Transcript Highlights:

• You can see processing plants across our region, and then the direct economic impact and direct jobs
• So what we're investing in, and they want transparent, measurable impact.
• talk about, provide ag education, ag literacy, and help kind of bridge that gap between urban and rural
• But, you know, just talking a little bit about the impact measures.
• It's about driving demand and sales impact and innovation and industry advancement.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is about building a government where equity is for all and works for every Washingtonian—rural and
• Over the past three years, I am proud of several accomplishments that demonstrate the practical impact
• team capable of supporting agencies and communities in meaningful ways. demonstrate the practical impact
• I grew up in rural America below the poverty line. I experienced homelessness at 16.
• And there's a worry among the auditors that it might actually have the impact of keeping dead voters

Bills: HB2309 , HB2249 , HB2417 , SGA9066 , SGA9246 , SGA9268

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: state employment, classified service, civil service, job qualifications, degree requirements, postgraduate degree, master's degree, doctorate, higher education, Office of Financial Management, OFM, classification plan, salary survey, market rate pay, compensation, workforce diversity, hiring reform, employment eligibility, work authorization, DACA

Transcript Highlights:

• Impact Committee to the Natural Resource Committee, AB 905, Pacheco from the Local Government Committee
• Hope's mission is to empower students to impact the world.
• As a former mayor of Westminster, I understand the profound impact of this case.
• Their impact is quite quiet but powerful.
• Many of them, especially in rural areas, underserved areas, are on the verge of closing down.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is a service that serves rural America very well.
• America has already been alluded rural America has already been alluded to<00:26:49.520><c> some</c>
• that serves rural America very well.<00:27:23.120><c> They've</c><00:27:23.360><c> transitioned</c><
• I think the information provided was that it had an impact on 7,800 residents from Jefferson County,
• on 7,800 residents from Jefferson impact on 7,800 residents from Jefferson County,<00:32:53.679><c>

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our customers, for example, making claim applications easier to complete. ...impacting our customers
• So our primary purpose has not been impacted by these moves.
• Laborers across the rural area rely on us to connect them with workers' rights resources.
• The impact is real and the need is urgent. Thank you. Hi, good afternoon.
• Catalina Sanchez with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard presentations on labor and public employment issues from the Employment Development Department (EDD), the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The committee first focused on EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on online claims, call center upgrades, language access, fraud prevention, and the Integrated Claims Management System (ICMS). The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged closer legislative oversight, especially as the project moves into the most difficult phase. Senators asked about the revised timeline, total cost, fraud reduction, stress testing, transparency around change orders, and the decision to phase in disability insurance and paid family leave before unemployment insurance. EDD said the overall project cost remained about $1.2 billion, that it had no major cost overruns, and that it had saved more than $20 million by shifting some shared customer portal work into ICMS. The subcommittee then considered CWDB’s request for additional operational resources and trailer bill language to streamline reporting. CWDB and the Department of Finance said staffing had been expanded during the pandemic-era surge in grant funding and should now be reduced as one-time grant programs wind down. Senators questioned the proposed staffing reduction, arguing that workforce development needs remain strong and that the board’s policy role still requires adequate capacity. The committee also discussed a proposal to consolidate multiple annual and interim reports into a single biennial report, with LAO supporting the streamlining. Members asked about reporting for specific programs and the cost savings from reducing duplicative evaluations. A major portion of the hearing addressed DIR’s proposed reforms to the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and related workload funding. DIR and LAO described rapid growth in applications, a large and growing backlog, and sharply rising liabilities and employer assessments. The administration’s trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply reforms to open cases, and use contemporaneous evidence and QME reports to document preexisting disabilities. LAO said the proposal largely matched its prior recommendations and would help return the program to its original intent. Senators raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, the effect on workers with undocumented preexisting conditions, and whether the QME system could absorb the added workload. The committee also heard DIR’s request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, with members objecting that some vacancies reflect unmet enforcement and safety needs rather than excess capacity. The hearing continued with DIR proposals for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff, permanent changes to Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition deadlines, and apprenticeship-related funding increases. DIR sought 14 permanent positions for its Bureau of Investigation to handle serious workplace fatalities and injuries, and members emphasized the importance of timely investigations and family communication. The WCAB requested making permanent a 2024 change that starts the 60-day reconsideration clock when a case is transmitted rather than when the petition is filed; the board said this had reduced the number of cases awaiting decisions from 637 to 460. Finally, DIR proposed increasing apprenticeship training grants from $3 million to $20 million annually using the Apprenticeship Training Contribution Fund, citing an $80 million fund balance and workforce demand tied to rebuilding and infrastructure needs, and then began discussion of a separate request to expand pre-apprenticeship programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to be impacting people's lives in employment and other ways.
• The report also indicated that of those employers that use AI to impact the livelihood of a worker, 20%
• For us, a lot of it is in the details of exactly when and how, and how does that impact our ability to
• you, that something's going to impact you in your livelihood?
• These guidelines will be developed in conjunction with the community and those impacted.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Summary: The committee heard several labor-related bills focused on workplace technology, data centers, staffing agencies, and environmental health. SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” would require human review before automated systems can be used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis; labor groups and worker advocates supported it, while business and industry groups opposed it as overbroad and litigation-prone. After extended discussion about due process, human oversight, and private rights of action, the bill passed 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay for new infrastructure costs, create a separate rate structure to protect other ratepayers, and impose skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said it would prevent cost shifts to households and ensure good jobs, while opponents argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings and that the bill unfairly singles out one industry. The committee discussed balancing economic growth with labor and ratepayer protections, and the bill passed 3-1 to Senate Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for AI-related layoffs and require reporting on displaced jobs and first consideration for openings; supporters said it would improve transparency and help policymakers respond to AI-driven job loss, while opponents warned it was too broad and conflicted with existing WARN law. It passed 3-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also considered SB 1032, which would create a licensing and registration framework for temporary staffing agencies. Supporters said it would curb fraud and protect workers from illicit staffing operators, while opponents—many from the staffing industry—said the bill was vague, burdensome, and could hinder small and minority-owned businesses. The bill passed 3-1 to Senate Judiciary. Finally, SB 1046, dealing with protections for lifeguards and park rangers exposed to transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley, would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards for exposure, PPE, training, and incident reporting. With support from park workers and community groups and no opposition, it passed unanimously 4-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved a consent calendar item and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fiscal note shows no fiscal impact for L&I, and it determined impacts for local government, and there
• The fiscal note shows no fiscal impact, and there are no amendments.
• The impact to the state as an employer for workers' comp are not expected to be a significant impact
• The real-world impact has been significant.
• We're small and rural. If one thing affects us, it affects us all.

Bills: HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rural states are the ones that are the bedrock of this movement and of the country.
• The rural<00:08:58.080><c> states</c><00:08:58.959><c> are</c><00:08:59.360><c> the</c><00:08:59.600>
• <c> ones</c><00:08:59.839><c> that</c><00:09:00.000><c> are</c><00:09:00.160><c> the</c> rural states
• are the ones that are the rural states are the ones that are the bedrock<00:09:01.040><c> of</c><00:
• </c> was extremely impactful and productive. was extremely impactful and productive.

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: audit, transparency, government reporting, accountability, public access, firearm rights, restoration of rights, criminal justice, felony convictions, Wyoming law, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws

Transcript Highlights:

• Really, at the crux of how we're able to impact the state today and moving forward was Senate Bill 26
• It does have a local impact intent and focus, which differs from ours.
• So, we have found a way to achieve significant economic impact in the state while doing...
• How is the median price of homes impacted by what they're doing in the area?
• There was also concern about the environmental impact, and I'll talk a little bit about that.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody is impacted by health care. We're all invested in it.
• Everybody is impacted by health care. We're all invested in it.
• I represent District 83, which is Highlands, Glades, Okeechobee, and Hardee, a very rural part of the
• Florida is such a large state, with densely populated and yet vast rural areas.
• This has been very largely impacted by First Lady Casey DeSantis and her willingness to really use her

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care. Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services. The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I definitely think that, obviously, our students are impacted by that.
• Many reside in rural and border communities such as Shiprock, Crown Point, Tohatchi, and Gallup, where
• Improve veteran transportation and rural access. That's always a concern on the Navajo Nation.
• The other issue is that many of the issues we're talking about are rural, urban, and frontier issues.
• In New Mexico, we have a hugely rural population.

Transcript Highlights:

• community understand also that we may be doing weighted voting because it's hard if you have a small rural
• I think if you tried to remove anybody, you would now have this rural-urban fight.
• I think if you tried to remove anybody, you would now have this rural-urban fight.
• So the impact, I'm not exactly sure; it would affect kind of that trust corpus.
• I don't think it's the money so much as these small rural churches; so many of them have closed.

Bills: HB1162

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: Lake Agassiz, water authority, board of directors, state highways, water management, 908, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1162, which would add the West Fargo mayor as a voting member of the Lake Agassiz Water Authority board. The sponsor and Fargo’s mayor argued West Fargo has grown into a major regional water stakeholder and should have a formal vote, while members questioned the board structure and why the change was not framed more specifically. The bill was supported in testimony, closed without opposition, and received a 6-0 do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 1259 on annual legislative sessions and session structure. Members adopted an amendment that left the structure and logistics of sessions to legislative management rather than prescribing details in statute, after discussion about flexibility, committee workload, annual versus biennial sessions, and concerns about preserving debate and committee process. The amended bill received a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with some members voting no because they preferred a different committee recommendation or had concerns about the broader change. House Bill 1254, which would allow any North Dakota resident to obtain a State Library card, drew supportive testimony from the bill sponsor and State Library staff. They said the change would align law with current practice and expand access to books, e-materials, and other resources statewide, including for military families and out-of-state state employees. The committee closed the hearing and approved the bill 6-0. The committee also considered House Bill 1469, which narrows financial disclosure requirements so only business or trust interests directly related to the office sought or held must be disclosed. After brief discussion that the change would reduce unnecessary disclosure burdens, the committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a 6-0 do pass recommendation. House Bill 1368, dealing with administrative rules and the standard for challenging them, was opposed by committee counsel as too broad and legally problematic; the committee rejected it on a 4-2 do not pass vote. Finally, House Bill 1219, which would reduce the required perpetual care fund set-aside for certain cemeteries from 20% to 10%, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, cemetery representatives, and local users, but also concern about long-term fund health. The committee ultimately recommended do pass on a 5-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 461, Economic Development Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund
• It goes far beyond studying emissions and reporting impact.
• So, the impact assessment will not result in any delay.
• Recall that this bill does not impact system preservation, maintenance, safety on our roads.
• And as a rural representative, I stand to support the amendment that was just made.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts um the FY 2425 in rural school districts um the FY 2425 biannual<00:47:42.319><c> um
• We have a rural vet loan repayment program that supports veterinarians who either are in their first
• We have a rural vet loan repayment program that supports veterinarians who either are in their first
• We have a rural vet loan repayment program that supports veterinarians who either are in their first
• </c> of terms but they really do impact of terms but they really do impact policy<01:00:01.280><c> as

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• PTSD is estimated to impact 5% of the population, with women and veterans particularly impacted, and
• PTSD is estimated to impact 5% of the population, with women and veterans particularly impacted, and
• PTSD is estimated to impact 5% of the population, with women and veterans particularly impacted, and
• </c><00:55:12.400><c> that</c> firsthand the profound impact that firsthand the profound impact that
• Because it impacts the quality of our community's health.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• we're a little bit different out here in the West from Michigan, just because that's the whole reason Rural
• necessary perspective on how XCR 2016 ...provide the necessary perspective on how XCR 2016 would impact
• the practical administration of elections in rural Arizona and the Navajo Nation.
• Creating wrong doors, geographic hurdles, and rural Arizona cannot afford.
• Chair, just one more question, regarding your testimony and then the challenges that happen in the rural

Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the minutes from February 18, February 20, and March 4, 2026, then took up several measures while holding others in reserve. House Bill 2006, which would require counties without a USPS processing and distribution center to mail printed sample ballots 14 days before an election instead of 11, received support from the Association of Counties and passed on a 7-0 vote. House Bill 2167, which would impose liability on the Attorney General for certain public nuisance or consumer fraud actions that are dismissed or found meritless, drew opposition from some members who said it would interfere with the AG’s work, but it passed 4-3. The committee also discussed House Bill 2109, a hands-free driving bill that would increase penalties and expand the prohibition to watching or streaming video on a device; after extensive testimony and concerns about vagueness, dash cameras, CarPlay, navigation, and other in-car systems, the chair held the bill without prejudice for stakeholder discussions. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 2016, which would send to voters a proposal to eliminate county vote centers and on-site early voting and require precinct-based polling places with a 2,500-voter cap per precinct. Testimony from voting rights groups, county officials, and rural and tribal representatives strongly opposed the measure, citing higher costs, more provisional ballots, longer lines, delayed results, and reduced access for voters in rural areas and on the Navajo Nation. County representatives asked for a delayed effective date, funding, a higher precinct cap, and a fallback option if precinct sites cannot be secured. After hearing the testimony, the chair announced the resolution would be held without prejudice until the following week to allow further stakeholder discussions with the sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has two partners, and he took over a small rural internet business about 20 years ago, and they employed
• He has two partners, and he took over a small rural internet business about 20 years ago, and they employed
• He's been chairman of the rural planning and zoning and other duties and whatnot.
• And it supports thousands of jobs, particularly in the rural part of our state.
• What they do give opinions on is how a particular piece of legislation may or may not impact the administrative

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is city, town, rural, remote, and elementary.
• amount based off of the student characteristic or the district characteristic, such as if it's a small rural
• student is from a low-income household, is in special education, is an English learner, or is in a rural
• Collecting the behavioral data and documenting how those disabilities are impacting their learning.
• Thank you, Superintendent, for being here and for sharing important data, but what it means to a small rural

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 2 and 3. It then introduced RS 3-1308, sponsored by Representative Raymond, which would change public school digital content and curriculum funding from a first-come, first-served process to an as-needed, scored application process so districts with greater need would receive funds. The motion to introduce passed without opposition. The committee next heard a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on its K-12 district characteristics and funding study. Casey Petty explained that Idaho’s support unit funding model tends to provide more state funding per student to smaller districts and less per student to larger districts, but that funding does not consistently rise with higher proportions of high-need students such as special education or English learner populations. He said Idaho’s special education formula assumes only about 5.8% of students are in special education, while actual enrollment was about 11.5% in 2023, contributing to an estimated $37.7 million gap in support-unit funding for special education. Members asked about the support unit model, district size effects, charter school data limitations, Medicaid, and whether the formula should be revised. The committee then considered House Joint Memorial 11, which urges Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at the promised 40% level. Representative Furman and several educators and administrators testified in support, describing the strain on district budgets and citing large local shortfalls in Boise and Fruitland. Witnesses said districts are covering mandated special education services with local and state funds, and that increased identification, early intervention, and behavioral needs are driving costs. Some members raised questions about over-identification, eligibility criteria, and behavioral issues, but the memorial was ultimately sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so one of the things that happens often in Idaho, particularly in rural communities, is we will see
• And what's happening in Idaho in some of the more rural areas, Officer, basically.
• And what's happening in Idaho in some of the more rural areas in particular is it can be difficult to
• Can you just speak to the practical impacts to the city of Boise in trying to ban the pride flag and,
• I hear from parents often the impact, the good impact, that our city having the pride flag as an official

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: Senate State Affairs began by taking up HCR 31, a resolution honoring former Representative Lyndon Bateman. Senator Anthon, Tess Molitor, and former Lieutenant Governor David Leroy spoke in tribute, describing Bateman’s long legislative service, his work on Idaho Day, his advocacy for cursive and Idaho history, and his humor and letter-writing. The committee moved HCR 31 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion carried. The committee then heard gubernatorial appointments to the State Building Authority from Nicholas Gouho and Todd Christensen, both of whom outlined extensive backgrounds in construction, development, finance, and public service. The committee also considered and approved confirmations for Robert Donaldson and Irving Littman to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board, sending both to the floor with recommendations for confirmation. Several RS requests were introduced and sent to print, including measures on liability protections for polling places, a legislative salary reduction resolution, revisions to 340B drug reporting, surveyor access, and cremation identification requirements. The committee also advanced HB 637 on gold and silver legal tender, HB 573 expanding who may teach enhanced concealed carry courses, and HB 561 on government flag displays. HB 542, the social media bill aimed at limiting addictive features and requiring age estimation and parental controls for minors, drew extensive testimony both for and against; after debate over the effective date and private cause of action, the committee sent it to the 14th order for possible amendments rather than directly to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the platforms that are going to be more impacted, and it could actually impact access to care
• Those would be impacted, and we would be very concerned about actually limiting or impacting the assets
• SB 53 would also have a divesting impact on New Mexico's small businesses.
• My name is Cindy Kuhn, and I live in Los Ojos, New Mexico, a very small town in rural Rio Riba County
• I make my living studying risk. disruption and human-centric impacts as an applied futurist.

Bills: SB20 , SB53 , SB86 , SB96 , SB129

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder