment to foundational literacy skills, which we heard a lot about from
• the testifiers, literacy skills for reading instruction delivered through the science of reading.
• </c><00:09:48.279><c> so</c> from foundational literacy skills so from foundational literacy skills so

Transcript Highlights:

• It's based on the derivation of those civil penalties that are not easy to project.
• assess any exemptions based on operational needs.
• What was this based on? What was it based on to go from two to four days?
• They really need research-based guidance. on how to adapt.
• We also urge the committee to protect funding for critical skills training programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• our f our fiscal and uh but but our base our f our fiscal base<00:28:41.360><c> of</c><00:28:41.679>
• He is on his game and they have a great facility over there.
• He is on his game and they have a great facility over there.
• He is on his game and they have a great facility over there.
• He is on his game and they have a great facility over there.

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force opened its sixth meeting by approving the minutes and then taking up a presentation from University of Pikeville representatives and local leaders on an Eastern Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain in Pike County. Speakers included Greg May, Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty, Lori Worth, and Laura Damron. They described repeated flooding and other disasters in eastern Kentucky, the lack of a single prepared relief location, and the need for a centralized, elevated site that could serve as a flood and broader natural-disaster hub. The presenters said the Bear Mountain property, about 530 acres and well above flood levels, could support a multi-use facility combining disaster response functions with university and community uses. Proposed features included a command and communications center, distribution space, emergency shelter, medical and clinic support, food service, restroom facilities, RV hookups, and an indoor track/distribution building. They emphasized that the project would help avoid disrupting existing venues such as the Pikeville Expo Center and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, while also supporting tourism and economic recovery. Committee members asked about community and emergency-management support, annual operating costs, and resilience standards such as tornado-related building codes. In response, the presenters said local stakeholders, including Appalachian Wireless, Pikeville Medical Center, Community Trust Bank, the city of Pikeville, and emergency management officials, had expressed support. They said the university planned to absorb some operating costs through multiple uses of the facility, community camps, and budgeted maintenance, and that construction documents were nearly complete with plans to begin building within months. After the presentation, the chair thanked the presenters and moved the committee into its recommendations discussion, noting the broader fiscal and humanitarian importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency and indicating that future legislation would likely follow from the task force’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Broncos won that game 24 to 10. Why is that?
• aspects and they scored certain points that led to a certain team total on the board that won the game
• So much like a football game, you have to win the right amount of states to get the right magic number
• Listen, we're not playing a game of telephone.
• We're not playing a game of telephone. We go through the chair, then we ask the question.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we learn as children uh the skill and the value of compromise and motans expect and understand that
• Uh we learn as children<00:04:21.120><c> uh</c><00:04:21.359><c> the</c><00:04:21.680><c> skill</c><00
• and</c><00:04:22.880><c> the</c><00:04:23.120><c> value</c><00:04:23.680><c> of</c> children uh the skill
• and the value of children uh the skill and the value of compromise<00:04:25.040><c> and</c><00:04:25.360
• on our revenues and what we manage based on our revenues and our<00:31:31.840><c> expenditures</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• These<00:03:54.000><c> are</c><00:03:54.159><c> the</c><00:03:54.319><c> very</c><00:03:54.560><c> skills
• c><00:03:54.799><c> that</c><00:03:55.040><c> lead</c><00:03:55.200><c> to</c> These are the very skills
• that lead to These are the very skills that lead to safer<00:03:55.760><c> outcomes,</c><00:03:56.720
• However, I do know based on a data request that they use a Lexile reading metric, which comes off the
• 47:41.839><c> request</c> based on a data request based on a data request uh<00:47:43.599><c> that</c

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The witness said the increase was because they were trying to get ahead of the game.
• </c> just trying to get ahead of the game just trying to get ahead of the game there<00:58:23.200><c>
• Motion carries. the rest of the design work based on the rest of the design work based on that<01:17:
• We will adjust accordingly based on whatever those changes may be. All right, thank you.
• We approve these particular applications based on this is the funds you'll have, right?

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a proven skill that raises the level of success for students.
• That delay affects more than 20% of the state's personal income tax base, and so both our office and
• That's just based on the historical distribution of Proposition 98 funding.
• The first one in December, and that's what these charts... ...are based on.
• means of teaching foundational reading skills aligned to the ELA/ELD framework.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met for its annual Proposition 98 overview, with Chair Alvarez outlining the committee’s focus on K-12 funding, student outcomes, and use of one-time funds. Superintendent Tony Thurmond gave an update on education issues, including wildfire recovery support for affected school communities, ongoing concerns about federal threats to education funding and immigration enforcement, progress on literacy and math, dual-language immersion, educator housing, and support for dual enrollment. Members broadly expressed support for these priorities, while also raising concerns about implementation, funding stability, and the need for schools to remain safe places for students. The committee then reviewed the Governor’s Proposition 98 proposal. The Department of Finance said the 2025-26 Proposition 98 guarantee is projected at $118.9 billion, with higher revenues and TK-related rebenching driving the increase. The LAO said the budget adds about $7.5 billion over two years and discussed the volatility of the guarantee, especially in 2024-25, when changes in revenue could have an outsized effect on school funding. Members questioned the proposed $1.6 billion delayed settle-up payment, the legal basis for delaying it, and the impact of possible federal funding freezes. The LAO presented alternatives such as a reserve deposit or delayed disbursement, while Finance said the proposal is intended to manage uncertainty. Members also raised concerns that ethnic studies implementation was not funded in the January budget, and Finance said the administration was not proposing funding for it. The committee next heard on the Proposition 98 rainy day fund and education deferrals. Finance said the reserve would receive a mandatory deposit of about $1.2 billion in 2024-25 and a discretionary deposit of $376 million in 2025-26, leaving a balance of about $1.5 billion. The LAO supported rebuilding the reserve as a way to manage volatility. On deferrals, Finance described the Governor’s plan to eliminate remaining deferrals by 2025-26, and the LAO said paying them off improves cash flow and budget resilience. Members generally supported eliminating deferrals and rebuilding reserves, though some asked about acting earlier if revenues allow. The committee also reviewed the proposed $1.8 billion student support and professional development block grant; Finance said it would fund professional development, recruitment and retention, and dual enrollment, while the LAO recommended clearer language on local discretion and use for one-time costs. Members were divided, with some supporting flexibility and others warning that one-time block grants can create instability and confusion for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• How could, based on the study, could this negatively impact the health insurance plan that employees
• How could, based on the study, could this negatively impact the health insurance plan that employees
• Cruz, my understanding is a feasibility study is based on what it would cost for employees to leave our
• for providing interventions to a third-grade student who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills

Summary: The House Democratic Caucus met on Minority Caucus Calendar items and reviewed several Senate-amended House bills. HB 2003 would lower the learner’s permit age from 15½ to 15 and increase supervised driving time; the Senate added a delayed effective date of December 1, 2026, and the sponsor was said to have refused the amendment after previously concurring. HB 2693 would allow chambers of commerce to set up insurance purchasing pools for small businesses, and the Senate added a third-party-funded feasibility study by ADOA on what it would cost for state health insurance to enter the marketplace; members raised concerns that the study could be used to undermine the state self-insured plan, but no action was taken. HB 2133, dealing with synthetic sexual depictions and online sexual material verification, had multiple Senate changes that removed the synthetic-depiction expansion, added parody/artistic-expression exceptions, altered verification and record-retention rules, and removed AG inspection authority; the sponsor was expected to refuse the changes, and members were directed to stakeholder emails outlining concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• How could, based on the study, How could, based on the study, could this negatively impact the health
• Cruz, my understanding is a feasibility study is based on what it would cost for employees to leave our
• for providing interventions to a third-grade student who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills

Summary: The House Democratic Caucus reviewed several Senate-amended bills on the Minority Caucus Calendar. HB 2003, which lowers the learner’s permit age and increases supervised driving time, had a Senate delayed effective date added; members were told the sponsor had previously concurred but now intends to refuse. HB 2693, allowing chamber-of-commerce insurance purchasing pools and adding a third-party-paid feasibility study on state health insurance entering the marketplace, drew questions about possible impacts on the state employee health plan and whether the study could be used to undermine the current self-insured system. HB 2133, dealing with sexual material consent and synthetic depictions, generated the most discussion. The Senate removed the synthetic-depiction language from the revenge porn statute, added parody/comedy/artistic-expression exceptions, narrowed and expanded various verification provisions for commercial entities, removed limits on retaining identifying information, and eliminated AG inspection authority; members were told the sponsor intends to refuse the changes and that stakeholder concerns were outlined in emailed comments from the ASEO of Arizona and the Motion Picture Association. HB 2013, requiring ADEQ to submit exceptional-event demonstrations to EPA for certain wildfire impacts, had a Senate amendment limiting it to wildfires over 25,000 acres and tied to smoke or land damage; the sponsor was expected to concur, though stakeholders’ concerns remained unresolved. HB 2226, which requires courts to ask about veteran status at initial appearance and provide information about veterans’ services, was amended by the Senate to have the court rather than the prosecutor provide the information; members said the sponsor likely would concur. HB 2032, adjusting statewide assessment testing windows and related deadlines, was amended to extend the testing window to six consecutive school weeks and move the start of testing for grades 3-8 to the second week of April; the sponsor concurred, and members noted that organizations previously opposed had shifted to support. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> based on only 40 members in the model. based on only 40 members in the model.
• Um, so, the fee-for-service base payment is really the base for all of everything else that happens.
• </c><00:33:02.799><c> really</c><00:33:02.960><c> the</c><00:33:03.279><c> base</c> service base payment
• is really the base service base payment is really the base for<00:33:03.919><c> all</c><00:33:04.240
• </c> potential changes in the tax model based potential changes in the tax model based off<00:55:26.720

Committee: Joint Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes a lot of skill and takes a lot of time to learn.
• It takes a lot of<00:23:26.960><c> skill</c><00:23:27.120><c> and</c><00:23:27.360><c> takes</c><00:23
• 23:27.600><c> lot</c><00:23:27.760><c> of</c><00:23:27.840><c> time</c><00:23:28.000><c> to</c> of skill
• I don’t think a lot of farmers are skilled at doing that, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be.
• I don’t think a lot of farmers are skilled at doing that, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be.

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a work session and then an executive session on HB 396, which would allow processing of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by USDA. Representative Comtois presented a revised amendment after earlier drafting issues were corrected. She explained that the amendment now limits the amenable species language to cuts of meat rather than meat food products, fixes labeling language, removes an exemption from federal law, strikes a seasonal date range, and restores a section that had been removed. She also said the amendment distinguishes between amenable and non-amenable species and keeps a registration statement acknowledging the federal-law conflict. Committee members and witnesses debated the policy. Representative Howard questioned whether the bill should educate farmers rather than legislate them and raised concerns about requiring a farmer to register as violating federal law. Representative Comtois argued the bill supports small farmers, year-round meat processing, and intrastate activity, and described problems she said had occurred at USDA facilities. Representative Miner and others expressed support for moving the amendment forward. DHHS food safety officials testified that the department has no oversight of custom exempt facilities, that USDA is the only inspector in that system, and that if the bill passed there would be very limited regulatory oversight unless there were complaints or a foodborne outbreak. They also noted the original September 1 to April 30 date range had been tied to bison because of size and temperature concerns, and said the current language appeared to address bison, elk, and red deer documentation rather than the livestock species named in the bill. The New Hampshire Farm Bureau’s policy director, Rob Johnson, said the organization had recently voted down a policy opposing state regulations that would allow uninspected meat sales at retail until federal law changes, and that he needed to consult further with leadership before taking a position on HB 396. He suggested the bill should use the term “beef cattle” for consistency with livestock statutes. In executive session, Representative Comtois moved to approve amendment 2025-3090H, Representative King seconded, and members reiterated both support and reservations. The transcript ends during executive-session discussion, with no final recorded vote on the bill shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Fish and Game has the responsibility under Idaho Code to preserve, protect, perpetuate
• The Department of Fish and Game does not receive general funds.
• I move for FY 2027 for the Department of Fish and Game an additional $14,945,400 from dedicated funds
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that are subgranted to the Department of Fish and Game
• It is an evidence-based program that is well documented and well researched.

Summary: The committee met to review the general fund update and several budget-setting items, with staff explaining how to track the latest “green sheet” online and how JFAC actions were affecting the FY 2026 and FY 2027 bottom lines. Members also discussed whether work group progress should be summarized more broadly, but leadership emphasized that work groups were intended to remain independent and that members should consult analysts directly rather than have a running public summary of each group’s internal deliberations. The committee then acted on a series of agency budgets. It approved the Idaho State Tax Commission enhancement package after revising it to remove the chief operating officer personnel item and adopted language limiting use of $550,000 for fast tax collection vendor payments, with any unused amount reverting to the general fund. It also approved supplemental and enhancement requests for the Office of Information Technology Services, including Chinden campus furnishings, E-Core grant staffing and funding, enterprise security/firewall upgrades, the IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, and a one-time cash transfer language item to cover transition-year health insurance costs. The Military Division’s request for $120,000 for Office of Emergency Management indirect cost recovery was approved, but an alternate motion to also add $190,800 for the state education assistance program failed, and the original motion was later held in committee. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets were both advanced with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund needs, OITS hardware, and replacement laptops. The Department of Fish and Game budget was also advanced, with approval of a large package of dedicated and federal funds for fishery habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, hatchery and laboratory inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and replacement items, along with reappropriation authority for prior-year funds. The committee then took up the Department of Health and Welfare Division of Public Health Services, where competing motions focused on the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, laboratory testing, HIV and hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and moving the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development. Both the substitute motion and the original motion failed after split votes in the House and Senate committees, leaving that budget held for later action. Finally, the committee considered new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer to require monthly reconciliation of cash balances between Luma and TARS from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with a report due by the fall interim JFAC meeting and documentation retained for audit. Members discussed the need for accurate cash reconciliation and the resources available to the Controller’s office, but no final action was taken before adjournment. The chair announced upcoming budget-setting meetings and reminded members to complete work group motions by the end of the day.