Transcript Highlights:

• partnership level, and then the results would flow down to the partners on their K-1 or other tax adjustments
• Is there any data or any or further tax adjustments. Follow-up. Go ahead.
• partnership level, and then the results would flow down to the partners on their K-1 or if other tax adjustments
• or further tax adjustments. Follow up. Go ahead.
• What I'm looking at is making a change, an adjustment here, that just applies to geothermal and windmills

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on February 19, 2026, and first approved the minutes from its February 13 meeting. It then considered RS 33462, which would signal Idaho’s willingness to participate in a federal education freedom tax credit program and set up a framework for scholarship-granting organizations. Members raised questions about possible general fund impacts and the federal nature of the credit. A substitute motion to hold the RS for further committee debate failed on a roll call vote, and the original motion to introduce the RS and send it to the second reading calendar passed, with Representatives Barbieri, Shepherd, and Birch recorded as nays. The committee next heard RS 3302, a sales tax exemption proposal for the Salvation Army. Representative Cornilles said the bill was complicated and would not move beyond introduction this session, with more work to be done over the summer. Members asked about the organization’s federal tax-exempt status and the broader policy implications of granting similar exemptions to other groups. The RS was introduced. The committee also heard RS 33398, which would align Idaho’s partnership audit procedures with the federal model by allowing audits at the partnership level rather than separately for each partner. Supporters said this would improve efficiency for the Tax Commission and taxpayers, while members questioned whether reduced granularity could affect revenue capture; the RS was introduced. Finally, the committee considered RS 33417C1, a change affecting certain rural school districts with wind, geothermal, or solar energy revenue. Representative Furman said the proposal would adjust how tax distributions are calculated when a district no longer has a supplemental levy, using the county levy rate instead, and would apply only to geothermal and wind, not solar. The committee introduced the RS without objection. The meeting then adjourned, and members were told there would be no meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $788,344 due to items such as a $652,185 increase associated with various standard statewide adjustments
• These changes are primarily due to a $663,143 net increase from various standard statewide adjustments
• This is primarily due to standard statewide adjustments.
• Existing employees received either a 10% or a 5% adjustment to their base pay.
• Those adjustments require both the approval of the State Civil Service Commission and the governor.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the House Fiscal Division’s FY 2027 budget presentations for the State Treasury, Public Service Commission, Department of Civil Service, and Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Treasury’s recommended budget was about $15 million with 74 positions, funded largely by self-generated revenue. Treasury staff highlighted strong investment returns, record unclaimed property recoveries, a new ACH option to speed and reduce the cost of payments, a School Transparency portal that helped uncover questionable school spending, and a new online portal that has sped up processing of cooperative endeavor agreements and related payments. Members praised the transparency work and faster payments, and asked about bond ratings, CEA oversight, and the public accessibility of the transparency site. The Public Service Commission’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $11.5 million, entirely self-generated, with most spending on personnel; commissioners said salary and market adjustments were needed to address heavy attorney and auditor turnover. Civil Service’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $28.7 million, with major funding from interagency transfers and general fund, and officials explained recent pay-plan and special entrance rate changes intended to improve recruitment and retention across state agencies. Members asked how those compensation changes were developed and whether market studies supported them. The Agriculture and Forestry budget was presented at $91.4 million, with major funding from statutory dedications, general fund, and federal dollars, and the commissioner described severe pressure on farmers from low commodity prices, drought, freezes, wildfires, storm damage, and labor shortages. The Agriculture and Forestry discussion was the longest and most detailed. The commissioner said the state is working to expand markets, reduce costs, and help farmers through federal assistance, while also seeking more equipment and fuel for wildfire response after a severe fire weekend and ongoing drought conditions. Members raised concerns about storm-damaged timber, soil and water conservation funding, and the loss of federal dollars that depend on local technicians. The commissioner explained the wildfire suppression subfund, the role of severance taxes, and the limits of current firefighting equipment and staffing. He also discussed the seafood sector, especially shrimp and crawfish, saying imported seafood, currency changes, tariffs, and H-2B worker shortages are hurting Louisiana producers and processors. He said the department is testing imported seafood for antibiotics, wants more authority to hold contaminated product, and is pursuing legislation to support seafood promotion and testing. Members also asked about wood chips, rail transport, timber severance reporting, and incentives for wood pellet use, and the commissioner said the department is exploring new markets, including overseas buyers for wood and agricultural products. No formal votes or bill actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting consisted of budget presentations, agency testimony, and member questions and comments. The tone throughout was supportive of the agencies’ work, with repeated praise for Treasury’s transparency efforts, Civil Service’s compensation reforms, and Agriculture and Forestry’s advocacy for farmers, foresters, and seafood producers.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would standardize a 30-day appeal period for the zoning board of adjustment.
• Again, most towns already adjustment.
• I hope that gives me enough adjustment.
• They know their adjustment.
• </c> community zoning board of adjustments. community zoning board of adjustments.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:15:00.280><c> I</c><00:15:00.360><c> want</c><00:15:00.560><c> to</c><00:15:00.760><c> draw</c> claims
• database and I want to draw claims database and I want to draw members<00:15:01.320><c> attention</c
• I mean, we're selling personal claims data, health data, to people even though you say it's de-identified
• We're selling<00:18:59.280><c> personal</c><00:18:59.640><c> claims</c><00:19:00.080><c> data,</c><00
• :19:00.520><c> health</c> selling personal claims data, health selling personal claims data, health data

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That claim falls apart on closer look.
• Even if the access claim were true, we should never accept a system where a marginalized patient group
• The problem is these claims are not true.
• is worse, our survey of 1,500 U.S. women conducted last year finds that 80% of women believe these claims
• 1990, with language that would make it unlawful to advertise or promote compounded medications with claims

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of bills, with several cannabis-related measures drawing the most testimony. AB 1598 would extend and standardize licensing timelines for behavioral health professionals, AB 1850 would clarify that real estate wholesalers are subject to licensure and disclosure rules, AB 1794 would allow enteral formula to be shipped directly to patients’ homes, and AB 2402 would update an old cap on fees for multi-service health club studios. The committee also heard AB 1990 on compounded GLP-1 drugs, AB 2249 on cannabis packaging attractive to children, AB 2532 on cannabis beverage serving sizes, AB 2537 on prioritizing cannabis enforcement, and AB 1826 on due process protections for cannabis businesses facing embargoes or recalls. Testimony was generally split between public health or consumer-protection advocates and industry representatives. Supporters of the cannabis bills argued for clearer rules, better consumer safety, and more predictable enforcement, while opponents warned that some proposals could overreach, burden compliant businesses, or restrict legitimate branding and access. On AB 1990, supporters said compounded GLP-1 products need stronger testing and truthful advertising, while pharmacists and compounding advocates said existing law already covers much of the conduct and that the bill could create access problems. On AB 2249 and AB 2532, public health witnesses emphasized risks to children and accidental overconsumption, while industry groups sought narrower language and more implementation time. The committee took several roll-call votes after quorum was established. AB 2249, AB 1826, AB 2402, AB 1794, and AB 2532 were all approved and sent to Appropriations, and AB 1826 was sent to Judiciary. The chair and members repeatedly noted accepted committee amendments and, in several cases, said they were prepared to support the bills with those amendments. Some measures were left open or held pending further action as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe they claim to be a druid or a witch or something.
• Maybe they claim to be a druid or a witch or something.
• Maybe they claim to be a druid or a witch or something.
• <00:25:40.960><c> 1983</c><00:25:41.760><c> civil</c><00:25:42.040><c> rights</c><00:25:42.320><c> claim
• </c><00:25:42.680><c> or</c> subject to a 1983 civil rights claim or subject to a 1983 civil rights claim

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their whoever's requesting it puts in their defense,<00:14:54.880><c> their</c><00:14:55.120><c> claims
• , their claims, their counter claims<00:14:56.399><c> so</c><00:14:56.560><c> that</c><00:14:56.880><
• And so this just says if the tenant didn't even show up at the hearing or didn't even claim a hearing
• </c><00:16:48.720><c> a</c><00:16:49.040><c> hearing</c> hearing or didn't even claim a hearing hearing
• or didn't even claim a hearing um<00:16:50.800><c> any</c><00:16:51.120><c> discretionary</c><00:16:

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last bill is House Bill 990, HD2, SD1, making appropriations for claims against the state, its officers
• If all we're doing is adding the most recent claims, that will be fine.
• </c><00:52:52.319><c> That's</c> The latest claims, that will be fine.
• That's all we're planning on doing is adding the most recent claims. Sounds good.
• House Bill 10001, relating to settlement of claims related to the Maui wildfires.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Contractors are likely to pursue delay claims, perhaps even specious ones.
• If unrecoverable and claiming owner fault, they would now have a direct cause of action under statute
• After the owner is notified that the contractor claims that the owner has delayed the job, there's not
• There's not going to be specious claims; we're only going to be able to claim the direct damages caused
• Claims can be subject to a delay claim, which must be defended, costing attorney fees to the tax and

Bills: SB75 , SB715 , SB776 , SB1299 , SB1405 , SB1968 , SB2021 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB2330 , SB2411

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• fraud<00:07:09.440><c> to</c><00:07:09.599><c> make</c><00:07:09.720><c> sure</c><00:07:10.240><c> claims
• </c><00:07:10.599><c> are</c><00:07:10.840><c> processed</c> fraud to make sure claims are processed
• fraud to make sure claims are processed faster<00:07:12.400><c> there</c><00:07:12.680><c> there's</c
• He said candidates could gain an unfair strategic advantage during an election cycle by making claims
• it is AI generated to cast a claiming it is AI generated to cast a serious<00:13:55.399><c> chill</c

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:36 SB 4 Discussion 01:16 SB 4 Vote 28:30 SB 130 Discussion 31:18 SB 130 Discussion 36:02, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 4, as amended by a committee substitute, which would create a state artificial intelligence governance framework for Kentucky government agencies and address AI-generated misinformation in campaigns and elections. The bill’s sponsors said it is intended to regulate only state government use of AI, not the private sector, and would require oversight by the Office of Technology, agency reporting, and annual reporting to the General Assembly. They also said the elections provisions were narrowed to focus on AI-generated audio and video, remove image disclosures, eliminate prior restraint and monetary damages, and rely on disclosure requirements modeled on laws they said had survived constitutional review in Texas. Testimony on SB 4 was mixed. Supporters emphasized transparency, human accountability, and the need to prepare state government for rapidly changing AI tools, citing possible uses such as fraud detection, inmate classification, and transportation planning. An opponent from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression argued the bill would burden core political speech, create First Amendment problems, and invite litigation and abuse, especially in the election context. Members asked about litigation, constitutional concerns, costs, and whether the bill should be expanded later to cover ordinary citizens harmed by AI-generated content. Several members expressed support but noted reservations about the election sections or the need for future amendments. After discussion, the committee voted on SB 4 and reported it favorably. The roll call showed the measure passing with favorable expression, with some members explaining votes as supportive but cautious, and one member initially passing before later recording a yes vote. The chair then moved to Senate Bill 130, and Senator Scott Maiden and Kentucky Retail Federation representative Shannon Stiglets began presenting it as a response to gift card scams and theft of redemption information, describing recent large-scale supermarket fraud cases in Kentucky and saying the problem is tied to broader organized retail crime.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now I'm not sure this is adjusting a whole...
• So that's why they see a little bit of an adjustment at...
• So that's why they see a little bit of an adjustment at it.
• So you need to now adjust to that and live with it.
• So those are something that could be easily changed or adjusted.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for maltc waiver growth to$ adjustments for maltc waiver growth to$ 238.9<00:17:40.880><c> million</
• If you want to adjust the growth in MA spend, you are faced with a few simple possibilities: you either
• have to adjust the benefits that recipients receive, or you have to adjust the amount of people who
• the growth in MA spend um you to adjust the growth in MA spend um you are<00:19:53.880><c> faced</c>
• </c> possibilities you either have to adjust possibilities you either have to adjust the<00:19:59.679

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, you mentioned if there's a Then we obviously make some adjustments on those amortization periods
• Yeah, you mentioned if there's a big gain, you know, you can adjust the amortization down.
• Now, in terms of long-term changes, we're keeping our eye on that and we would make adjustments as things
• And to the extent that it starts to impact that, we will make some adjustments in our assumptions.
• And to the extent that it starts to impact that, we will make some adjustments in our assumptions.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement and the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement held a joint hearing required by law to receive an independent report from the California Actuarial Advisory Panel on CalPERS. Opening remarks emphasized CalPERS’ role in providing retirement security for about two million members and the importance of pension funding to the state budget, especially amid economic uncertainty, market volatility, federal policy changes, and concerns about future fiscal pressure. Scott Tarando, CalPERS chief actuary and a CAP member, presented on the statutory disclosure requirements in Government Code Section 2029. He explained that CalPERS’ current discount rate is 6.8%, that lower investment returns increase contribution rates and unfunded liabilities, and that the plan uses a 20-year amortization period for new unfunded liabilities. He said CAP has recommended a reasonable amortization range of 15 to 20 years and that CalPERS’ longer smoothing period helps reduce volatility in employer contributions. He also explained the timing of actuarial data: the valuation used for current contribution rates is based on the prior fiscal year’s audited data, with the next year’s rates developed later in the annual cycle. Members asked about the relationship between average employee service life and amortization, whether current market and AI-related changes could justify using more current data, whether pension benefits change when valuations are updated, and how CalPERS’ funded status has changed over time. Tarando said retiree benefits do not change based on annual valuations, that the system’s funded status has improved from roughly the mid-60% range about a decade ago to around 80% or higher more recently, and that CalPERS is monitoring possible long-term workforce effects from AI but sees no immediate need to change assumptions. Michael Cohen of CalPERS said the system complies with information requests and is independently audited annually, but there has been no formal federal review released. In public comment, a representative of county governments praised the improved funded status and PEPRA reforms. The hearing concluded with remarks reaffirming fiduciary responsibility and the importance of protecting CalPERS beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we have changes in our appropriation for contract construction, we make adjustments.
• Making adjustments in our contract scheduling is frequent, but this is rather large.
• But fortunately, with your support, we were able to give them a pay adjustment with last year's line
• the rest of our program, all these questions, you know, around how do we balance our investment and adjust
• the rest of our program, all these questions, you know, around how do we balance our investment and adjust

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation on the Idaho Transportation Department from Legislative Services analyst Brooke Dupree and then from Director Scott Stokes. The presentation outlined ITD’s four divisions and major funding sources, including the State Highway Fund, Aeronautics Fund, and the Transportation Expansion Congestion Mitigation (TECK) and Garvey bonding programs. The analyst also reviewed appropriation trends, noting the effect of reappropriations and the continuous appropriation of the Strategic Initiatives Program Fund, and compared the department’s request with the governor’s recommendation. ITD’s requested enhancements included $15.5 million for deferred maintenance on state buildings, funding for State Highway 16 operations and maintenance, $4.9 million for roadside tree removal, $4.7 million for new equipment, a $275 million general fund transfer for safety, capacity, road, and bridge work, and smaller requests for airport improvements and aeronautics maintenance. Members asked about the Highway 16 funding, the continuous appropriation language, the impact of the governor’s decision not to recommend the $275 million transfer, and the department’s equipment and maintenance priorities. The director explained that much of the work is contracted, that the agency is prioritizing pavement and bridge condition, and that the department is prepared to move projects quickly if funding returns. In questioning, legislators also raised concerns about the reduction in strategic initiatives funding, the department’s workforce retention, the State Street property project, and why ITD remains on its existing finance system rather than fully transitioning to LUMA. Stokes said the State Street project has had modest spending so far, with about $41 million appropriated and an estimated total cost of $60 million to $70 million, and that the agency is still housed at the Chinden campus. He also said workforce retention has improved somewhat after prior pay adjustments, and that the LUMA decision was driven by federal reimbursement and system integration concerns. The committee took no vote on the budget in this segment and adjourned with notice that rescissions, cash transfers, and statewide decisions would be taken up the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm fully confident that Miss Nolan would serve as a justice with integrity, as she claimed the Supreme
• </c><00:22:03.280><c> the</c> with integrity as she claimed the with integrity as she claimed the Supreme
• involving medical malpractice, environmental challenges to federal programs, and personal injury claims
• :31:34.559><c> and</c><00:31:34.799><c> personal</c><00:31:35.120><c> injury</c><00:31:35.520><c> claims
• </c><00:31:36.399><c> uh</c> programs, and personal injury claims uh programs, and personal injury claims

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The specific aspect of it I wish to address is the claim... ...to urge you to vote against this bill.
• There will be claims that this bill removes the rights of a significant number of Idahoans.
• That claim is a fallacy.
• There will be claims that this bill will hurt our economy, another fallacy with no supporting proof.
• There will be claims that this bill is government overreach, but in fact, the overreach comes from the

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to claim that it's definitive. I did source that from the state website, however.
• They claimed to have clear title, but we proved to them, through a title abstract, Mr.
• But if it's under trust, we're blowing in the wind of ever claiming that. And you know, Mr.
• They're still claiming that land as theirs, even though it's under your possession, under the possession
• They haven't dropped that claim. They're still making that claim.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• individually review, which is what they said in court documents, more than 13,000 awards as they claimed
• in and create some changes to the USMCA in a way that would, quote, allow them to basically gut the claim
• Did you see his claim that AID spent $50 million, the U.S. government spent $50 million?
• Did you see that claim? So, you know, I'm not familiar with that particular...
• Claim poor performance, but in fact they've had very glowing recent performance reviews.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And the EPA claimed in its lawsuit that the office had improperly withheld data that it had requested
• And the EPA claimed in its lawsuit that the office had improperly withheld data that it had requested
• And the EPA claimed in its lawsuit that the office had improperly withheld data that it had requested
• What they want to do is somehow claim that we're not giving them the data that they're entitled to.
• What they want to do is somehow claim that we're not giving them the data that they're entitled to.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so when you say that the claim isn't valid or is valid, I just can't make the connection where if
• And that's until a claim is valid and substantial, it's not something that he's going to require.
• So I guess I could make the claim that my rights are being trod upon, but I'm not.
• I could make the claim that my rights are being trod upon, but I'm not.
• Senator Ruchti, any citizen can make a petition at any time claiming that we allowed... ...at any time

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee began by approving the March 11 and March 13, 2026 minutes and then advanced the gubernatorial reappointment of Bud Tracy to the State Building Authority to the Senate floor with a recommendation for confirmation. The committee then heard House Bill 650, a federalism-related measure described by the sponsor and Idaho Farm Bureau testimony as reaffirming constitutional limits on federal and state power; it was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation after brief discussion and no opposition. The committee next took up House Bill 674, which would streamline telecom service discontinuance by relying on the FCC process rather than duplicating review at the Idaho PUC. Lumen representative Rick Gutierrez testified that the FCC process already requires customer notice, identification of alternatives, public comment, and review of whether service can be discontinued without leaving customers without options; supporters argued the bill removes duplication, while opponents said it shifts final decision-making away from Idaho and could weaken state oversight. After debate over state sovereignty, consumer protection, and whether the FCC or PUC should be the final decision-maker, the bill passed 6-3 and was sent to the floor. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1365, which would exempt certain religious organizations from donor-disclosure requirements when they participate in ballot-measure advocacy, so long as related spending stays under 10% of prior-year receipts. The sponsor, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, and several pastors argued the current rules chill church participation and force disclosure of unrelated donors; opponents raised concerns about transparency, enforcement, and the possibility of churches becoming vehicles for political spending. A motion to send the bill to the 14th order failed, and a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee passed 5-4. Finally, Senate Bill 1411, expanding disclosure rules to paid in-person canvassing and related political activity, was introduced as a transparency measure aimed at paid campaign efforts; it was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with Senators Toews and Shippy recorded in opposition.