Video & Transcript : 'courthouse preservation' :

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WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Mar 10th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The underlying bill is still an important tool for local communities to use existing resources to preserve
Summary: The Senate opened with ceremonial activities, approval of the previous day’s journal, and adoption of Senate Resolution 8689 recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Senators spoke in strong support of the resolution, emphasizing the importance of inclusion, self-advocacy, family caregivers, and the principle of “nothing about us without us.” The resolution was adopted, and all members’ names were added as sponsors. The chamber also welcomed student visitors and later recognized individuals with developmental disabilities and caregivers in the gallery. The Senate then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments. Charles G. Knutzen was confirmed to the Workforce Education, Investment, Accountability, and Oversight Board by a 48-0 vote. Noah Scartvet was confirmed to the Gambling Commission by a 43-5 vote, and Kelly K. Foucai was confirmed to the Spokane Colleges Board of Trustees by a 48-0 vote. The Senate also considered and confirmed additional appointments while excusing several members from attendance during parts of the day. The chamber spent much of the meeting concurring in House amendments and passing a series of bills. Among the measures approved were bills dealing with clean energy exemptions for certain backup fossil fuel use, police data and body camera/ALPR distinctions, housing and rental assistance flexibility, creation of a cabinet-level Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs with Senate confirmation, school district interfund transfers under financial oversight, civic engagement and voting services, wildfire-resistant home-hardening materials, and technical corrections to prior tax and revenue legislation. Most of these bills passed with clear majorities, though some drew recorded opposition, including Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035 and Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6113. The Senate also adopted a striking amendment and passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325, creating a tourism self-supported assessment program. Supporters said the negotiated proposal would improve fiscal transparency and help fund statewide tourism promotion, while opponents raised concerns about the assessment structure. The bill passed after concurrence in the House amendments and final passage by a 43-5 vote. The Senate then returned to the fourth order of business and stood at ease for lunch and caucus.
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 9th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

MO
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Insurance Mar 9th, 2026

Insurance and Banking

Transcript Highlights:
  • guarantee coverage from being created or eliminated solely through a restructuring transaction, and it preserves
Committee: House Insurance and Banking
Summary: The Committee for Insurance met with a quorum and first took up three bills in executive session. House Bill 2902 was amended with a committee substitute that removed the commission language while keeping provisions on software and key-emulating devices, and members confirmed it still included a Class D felony penalty. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the bill do pass, with one member voting no. House Bill 1789, dealing with delivery network companies and insurance coverage during the delivery availability period, was also amended and adopted; the substitute clarified that the availability period is not commercial activity and that auto insurance applies until a driver is actually engaged in delivery. The committee then voted the bill do pass, with one no vote and one present. House Bill 1647 was amended to remove it from the collateral source rule section and clarify that it applies only to civil actions for damages and property claims; the substitute was adopted and the bill voted do pass, with several no votes recorded. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 1894, which would implement federal nondiscrimination requirements for licensed health care providers in Missouri insurance law. The sponsor said the bill is about patient choice, fairness, and access, especially in rural areas, and does not expand scope of practice or require coverage of new services. Supporters from chiropractic, nursing, occupational therapy, podiatry, and nurse anesthetist groups said the bill would ensure equal reimbursement for the same covered services and improve access to local providers. Opponents from the insurance industry argued the bill would interfere with network design, reduce negotiating leverage, and require equal payment regardless of provider type or credentials; they also said current federal law already governs network adequacy and that the bill’s rulemaking language was standard but the reimbursement mandate was the main concern. The committee also heard House Bill 3314, which updates Missouri’s insurance guaranty association laws. The sponsor and supporters explained that the bill would clarify coverage for cyber policies, ensure coverage follows the policyholder in insurance business transfer or corporate division transactions, and allow limited pre-liquidation information sharing from the Department of Commerce and Insurance to guaranty associations so claims can be handled faster after insolvency. Witnesses said the bill is technical and intended to modernize the system without expanding coverage or increasing taxpayer exposure. Members asked about the $300,000 property and casualty claims cap, the definition of high-net-worth individual, oversight of guaranty associations, and confidentiality concerns; supporters said the cap is longstanding, high-net-worth means over $25 million, and the department’s existing oversight and confidentiality protections are sufficient. The hearing closed after a final supportive statement from the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and the committee adjourned.
WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 5th, 2026 at 02:05 pm

Washington House Floor Meeting

NY
NY

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York State Senate Session - 03/04/2026

New York Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Reciprocity, constitutional compatibility, and preservation of internal decision-making power.
Keywords: 993, senate, all
Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silent reflection, approval of the prior journal, and several ceremonial introductions. Senator Mayer welcomed students and alumni from the New York Alliance for Early College Pathways, highlighting early college opportunities for high school students. Senator Zellner introduced members of the Buffalo Professional Firefighters Union Local 282 and honored fallen Buffalo firefighter Jayson Arno, with remarks praising firefighters’ service and sacrifice. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 1489, commemorating the 182nd anniversary of Dominican Republic independence. Senator Sepúlveda presented the resolution and spoke about Dominican history, sovereignty, the Dominican diaspora in New York, and the role of Consul General Jesús Vásquez Martínez. Senators Jackson, Weber, Bailey, and others spoke in support, emphasizing the contributions of Dominican New Yorkers. The resolution was adopted and opened for co-sponsorship. The Senate next moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills on insurance, public health, education, social services, tax, penal law, and workers’ compensation. Several bills were approved by wide margins, including measures related to vaccination policy and education law; Senator Weik opposed the public health/vaccination bill, while Senator Mayer defended it as science-based. Senator Fernandez explained and secured passage of a workers’ compensation bill that would raise a pre-authorization threshold, clarify medical treatment guidelines, and restore access to out-of-network providers for injured workers. The only contentious item was Calendar 117, a bill amending the Executive Law related to climate resilience and the Office of Resilience. Senator Walczyk offered an amendment to repeal the statewide cap-and-invest program, but the chair ruled it nongermane; the Senate upheld that ruling on a 21-aye vote. Senators Harckham, Borrello, Krueger, Lanza, Martins, and Gianaris spoke at length on climate policy, energy costs, and the bill’s merits. The bill ultimately passed 51-9. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.
WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Republican Leaders Media Availability Feb 24th, 2026 at 09:15 am

Transcript Highlights:
  • silver lining in the transportation budget right now is a finally, in our opinion, a focus on preservation
Keywords: 904, all
Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability focused on the final stretch of the legislative session, with repeated criticism of Democratic budget proposals and several policy bills. They said they were especially concerned about an environmental crimes bill they argued would impose excessive penalties for workplace mistakes, as well as bills they described as anti-law-enforcement, including measures related to police face coverings and sheriff qualifications. They also discussed a proposed income tax, calling it unconstitutional and urging that it be sent to referendum if it advances. A major topic was the operating, transportation, and capital budgets. Republicans said the operating budget relies on one-time fund sweeps, raids the rainy day fund and pension assets, and assumes future income-tax revenue while cutting Medicaid, child care, schools, and other services. They said the transportation budget has some positive emphasis on road preservation but criticized ferry funding and the proposed sweep of the Public Works Trust. On the capital budget, they were less specific and described it as generally bipartisan. The lawmakers also addressed reports of fraudulent or duplicate sign-ins on the income-tax bill, saying any abuse should be investigated but that many duplicate entries may have been accidental rather than malicious. They said the system should be improved with better verification, but maintained that more than 100,000 unique people had signed in opposition. Other issues discussed included opposition to using pension funds to balance the budget, criticism of a Sound Transit proposal for 75-year bonds, concerns about a bill requiring arbitration before lawsuits against the state or local governments, and objections to child care budget changes they said would hurt rural and property-poor communities without broader regulatory reform.
FL
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

February 24, 2026 - 08:30 AM

Education & Employment Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • It preserves high standards, strengthens the workforce, and supports Florida students.
Committee: House Education & Employment Committee
Summary: The Education and Employment Committee heard and voted on several education-related bills. HB 129 on Florida Virtual School was presented as a cleanup bill responding to audit-related statutory updates; it would remove priority language, allow all Florida students and eligible overseas military dependents access, clarify teacher employment/retirement status, permit local schools to administer required exams, and authorize direct support organizations. The bill drew support from Seminole State College and Florida Virtual School and was reported favorably 15-0. HB 423 on student elopement, sponsored by Reps. Eskamani and Tramont, would require schools to establish safety teams and procedures to prevent and respond to elopement by students with autism or similar needs. Testimony from the Autism Society of Greater Orlando and a student advocate emphasized safety risks and the need for clear school protocols. Members spoke strongly in support, and the bill passed unanimously 16-0. CS for CS for HB 753 on school counselors removed two certification barriers, kept the master’s degree requirement, and aligned evaluations with Florida school counseling standards; school counselor groups and several members argued it would help address counselor shortages and workload issues. It also passed unanimously 16-0. The committee also approved CS for CS for HB 1253, which would let school-employed coaches use up to $15,000 per team per year of personal funds to support student-athletes with items like food, transportation, therapy, and rehabilitation, with an amendment requiring written parental consent. Several members raised concerns about liability, fairness, and guardrails, but the bill passed 17-0. PCS for CS for HB 833 on private school facilities would allow small private schools of 150 students or fewer to locate in commercial or mixed-use zoning without rezoning and to use certain existing buildings if fire and life-safety standards are met; members discussed traffic, school zones, and proximity to dispensaries, and it passed 15-0. PCS for CS for HB 1325 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund clarified matching contributions, allowed use of funds for expansion or modernization of existing space, and permitted two-year awards; it passed 16-0. Finally, CS for HB 1437 on conversion charter schools created dispute-resolution options over facility maintenance and, via amendment, allowed capital outlay funding if the charter assumes full maintenance responsibility; despite some opposition, it passed 13-3. The committee then adjourned.
ID
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 23rd, 2026

Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • more discussion, I will err on the side of voting for it in committee, but I too have concerns and preserve
Committee: Senate Resources and Environment
Keywords: 989, all
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Revenue and Taxation REVISED Feb 9th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Revenue and Taxation

MO
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Emerging Issues Feb 9th, 2026

Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, the Missouri Low-Income Housing Credit, Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit, IRAs,
Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan. The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented. Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.
ID
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 6th, 2026

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • discomfort, voyeurism escalation, which is often a gateway to more serious crimes and assaults, while preserving
Committee: House State Affairs
Summary: The committee heard two related RS proposals dealing with restroom, changing room, and shower access based on biological sex. RS 33092, presented by Representative Razor, would add criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully entering opposite-sex designated government-owned or public facilities, with exceptions for emergencies, law enforcement, medical aid, maintenance, single-user facilities, and similar circumstances. Members questioned how enforcement would work, who would investigate, how biological sex would be determined, and whether the bill would burden law enforcement or punish accidental entry. Supporters argued it was needed to protect privacy and safety, while opponents said existing assault and indecent exposure laws already address harmful conduct and that the bill could criminalize being in the wrong room. The committee voted to introduce RS 33092 on a 10-3 roll call. The committee then heard RS 33183 from Representative Hill, which would require public buildings and accommodations to maintain separate facilities by biological sex and create a private right of action and civil penalties for violations. Hill said the bill was intended to protect women and girls in public restrooms, locker rooms, and showers, and cited constituent complaints and prior policy efforts. Members pressed him on how the bill would be enforced, whether it applied to private facilities, why it used civil rather than criminal remedies, and whether it would generate lawsuits and costs for businesses and government. Supporters said it would deter violations and complement criminal laws, while opponents argued it would punish mere presence in a space rather than assault or harassment. The committee voted to introduce RS 33183 by voice vote. At the end of the meeting, the committee also voted to hold House Bill 510 and RS 33245 subject to the call of the chair because the sponsor was unavailable, with the chair noting those measures would be revisited later. The meeting then adjourned.
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OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Energy 2ND REVISED Feb 5th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Energy

CA
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Feb 5th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Republican Party in Congress are turning people who are most vulnerable away, and the ACA is that life preserver
Summary: The Assembly convened in Sacramento, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. After routine procedural motions, members voted to withdraw SB 106 from committee for third reading and to suspend the rules so AJR 25 could be taken up immediately. AJR 25, authored by Assembly Member Bonta, urged Congress to restore and extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that expired on January 1, with supporters arguing the lapse would sharply raise premiums for millions of Californians, including veterans, working families, and other vulnerable residents. Opponents, led by Assembly Member DeMaio, argued the resolution blamed federal action for California’s high health care costs and said state mandates and spending choices were the real problem. The resolution was adopted 58-4, and Assembly Member Addis was added as a joint author. The chamber also took up H.R. 76 on affordable homeownership, presented by Assembly Member Schultz and supported by Assembly Member Wicks, who emphasized the importance of homeownership for wealth-building and noted ongoing efforts to expand programs such as CalHome. H.R. 79, by Assembly Member Valencia, recognized February 2026 as Unclaimed Property Month; supporters highlighted the large amount of unclaimed property held by the state and encouraged residents to search for funds owed to them. Both resolutions received broad support, with co-author rolls opened before final adoption. The second-day consent calendar, including ACR 127 on National School Counseling Week, was adopted 64-0. Members also heard a lengthy adjournment in memory from Assembly Member Soria honoring Pablo Rodriguez, a Central Valley organizer and civic leader remembered for his work with United Farm Workers, Communities for a New California, and AB 1441 on the Merced County Independent Redistricting Commission. The Assembly observed a moment of silence for Rodriguez, welcomed his family and colleagues, and then adjourned until Monday, February 9, at 1 p.m.
CA
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 5th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • largely funded by the CalHome program, California's only state program dedicated to producing and preserving
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor items. The main policy item was SR 71 by Senator Arreguín, a resolution recognizing the importance of affordable homeownership in California. Supporters from both parties emphasized homeownership as a path to stability, wealth-building, and neighborhood strength, while noting the state’s high housing costs, racial disparities in ownership, and the role of nonprofit builders such as Habitat for Humanity and state programs like CalHome. The resolution passed 35-0, and Senator Arreguín then introduced Habitat for Humanity advocates visiting for Annual Advocacy Day. The Senate also confirmed three gubernatorial appointments: Trista Gonzalez as Director of the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Aaron McGuire as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, and Lee Herrick for reappointment as California Poet Laureate. All three confirmations were approved unanimously or near-unanimously. In addition, the body adopted SCR 115 by Senator Daly, recognizing Wear Red Day and February as Heart Health Month, with extensive remarks about women’s heart disease, stroke awareness, and the importance of listening to symptoms; the resolution passed 37-0. The Senate then adopted SR 75 by Senator Rubio, designating CalEITC Awareness Week to promote awareness of the state earned income tax credit, which supporters described as a key anti-poverty tool; it passed 29-0. During privileges of the floor, the Senate welcomed visiting British shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly and his wife, Lady Susanna Cleverly, who are in California through a USC Schwarzenegger Institute fellowship studying housing policy. The chamber also heard a committee announcement and a motion to move one file item to the inactive file. The session concluded with adjournment in memory of Frank Gehry, June Roberti, and Stephen Michael Ruda Flores, with members offering tributes to each and the Senate announcing its next meeting date.
CA
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Feb 4th, 2026

Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:
  • risk due to H.R. 1, and so we look forward to partnering with the state in a few different ways to preserve
Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
Keywords: 987, senate, all
FL
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 3, 2026 - 02:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • respiratory therapists to practice across participating member states under a compact privilege while preserving
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of health care-related bills, with Chair Tuck emphasizing respectful debate and noting that all bills on the agenda would be voted on that day. The first measure, HB 743, would give the Attorney General authority to investigate and bring civil actions against health care practitioners who violate Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and would make aiding or abetting such conduct a third-degree felony. Supporters said it closed loopholes and protected minors and parental rights, while opponents argued it was vague, overbroad, and could chill lawful care and professional judgment. The bill passed 13-4 and was reported favorably. The committee then unanimously approved PCS for HB 567, which narrows a continuing-education requirement for podiatrists so only those who prescribe controlled substances must take the related two-hour course. It also unanimously approved HB 439, allowing chiropractors, under specified training and certification requirements, to inject vitamins and nutrients while continuing to prohibit intravenous injections. The committee also passed HB 1235 to enter Florida into the respiratory care interstate compact, and HB 1237, a linked public-records/public-meetings exemption needed to implement that compact; both measures were supported as workforce and access-to-care bills and passed without opposition. Later, the committee approved PCS for HB 809, which addresses temporary physician certificates in areas of need and aims to prevent doctors from losing the ability to practice when area designations change. Members asked about licensure pathways and the effect of federal or board designation changes, and supporters framed the bill as protecting continuity of care in underserved communities. The committee also unanimously passed HB 1347 to align clinical laboratory personnel licensing with federal CLIA standards amid staffing shortages, and HB 1515, a public-records exemption tied to a uterine fibroid research database. Finally, the committee approved HB 169 updating acupuncture statutes, including terminology changes and limits on injection therapy, and HB 1021, Representative Young’s first bill, allowing qualified hospital pharmacists in Level I and II trauma centers to administer emergency medications at a physician’s direction during life-threatening situations. HB 1021 drew the most questions, mainly about scope, definitions, and who could authorize the pharmacist, but after a technical amendment it passed unanimously. All remaining bills were reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after the final vote.
AZ
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • Due to factors such as poaching and removals, their offspring are losing the battle to preserve this
Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference
Summary: The Natural Resources Committee approved the minutes from January 20 and January 27, 2026, and then heard several bills dealing with water policy, environmental regulation, wildlife management, and cosmetics testing. SB 1278 would ban intentional solar radiation management activities in Arizona and bar public entities and recipients of public funds from supporting such technologies; supporters argued it was needed to stop geoengineering, while opponents said it would block research and distract from real pollution problems. The committee voted 5-2 to give SB 1278 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered SB 1279, which updates Arizona’s weather modification/cloud seeding permitting process by adding ADWR and ADEQ review, public notice and meetings, and a licensing database. A nine-page amendment shifted complaint enforcement to ADWR, added cease-and-desist and fine authority, and changed rulemaking timelines; the amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 5-2. Testimony was mixed: supporters emphasized transparency and safety, Salt River Project was neutral after stakeholder work, and ADEQ said it was neutral but warned it lacked standards, resources, and time to develop the required chemical limits and rules. SB 1005, which would prohibit the sale of cosmetics developed with animal testing beginning in 2027, received a do pass recommendation 4-2 after supporters cited cruelty concerns and the availability of non-animal testing methods. SB 1202, requiring ADWR to include outline data in five-year groundwater supply-and-demand assessments, also passed 4-2 despite agency concerns that the bill would require extensive hydrologic modeling, significant resources, and could produce misleading conclusions about available water. SB 1280, barring state transport or use of public resources to move Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona, passed 4-2 after testimony split between conservation advocates, who said it would hinder recovery, and supporters concerned about livestock impacts; Game and Fish was neutral. Finally, SB 1287, with a conforming amendment, passed 5-1 to extend a groundwater-use provision for irrigation grandfathered rights from initial AMAs to subsequent AMAs, which ADWR said would reduce burden and create parity across management areas.
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

General Government REVISED: Links added Feb 3rd, 2026

General Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 3841 preserves confidentiality of true trade secrets, but it ends the secrecy around financial
Bills: HB3310 , HB4311 , HB3841 , HB3024 , HB3075
Committee: House General Government
Keywords: purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, unclaimed property, service charges, property fund, accountability, government transparency, local development, economic impact, voter approval, tax increment financing, review committee, public finance, blight, salary increase, bonus limits, job performance
Summary: The committee met for its first General Government meeting of the second part of session and laid over several agenda items, including bills listed as numbers 3, 4, and 10. HB 3310, the Government Accountability and Budget Transparency Act, was presented as a procurement accountability measure to strengthen oversight, efficiency, and timely payment to private vendors doing business with the state. After brief questioning about whether late payment is a widespread problem, the committee voted 8-0 to pass the bill. HB 431, which would increase the treasurer’s share of the unclaimed property administration fee from 4% to 6%, was presented as necessary to cover higher operating costs such as salaries and IT. The author emphasized that the change would not cost taxpayers anything or reduce the amount returned to owners of unclaimed property. The committee approved the bill after questions about long-term impacts on the unclaimed property fund. The most extensive discussion centered on HB 3841, a major reform of tax increment financing (TIF). The author said the bill would not ban TIFs but would require voter approval, separate consent from affected taxing jurisdictions, more transparency, annual training for review committees, independent legal and financial opinions, and economic impact studies. Members raised concerns that the bill’s wording—especially the “majority of the eligible voters” language and removal of executive-session confidentiality—could make TIFs impractical or eliminate trade-secret protections, and they also questioned costs and effects on economic development. At the author’s request and with committee support, the bill was laid over for further work. The committee then passed HB 3024, which creates statutory limits and oversight for state employee pay increases and bonuses, including a 10% cap unless higher amounts are approved through cabinet secretary/OMES procedures. Supporters said it would add transparency and curb large, unreported raises, while questions focused on whether it would help address broader pay disparities. Finally, HB 3075, as amended by a PCS, was presented to authorize rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel for state agencies and local governments in response to the practical disappearance of pennies. The committee approved that bill as well, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene the following week.
ID
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 3rd, 2026

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • here, to render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of the government and the preservation
Committee: House State Affairs
Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 29 and 30. It then took up HCR 25, a resolution calling for an Article V convention effort focused on a balanced budget amendment. The sponsor and supporters argued that the federal debt and annual deficits are unsustainable, that the resolution is intended to pressure Congress rather than actually trigger a runaway convention, and that any amendment would still require ratification by 38 states. Supporters also said a balanced budget amendment would force fiscal discipline without immediate tax hikes or drastic cuts, and several public witnesses, including former officials, a banker, a student, and party leaders, testified in favor on generational and economic grounds. Opponents and skeptical members raised concerns that the resolution explicitly calls for a constitutional convention, that there is no reliable way to limit the scope or delegate selection, and that a convention could create unintended constitutional changes. Some questioned whether the strategy was honest with constituents, whether Congress should instead be changed through elections, and whether states like Idaho should continue accepting federal funds while advocating fiscal restraint. The Idaho Republican Party chair testified against the measure, saying the risk of an uncontrolled convention outweighed any benefit. After debate, Representative Boyle moved a substitute motion to hold HCR 25 in committee, but that motion failed 9-4. The committee then voted on the original motion to send HCR 25 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and that motion passed 9-4. The committee then adjourned.
WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Community Safety Feb 2nd, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Community Safety