Transcript Highlights:

• Cross: it talks about shifting legal responsibility for compliance with the regulatory standards from

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 74, Title 39, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section to establish the solid-waste regulatory

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our purpose was to improve or lower administrative burden as well as provide regulatory relief with several

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee met to begin its rules review process and welcomed University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students visiting as part of the 24th ag-economics public policy and legislative tour. Committee leaders introduced the students and thanked them for their interest in Idaho agriculture before turning to the rule dockets. The committee heard presentations from Idaho State Department of Agriculture staff on several zero-based regulation rules: stone fruit grades, bulk permits and retail sale of potatoes, weights and measures, pesticide and chemigation use and application, and organic food products. Testimony explained that most changes were technical cleanups, including removing obsolete or duplicative language, updating incorporation-by-reference citations, clarifying definitions and grade language, and aligning rules with current handbooks or federal marketing orders. The pesticide rule also included more substantive updates such as revised license terms, longer sunset periods for some applicators, and new provisions for drone pesticide applications. Members asked a few questions, including about where removed definitions had gone in the weights and measures rule; staff said those definitions are already in statute. No votes were taken on the dockets. The chair announced the committee would not vote on these rules until a later meeting, after additional presentations, and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, many professional regulatory bodies have a program where those with substance abuse problems
• look at legislation and trying to change it, and it's trying to strike that balance in there of efficiency
• </c> more feasible if we a lot more efficient more feasible if we a lot more efficient if<03:33:27.359
• </c><03:34:02.479><c> um</c> balance in there of efficiency um balance in there of efficiency um economics
• 03:36:57.120><c> to</c><03:36:57.279><c> do</c> Brian's painful statement, trying to do it in an efficient

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• caused a number of states, I would say most, to not make policy commitments because a legislative regulatory
• I would say most, to not make policy commitments because a legislative regulatory process does not lend
• They incorporate all relevant regulatory requirements into their contracts, and that includes the network
• They incorporate all relevant regulatory<00:37:09.160><c> requirements</c><00:37:10.040><c> into</c><
• 00:37:10.520><c> their</c> regulatory requirements into their regulatory requirements into their contracts

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board received a presentation from Dr. Stack and Commissioner Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for a federal Medicaid-related funding opportunity tied to House Resolution 1. They described a compressed six-week stakeholder process that produced more than 50 responses and letters of support, and said the application was organized around five broad priorities: maternal health, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, EMS/trauma response, and chronic disease. They emphasized that the proposal was designed to align with CMS goals, use allowable funding categories, and focus on sustainability rather than a short-term grant. Commissioner Langfeld outlined five core initiatives: rural community hubs for chronic care innovation, beginning with obesity and diabetes; a maternal and infant health effort called POWER; a behavioral health and substance use model called IMPATH; an oral health initiative called Rooted in Health; and an integrated crisis-to-care EMS and trauma response effort. He said the chronic disease work would include prevention, food-as-medicine concepts, and technology tools, while the maternal health effort would expand team-based care around mothers and infants using community health workers and doulas. The behavioral health proposal would build on existing crisis intervention models, oral health would address workforce and access gaps through training, mobile vans, and telehealth, and the EMS proposal would better connect emergency response with home-based and community care. Several senators questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully address rural hospital closures or the broader rural health care crisis. Senator Meredith said the plan was not transformational and would not save rural hospitals, while Senator Berg asked how success would be measured. In response, the presenters said they would use both lagging and leading indicators, with an emphasis on rapid-cycle feedback and data use that is more actionable in real time. They also said the work could help existing models that already show promise, such as behavioral health units and dental workforce expansion, even if it would not solve the larger funding gap created by HR1. Senator Douglas asked how the proposals would motivate patients to participate in their own health care. The presenters responded that the chronic disease prevention work would focus on obesity, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and consumer-facing technology tools to help people engage in their own care, and that EMS-community health worker partnerships could identify unmet needs in the home and reduce preventable problems. The board then moved on to its next agenda item, Medicaid managed care delivery models, with Tom Stevens, Katherine North, and Dr. Patel scheduled to present.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the regulatory authority to enforce this lies with the attorney general's office, and traditionally
• business of insurance and insurance companies falls within the insurance department within the regulatory
• </c><01:30:58.960><c> We</c> regulatory structure of insurance.
• We regulatory structure of insurance.
• It clarifies that personal information collected related to law enforcement or regulatory enforcement

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• right now like this, because for the most part we are a user of the resource and not take on a regulatory
• right now like this, because for the most part we are a user of the resource and not take on a regulatory
• Because you do say that Kīkīa has a regulatory authority over the base waters, but separate from the
• um</c><01:33:02.920><c> has</c><01:33:03.440><c> an</c><01:33:03.639><c> a</c><01:33:03.880><c> regulatory
• </c> do say that K Kua um has an a regulatory do say that K Kua um has an a regulatory Authority<01:33

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other states typically only tax enough to cover the burden of the regulatory agency.
• :47.799><c> the</c> tax enough to cover the burden of the tax enough to cover the burden of the regulatory
• agency North Dakota is around regulatory agency North Dakota is around 1%<00:31:52.000><c> and</c><00
• The biggest bite of the donut was state, federal, and local taxes at 28%, while license and regulatory
• The biggest bite of the donut was state, federal, and local taxes at 28%, while license and regulatory

Bills: HF169, HF195, HF194, HF1756, HF2133

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have environmental impact statement public hearings, Land Board meetings, and other regulatory
• We are the regulatory agency; we're not the advocate for the project.
• We are the regulatory agency; we're not the advocate for the project.
• <c> be</c> And could it be, given this timeline, could it be a shorter timeline that's more cost-efficient

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on March 21, 2025, and heard several resolutions related to corrections, emergency preparedness, and wildfire risk. Early items included HCR 62/HR 57 on flying the National League of Families POW/MIA flag year-round at the state Capitol, for which no one testified, and HCR 154/HR 49, which would request a comprehensive forensic audit of DCR and DAGS spending tied to planning and building a new jail to replace the Ahu Community Correctional Center. The ACLU strongly supported the audit, arguing that the state has spent millions on jail planning over many years without clear accounting, that a new jail is unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible, and that public-private partnership arrangements could reduce transparency. Committee members questioned the use of the term “forensic,” the age of some cited allegations, and whether the auditor could instead conduct another type of audit; the ACLU said it was open to other audit language and offered to help compile background materials. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard HCR 63, asking DCR to provide separate clinical counseling services for correctional staff, with one supporter, and HCR 23, which asks DCR to include circuit and district court facilities in planning the new Ahu Community Correctional Center and to establish a release procedure that avoids releasing detainees into residential communities or public spaces. DCR Director Johnson said the department supported the intent of HCR 23 and had discussed it with the Chief Justice and court administrator, adding that one multi-purpose courtroom could handle both district and circuit proceedings. The chair then moved on without further discussion. A major portion of the meeting focused on HCR 37, which asks HEMA to work with other agencies on outreach and preparedness for kūpuna. Testifiers from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, AARP Hawaii, and the Hawaii Council of Community Associations supported the measure, citing the vulnerability of older adults and people with disabilities during disasters, lessons from the Lahaina fires, and the need for clear evacuation plans, siren reliability, and better coordination with care homes and condominium associations. Several speakers described local preparedness efforts and concerns about gaps in communication and implementation. The committee also discussed HCR 69/HR 62 on creating a vegetation management working group to reduce wildfire risk; the Division of Consumer Advocacy supported it, with testimony describing dangerous incidents involving vines and bamboo contacting electrical lines and causing sparking and a utility pole fire. The meeting ended with testimony and questions continuing on that topic, and no final committee action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• we have that leftover money or we try to incentivize our folks to, let's say, find ways to find efficiencies
• many ways, we can all learn from what we went through, including the public health response and regulatory
• many ways, we can all learn from what we went through, including the public health response and regulatory
• many ways, we can all learn from what we went through, including the public health response and regulatory

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be making sure that we have a decent, solid, safe, efficient classroom environment for our
• We should be making sure that we have a decent, solid, safe, efficient classroom environment for our
• We should be making sure that we have a decent, solid, safe, efficient classroom environment for our
• We should be making sure that we have a decent, solid, safe, efficient classroom environment for our
• We should be making sure that we have a decent, solid, safe, efficient classroom environment for our

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Idaho Board of Pharmacy administers the regulatory provisions of the state's Uniform Controlled Substances

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard House Bill 777, which updates Idaho’s Controlled Substances Act. Testimony from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses explained that the bill adds several substances to Schedule I and two opioids to Schedule II, makes clarifying and cleanup changes, updates registration to biennial registration, and expands limited prescription drug monitoring program access for certain federal and tribal investigators. The bill was described as having no expected fiscal impact and no public opposition was reported. The committee voted to send HB 777 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee also approved the minutes from February 11, 2026. It then took up House Concurrent Resolution 30, which seeks legislative authorization to hire an independent consultant to assist the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel as Idaho moves toward comprehensive managed care under House Bill 345. Senator Van Orden said the panel is facing a large volume of contract and RFP material tied to a roughly $5.5 billion Medicaid budget and needs help meeting an October deadline. Supporters argued an independent consultant would provide needed oversight on a complex contract, while opponents questioned whether the work would duplicate the Department of Health and Welfare’s consultant and raised concerns about added spending and the broader direction of Medicaid managed care. After debate, the committee voted by roll call 6-3 to send HCR 30 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again the next day on additional bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Idaho Board of Pharmacy administers the regulatory provisions of the state's Uniform Controlled Substances

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it's for public health and safety, maybe some deadlines with federal law or programs, or to reduce regulatory

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guidance, remove rule content related to Healthy Connections and Healthy Connections Value Care as regulatory

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered two Medicaid rule dockets from the Department of Health and Welfare. The first docket repealed the consumer-directed services chapter that had been inadvertently omitted from last session’s House Bill 345 Medicaid rule consolidation, with the understanding that the same material would be incorporated into the consolidated Medicaid rules. The committee asked for confirmation that no substantive policy changes were being made in the repeal-and-replace process, and the docket was adopted on a voice vote. The second docket, Medicaid plan benefits, consolidated Medicaid provisions into a single chapter and updated the rules by removing duplicative or outdated language, aligning case management and personal care provisions with appropriations and other services, reverting one definition to federal guidance, removing references to programs now supported in the provider handbook or state plan, and adding speech-language pathology assistants as providers. Senators noted the document was lengthy and discussed the need for transparency and stakeholder input in rulemaking. The department said the docket contained no new policies beyond the consumer-directed services material and the listed cleanup changes. Senator Wintrow raised a stakeholder concern about psychological evaluation timelines affecting payment for providers serving individuals with disabilities. A provider testified that psychologist shortages and long wait times, sometimes four to seven months, delay eligibility determinations and reimbursement, and asked the department to work on a solution. The department said the policy itself was unchanged but was willing to continue discussions during the interim. The committee then approved the Medicaid plan benefits docket, including the temporary and pending rule, by voice vote and adjourned after a brief announcement about a future rule-process presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hatcheries are in locations where they are for various efficiency purposes, so we have hatcheries
• purposes so we have various efficiency purposes so we have um<00:46:41.359><c> hatcheries</c><00:46:
• We have a Fish and Game Commission, and we are also part of, I believe, three regulatory commissions
• We have a Fish and Game Commission, and we are also part of, I believe, three regulatory commissions
• We have a Fish and Game Commission, and we are also part of, I believe, three regulatory commissions

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii and the nucleatory regulatory<01:37:22.239><c> commission</c><01:37:22.719><c> finally</c><01:
• 37:23.760><c> uh</c><01:37:24.080><c> says</c> regulatory commission finally uh says regulatory commission
• requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a geothermal energy working group to evaluate the regulatory
• 01:59:04.560><c> to</c><01:59:04.719><c> evaluate</c><01:59:05.119><c> the</c><01:59:05.280><c> regulatory
• </c> working group to evaluate the regulatory working group to evaluate the regulatory and<01:59:06.080

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunity for Hawaii to be able to take it to another level, which require trained clinicians, regulatory
• opportunity for Hawaii to be able to take it to another level, which require trained clinicians, regulatory
• :47.039><c> clinicians,</c> which require trained clinicians, which require trained clinicians, regulatory
• <00:20:48.320><c> alignment,</c><00:20:49.360><c> research</c> regulatory alignment, research regulatory

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 3025, relating to medical debt, with multiple organizations and individuals, including the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queens Health Systems, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Aloha Care, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction, Hawaii Data Collaborative, and Hawaii Appleseed, all speaking in support. No opposition was heard, and the member present had no questions. The committee then took up SB 3199, which would establish a mental health emerging therapies task force. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers including veterans, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups describing personal experiences with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and treatment-resistant conditions, and arguing that Hawaii should prepare for regulated access to emerging therapies such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine. The Department of Health and some medical organizations provided comments, and one opposition witness was called but not present. The chair noted broad support, especially from veterans, and no vote was taken during the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 3324, relating to Medicaid. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Care, and numerous care-provider and aging/disability organizations testified in support, while one witness was in opposition and several others offered comments. The discussion then moved to SB 2563, relating to homelessness, where the Department of the Attorney General offered comments on specific sections and recommended adopting suggested amendments if the bill proceeds. Additional testimony on SB 2563 began with support from several individuals, including Shelby Pikachu, who emphasized the severity of homelessness and related social problems in the community.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2069 will provide all of the regulatory framework necessary to allow autonomous vehicles to
• House Bill 2069 outlines all of the regulatory framework to ensure that autonomous vehicles in the state
• This creates regulatory certainty for companies like Waymo to invest in your communities, improve road
• And so it does come from us, but it comes from us via regulatory requirements with the National Highway
• Creating a regulatory framework that paves the way for autonomous vehicles such as Waymo complies with

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• modernize state licensing rules is really important, but the systemic problem of our child care regulatory
• we just passed eight bills off the House floor on Monday, and we really just actually showed how efficient
• And so I absolutely believe in us that we can be very efficient, get these bills to the floor, and pass
• Representative Hicks, closing thoughts on the A4. that we can be very efficient, get these that we can
• be very efficient, get these bills<00:50:26.080><c> to</c><00:50:26.160><c> the</c><00:50:26.280><c>

Bills: HF4382, HF2929

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, family child care, family day care, group family day care, licensed child care, licensing modernization, early childhood education, preschool, infant care, toddler care, school-age care, drop-in child care, night care, sick care, community-based child care, provider training, staff ratios, group size