Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion on that motion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.
• Vice Chairman and Chairman Crane, again, there's been no discussion of that.
• Any other discussion on the motion?
• Any other discussion on the motion?
• Is there any other discussion or any other questions? Yeah, I have one.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 16 and then considered several administrative rule dockets. The Idaho State Lottery explained changes to clarify ownership language, update references to online/draw gaming, and strengthen bingo paper verification; the Secretary of State’s office said its docket removed outdated lobbying and sunshine-reporting rules that had been moved into statute; and the Department of Administration described housekeeping changes to Capitol Mall parking rules, including streamlining obsolete language. All three rule dockets were adopted without opposition, though members asked questions about Capitol parking fees and possible legislative parking accommodations. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1258, which would create a specialty liquor license for certain rural distilleries, allowing them to serve their own products by the drink on-site and exempting them from food-service requirements. Sponsors said the bill was intended to help a Koenig Distillery location outside Caldwell that cannot access city liquor licenses despite available licenses in the city, and to support agritourism and rural economic development. The distillery owner testified in favor, describing the business, its agricultural roots, and potential job growth. The bill received supportive comments and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 911, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would codify Public Utility Commission practice for new large electric loads of 50 megawatts or more. Sponsors said the bill is intended to prevent costs for new large loads from being shifted to existing ratepayers, require a no-harm review, and ensure financial security for any needed infrastructure so stranded costs are avoided. Representatives from Rocky Mountain Power said the measure aligns with existing PUC practice and helps protect current customers while allowing growth. The bill was also moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion? debate, saying none. The clerk called with the cue for a vote.
• Any discussion or debate? Saying none. The clerk opened the cue for a vote.
• In discussion debate, seeing that the clerk called the cue for a vote. Aye, Marty.
• A second in discussion debate?
• A do pass and a second in the discussion or debate.

Bills: HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Keywords: HB3043, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, ODVA, seasonal employees, project labor, pro rata jobs, unclassified service, state personnel law, state employee benefits, paid leave, paid holidays, retirement benefits, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, temporary workers, veterans affairs, Title 72, Oklahoma Personnel Act, budget reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• Have a do pass in a second, will There be discussion or debate.
• Further discussion or debate. Saying none, please open the vote.
• Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none, opened the cue. May, nay.
• Any further discussion or debate? Saying none, please open the vote.
• Any further discussion or debate? Say none. Please open the cue.

Bills: HB3041 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB1064 , HB3265 , HB3721 , HB3028 , HB3313 , HB3588 , HB3020

Committee: House Banking, Financial Services and Pensions

Keywords: credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, public finance, pension, pension fund, retirement system, board of trustees, proxy voting, proxy proposal, shareholder vote, shareholder activism, fiduciary duty, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, ESG, environmental social governance, social goals

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing none.
• Is there any discussion on the motion?
• Any discussion? Representative Miller, your light's off.
• Is there any further discussion on the motion? All right.
• Is there any discussion on the motion?

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The House Agricultural Affairs Committee approved the minutes from February 2, 2026, and then considered five Idaho State Department of Agriculture rule dockets, all of which were approved. Andrea Thompson, administrator for the Plant Industries Division, presented the first three dockets: rules on seed production and distribution, commercial feed/fertilizer/soil and plant amendments registration and licensing, and planting of beans. She described mostly housekeeping updates, incorporation by reference of national and international standards, clarification of licensing and testing requirements, and a minor bean rule change confirming that edible bean seed brought into Idaho for planting must have an approved green tag rather than a yellow tag. The committee then reviewed invasive species and noxious weeds rules, including both a temporary and pending docket. Thompson explained the temporary Snake River quarantine and decontamination measures related to quagga mussel treatment, and the pending addition of golden mussel to Idaho’s emergency detection and rapid response list. She said Idaho has not found golden mussel in the state, and outlined the 2025 mussel response, including delimiting surveys, treatment, and a reduction in the impacted river area from 7.2 miles to 3.5 miles. Members asked questions about how golden mussel may have spread, whether it was intentional, what zebra mussels look like, and whether federal agencies were doing more at source waters such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell. All five dockets were moved and approved by voice vote, including the temporary and pending invasive species rules. The chair closed by thanking the department for its work and expertise, noted that the committee would not meet on Friday, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.
• Is there any other discussion or any other questions? So we have a motion to introduce.
• Any comments or discussion on the motion?
• So are you asking if there was a discussion on an alternative?
• Is there any discussion on that motion? Representative Shepard: Yes, Chairman.

Committee: House Transportation and Defense

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have not moved it for discussion. Okay. So we're going to go to a second.
• Can I get a motion to move the committee substitute for discussion? ...
• But I do think we can continue the discussion because it sounds like Rep.
• But I do think we can continue the discussion because it sounds like Rep.
• They re-reported, I wonder if—would you like to begin the discussion?

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

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Representative Jeff Ehlers, District 21, in Meridian, here to discuss RS 3305.
• There’ll be a lot of topics of discussion. We worked on this bill in 2019.
• There’ll be a lot of topics of discussion. We worked on this bill in 2019.
• So I’d like to introduce it so that we can discuss this topic more.
• If there's any other discussion, I don't see any.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee convened with a quorum, approved the January 19 and January 20, 2026 minutes, and adjusted its agenda to account for absent members. The committee then introduced several RSs, including RS 3305 on cottage food operations, which would allow certain small-scale entrepreneurs to test refrigerated or frozen foods under a $5,000 threshold without full commercial-kitchen regulation. Members also introduced RS 32945, which would allow directed blood donation, and RS 32947, which would require providers to disclose cash and insurance prices for procedures and let patients choose the cash price while applying it toward deductibles. Committee members raised questions about how the pricing proposal would interact with payer-provider contracts and whether patients would have cash available, but the RS was still introduced. The committee also introduced RS 33015, updating Idaho law on epinephrine delivery systems so school-related self-administration or administration with parental permission would cover both EpiPens and newer single-dose nasal spray options. RS 32948, the oral parity proposal, was introduced after a brief numbering correction; it would address anti-cancer oral medications so patients are not required to pay the full deductible up front for pill forms when comparable IV treatments can be paid over time. Representative Bruce said the goal was to align coverage treatment between oral and intravenous cancer drugs. Finally, the committee heard RS 32915, which would repeal the Yellow Dot Program. Representative Scott said the program, created in 2020, is little used, costs the state money, and is outdated by newer technology and other ways to alert EMS to medical conditions. Members asked about the Senate’s prior inaction and the program’s cost, and the RS was introduced. The chair then shifted to committee business, noting that rules review would begin the next day and likely take several meetings, and asking members to submit budget recommendations by the beginning of the next week. The committee also discussed expectations for members to present RSs once they become bills, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion? Okay.
• Okay, any discussion?
• </c> any further discussion. any further discussion.
• Further<01:11:46.320><c> discussion.</c> Further discussion. Further discussion.
• </c> presentation and discussion. presentation and discussion.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session opened with routine announcements, including new and absent members, a tribute to former chair Rep. Jess Edwards, and an explanation that Division 3 is advisory and will make recommendations to full Finance. Chair Mooney also distributed a self-created index to the budget binder and reviewed the committee’s options under House Rule 45. Members discussed scheduling a future visit to the Veterans Home in Tilton, with several October dates unavailable, and the chair said she would circulate possible dates. The committee also reviewed the second-year budget context and sources of funding, including surplus monies, existing and new revenue streams, grants, reappropriations, and the rainy day fund. The committee then took up several retained bills and repeatedly heard that their substance had already been addressed in the budget. House Bill 519, funding the Waypoint Youth and Young Adult Shelter, was moved ITL and passed 10-0. House Bill 547, county reimbursement funds, was also moved ITL and passed 10-0 after members noted the reimbursement had been included in HB 2. House Bill 570, repealing the prescription drug affordability board, was moved ITL and passed 10-0, with minority members saying they still believed the board had value but acknowledging the repeal had already occurred in HB 2. House Bill 704, concerning caregiver respite and senior volunteer programs, received the most discussion. Mr. Ripple explained that most items were already funded or suspended in the budget, leaving only the senior volunteer grant program unfunded. Chair Mooney offered amendment 2963H to fund the RSVP program at $180,000 for one year, contingent on surplus funds, and DHHS witnesses explained that RSVP is a federally funded AmeriCorps program that would be added to existing state licensing structures. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill was reported ought to pass as amended on a 10-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 751, which would require licensure of outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities and create an ombudsman-related complaint process. DHHS witnesses said the bill had been narrowed substantially from an earlier certification model with multiple positions and IT costs to a licensing model using existing department infrastructure, reducing the fiscal note to $211,000 for one position. They also said the ombudsman section was no longer needed because licensed facilities would fall under existing oversight. Members questioned how many facilities exist and whether licensing fees would cover costs; DHHS said it did not know the full provider landscape and that licensing revenue across the board does not cover the department’s costs. Rep. Daniels then proposed amendment 2964H to form a study committee because of the remaining questions and lack of a clear revenue stream, and the committee was still discussing that amendment when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't see any discussion. Those in favor indicate we're saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• We had a lot of discussion specifically with you last year on that point.
• Other discussion on the motion?
• Any more discussion? Any questions? Thank you. Any more discussion?
• Any more discussion? Any questions? Thank you. Any more discussion?

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the March 16 and March 17, 2026 minutes. It then introduced RS 33798, a proposal related to cooperative and group discount purchasing in the Department of Administration procurement division, and sent it for printing. The main policy item was Senate Bill 1422, a major rewrite of Idaho campaign finance law. Senator Harris and Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the bill would move the laws into Title 74, reorganize reporting rules, prohibit foreign contributions, require new disclosures for signature-gathering and independent expenditures, add pre-primary and pre-general reports, increase contribution limits modestly, and create a graduated fine structure. Questions focused on reporting thresholds, commercial recordkeeping, and the distinction between reporting violations and other violations. The committee voted to send SB 1422 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 889, a broad update to the State Procurement Act. Representative Britt Raibolt said the bill clarifies procurement definitions, best-and-final-offer procedures, use of subject-matter experts, multiple-award contracts, bid scoring, prior performance, federal CMS approval timing, confidentiality of technical information, debarment, cooling-off periods, protest bonds, and disclosure of procurement-related spending. He said the goal was to improve consistency, transparency, and efficiency in large state procurements. After brief questions about the need for the overhaul and the definition of frivolous protests, the committee voted to send HB 889 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 890, also presented by Raibolt, would repeal a surplus-property carve-out used in the ITD building sale and return disposal of surplus administrative property to the regular process under the State Board of Land Commissioners. The committee also advanced HB 900, which sets procedures for private insurance claims over $100,000 involving state property damage, requires appraisal opportunities, public notice of settlement offers, and a public hearing plus legislative notice if an agency relocates services or sells property after such a claim. Both bills received due pass recommendations. The longest discussion was on House Bill 898, which would move the State Historic Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society into the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination. Senator Den Hartog said the move would improve coordination on federal permitting and preserve SHPO’s functions, while opponents argued the current placement supports preservation work, grants, archives, and Section 106 review, and that moving SHPO into an office focused on energy and minerals could create conflicts of interest and weaken preservation outcomes. Testimony came from historians, preservation professionals, local commission members, utility and water industry representatives, and a youth witness, with supporters emphasizing streamlined permitting and opponents emphasizing mission alignment and public trust. The sponsor closed by saying the bill complies with federal law and that federal law allows states flexibility in where to house the office; the transcript ends before any final committee action on HB 898.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion? Hearing none, Jackson, please call the roll. Senator Schamp?
• I won't repeat what Senator Gowen discussed and Tim and staff.
• So I just want to at least clear that up as that's being discussed.
• So... ...by a light bulb, it discusses what your potential electricity savings is.
• I think a lot of people miss that when discussing WIFA.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several appropriation and policy bills. SB 1488 would appropriate $600,000 for a workforce development study on coal-impacted communities in northern Arizona, especially areas affected by the closure of Navajo Generating Station and related coal operations; supporters described it as a needed transition study, and it received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1523 would provide $340,000 to the Navajo Nation for the Ganado waterline pipeline project serving 235 homes; testimony emphasized long-standing lack of safe drinking water, and the bill also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1041 would appropriate $500,000 to the Arizona Trail Fund; supporters highlighted the trail’s statewide recreational and cultural value, and it passed with a do-pass recommendation. SB 1447 would extend the groundwater withdrawal fee moratorium and related Pinal AMA fund provisions through 2033; irrigation district representatives said the extension would help maintain infrastructure amid Colorado River shortages, and it was also recommended do-pass. The committee also considered several regulatory bills. SB 1445 would let smaller cities and towns use approved on-site bacteriological testing equipment and limit required sampling frequency for certain ADEQ permits; the sponsor said it would save small towns money, while some members raised concerns about limiting sampling during discharge events, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1580 would appropriate $2.545 million for a statewide fire incident management platform for fire and law enforcement agencies; supporters said it would improve accountability, information sharing, and interoperability, while one member objected to the targeted funding approach, and the bill passed on a 5-3 vote. SB 1418 would streamline siting and permitting for small modular nuclear reactors in smaller counties, especially when co-located with large industrial users; supporters argued it would help energy reliability and rural economic development, while opponents warned it would weaken local review and environmental safeguards, and it passed 5-3. The committee took up two bills involving consumer protections and access. SB 1419 would add inspection and disclosure requirements for rooftop solar installations and restrict sales claims about estimated savings; supporters said it responded to consumer complaints about roof damage and misleading sales practices, while opponents argued it would burden rooftop solar and restrict speech. After extensive testimony, including from county officials, former ROC leadership, and solar industry representatives, the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. SB 1363 would create a rural opportunity initiative to issue additional marijuana-related licenses for underserved rural communities; supporters said it would improve access and reduce illicit-market activity, while opponents argued the bill was confusing and could expand licenses too broadly. The committee ultimately recommended the bill do pass on an 8-0 vote, with members noting possible amendments before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion? Just as a reminder, this is the LLC bill.
• Any discussion? Just as a reminder, this is a simple procedure.
• Any discussion? Representative Butz. Representative Butz. Mr.
• Any other conversation, discussion, questions, comments?
• Any discussion? 0.2-H into the new House Committee Substitute. Any discussion? And adopt the sub.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion on it? Yes.
• Is there any discussion? All right, there’s no discussion. This item has been moved and seconded.
• Any discussion? There’s some discussion. So... ...and seconded. Any discussion?
• There’s some discussion.
• Any other discussion? Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Gloria. Great. Any other discussion?

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any<00:02:54.239><c> discussion?</c> Any discussion? Any discussion?
• So that's why I think we have discussed this sufficiently.
• So that's why I think we have discussed this sufficiently.
• </c><00:09:43.120><c> this</c> we I think we have discussed this we I think we have discussed this sufficiently
• So there's really no need for us to discuss this any further.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The committee conference first returned to Senate Bill 210 on cyberbullying. Members discussed whether to keep the bill focused on prevention and school action or instead add a study committee. House members said they were willing to remove the open enrollment portion and return to the original intent of the bill, while Senate members argued that bullying is already addressed in existing law and DOE guidance but that the legislature still needs to take action. Several members emphasized that bullying and related mental health harms are occurring in schools and that parents, teachers, and students are asking for stronger accountability now, not just another study. Others said the current bullying statute is not being implemented properly and that revising language without enforcement changes would not solve the problem. The House side noted that the amended bill would require additional reporting from districts, including information about police being called to schools, and would address parent notification issues. Despite those points, the Senate position remained that the House and Senate were not in agreement and that the bill should revert to the original version. The committee ultimately agreed to a non-concur report, with members indicating consent for that action. The meeting then briefly turned to Senate Bill 206. Members said the issue had already been addressed because a cell phone use policy amendment had been added to HB2 during the budget conference, making further discussion unnecessary. Because the chambers still needed to choose one of the formal conference options, the committee agreed to file a non-concurrent report on SB 206 as well, with consent from the House-side members.

Transcript Highlights:

• After some discussion amongst our colleagues and things that was suggested that we need to amend that
• Any discussion on the purpose of the amendment? Seeing none, I'll have the clerk take the roll.
• I think that was the intent when we had some previous discussions.
• We've discussed with you.
• I'd like to have a little more discussion. I'm not sure if we're ready. A little more discussion.

Bills: SB2397

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation

Keywords: oil and gas, tax exemption, development incentive wells, gross production tax, flaring, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion on those minutes? 2026. Any discussion on those minutes?
• </c> that discussion going into the future. that discussion going into the future.
• Discussion.
• &gt;&gt; Further<01:16:21.480><c> discussion.</c> &gt;&gt; Further discussion.
• &gt;&gt; Further<01:16:24.480><c> discussion.</c> &gt;&gt; Further discussion.

Bills: HF3919 , HF1335 , HF3864 , HF3916 , HF3728

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, electronic license, driver's license, digital credential, transportation, data privacy, authentication, license plates, vehicle registration, validation stickers, Minnesota statutes, transportation policy, aeronautics, transponder, aircraft safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're going to have further discussions and open remarks, committee discussions later.
• discussions and open remarks and committee discussions later.
• Some things we wouldn't even discuss in this room.
• And I think that's just all part of the discussion.
• Any further discussion?

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have not really stepped into that discussion.
• Great discussion. Thank you.
• If you, feel free to keep discussing some of these issues.
• Any more discussion? Do we miss anything? Probably.
• Oh, back, yeah, let's discuss this just a little bit.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the underlying amendment, discussion.
• Further<01:09:18.600><c> discussion.</c> Further discussion. Further discussion.
• </c> discussion to the bill at hand. discussion to the bill at hand.
• </c> reminder to the body, we are discussing reminder to the body, we are discussing the<01:21:26.160
• Any further discussion to the bill?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, Jennifer, what do you glean from this discussion?
• There was a second, and we were in discussion period. Is there any other discussion on this?
• Is there any other discussion? The Ignat... Is there any other discussion? Seeing none?
• Well, I think that was part of our discussion.
• Any discussion? Seeing none, all. Second. Any discussion?

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The meeting focused on ethics guidance for legislators’ official newsletters and social media posts about a major tax bill that has since become a ballot measure. Members and staff debated whether existing board guidance, which allowed comments on legislation previously before the legislature, should also apply to social media and to the current biennium rather than only the immediately preceding session. Several members argued that legislators should be able to state how they voted on the bill and discuss it as part of their legislative record, while others stressed that using state resources to advocate for or against a ballot measure is prohibited and that posts could become an indirect appeal to voters. The discussion also covered whether there should be a bright-line cutoff tied to the primary election date, after which official communications should stop discussing the bill if it is now a ballot measure. Staff and members raised concerns about tone, tenor, and proximity to the election, and whether official social media, caucus communications, and newsletters should be treated differently. One motion to extend the prior rule to the full biennium and apply it to social media failed. A second motion then passed establishing the primary date as a date certain for monitoring these discussions, with the understanding that official communications should be more limited after that point. Members noted that personal social media and campaign resources remain separate from official legislative resources. The meeting then moved toward adjournment of the public portion, with no public testimony offered, before a brief break and executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• RS 33695, we introduced discussion. That was quick.
• Discussion, that was quick. I like the enthusiasm. Not even Friday, either.
• Discussion on that motion? No. Those in favor indicate saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• In fact, the Division of Purchasing, and we had discussed this, Nothing new.
• That was really the discussion that we had.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met in a special session and introduced several measures focused largely on immigration enforcement and firearms policy. The committee introduced RS 33695, which would impose an excise tax on international money transfers and provide a tax credit for Idahoans; RS 33831, requiring local and county law enforcement to apply for and participate in ICE 287(g) agreements; RS 33832, the Refugee and Illegal Alien Accountability Act, which adds reporting and status-verification requirements and restrictions on unlawful harboring or transporting; and RS 33835, which would allow certain Idaho Department of Correction inmates with federal immigration detainers and final removal orders to be released to federal authorities before sentence completion, with an estimated state savings of $3.5 million. All of these RSs were moved to print without opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1430, which strengthens enforcement of Idaho’s firearms preemption law by creating penalties and a private cause of action against local governments that willfully violate state firearms statutes, while preserving existing authority for discharge ordinances and university rules. Support came from the NRA and the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, and the bill’s sponsors emphasized notice and an opportunity to cure before litigation. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 894, concerning open meetings, was presented as clarifying that members of the public may record open meetings by audio, video, or photographs, with exceptions for executive sessions and certain correctional and parole settings. It was advanced to the floor unanimously. House Bill 932, an advisory vote measure asking Idahoans to choose a favorite firearm from a list of historically significant guns, drew extended discussion and humor from committee members and was also sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. H.C.R. 36, a resolution honoring the Idaho National Guard and supporting modernization, including a transition from A-10s to F-16s and Army force-structure changes, was approved despite one member expressing reluctance about losing the A-10s. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 888, which would shift procurement of information technology services to the Office of Information Technology Services and allow use of third-party brokers or existing procurement channels. Testimony from the bill’s supporters emphasized faster procurement, cost savings, and centralized oversight, while the Office of Information Technology Services testified neutral but raised concerns about workload, transparency, and the need for clearer selection and appeals procedures. After discussion about rulemaking and safeguards, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation.