Transcript Highlights:

• And so the RFP also included refreshed funding categories, funding priorities, and also evaluation criteria
• that the commission uses while evaluating the proposals and selecting the recommendations.
• And so the RFP also included refreshed funding categories, funding priorities, and also evaluation criteria
• that the commission uses while evaluating the proposals and selecting the recommendations.
• spent 32 hours together over six meetings hearing presentations and conducting multiple rounds of evaluations

Bills: HF3426 , HF3428

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, land acquisition, real property, trust fund, commissioner approval, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, conservation easement, land purchase, state land, public lands, property acquisition, value assessment, tax assessed value, Metropolitan Council, Board of Water and Soil Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Thinking about reporting language and potentially even evaluations if there are activities that you really
• Evaluations cost money if you want them to. to be done well, so there are trade-offs there, but that
• CARB, as I think you are aware, is accelerating the evaluation of increased ethanol blending in gasoline
• And we've already seen from testimony from our farmers and the evaluation. that's been done, that this
• We're still evaluating whether those are needed. So we would come forward.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, being able to evaluate the evidence in its entirety.
• With videotaping, you're not only evaluating the confession itself; you're also evaluating how that confession
• There's a lot of just an evaluation, so there's no evaluation right now because we have no framework.
• There's a lot of just an evaluation, so there's no evaluation right now because we have no framework.
• There's a lot of just an evaluation, so there's no evaluation right now because we have no framework.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also an active study being conducted at OU that is evaluating aluminum and water.
• They would be able to come out and measure your meters or not your meter but your pumps to evaluate if

Committee: House Energy

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So currently, when a court makes some evaluation of whether to terminate the rights of a parent, you'll
• see... ...evaluation of whether to terminate the rights of a parent.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered several RS drafts for introduction. RS 331-128, brought by Sen. Kelly Anthon, would amend Idaho law so chiropractors can prescribe certain vitamins, minerals, and fluids they are already authorized to administer, allowing them to purchase those items from pharmacies or distributors; it was moved to print. RS 33023, introduced by Sen. Mark Harris, would amend involuntary commitment law to include tribal health care facilities as acceptable holding sites and tribal police officers as peace officers for initial mental health crisis evaluations; it was also moved to print without opposition. RS 32893, introduced by Sen. Carl Birke, was described as a code cleanup bill removing outdated language from the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired statutes; the committee voted to print it. RS 32994, brought by Sen. Melissa Wintrow, would codify child visitation protections in cases of substantiated physical or sexual abuse and clarify that courts may consider a parent’s incarceration when termination of parental rights is sought; after a question about judicial feedback, it was moved to print and approved. The committee also heard RS 33184 from Sen. Julie Van Orden, which would establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program and a legislative oversight committee to monitor use of anticipated federal rural health funds, including recommendations on subgrants and spending. Van Orden said the committee would ensure legislative oversight of how the money is distributed, with rural representation built into the membership. A senator asked whether this was the same as a governor-led task force referenced in budget language; Van Orden clarified that the bill creates a separate legislative oversight body, distinct from the governor’s application-related committee. The motion to introduce and print RS 33184 passed on a voice vote with one nay. The committee then adjourned, noting no meeting the next day, a Thursday meeting, and an upcoming hearing on the Department of Health and Welfare budget and programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• accountability processes by simplifying local testing calendars, specifying that the value-added evaluation
• accountability processes by simplifying local testing calendars, specifying that the value-added evaluation

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first took up SB 124, which updates Florida Virtual School statutes to remove outdated language, clarify governance and funding provisions, authorize a direct support organization, streamline reporting, and clarify district responsibilities for student assessments. Senator Berman asked about the removed enrollment prioritization and reporting changes, and the bill sponsor explained that the reporting was largely duplicative of existing audits and other reports. Florida Virtual School’s representative testified in support, saying the school is open to all students statewide with no enrollment caps or waiting lists. SB 124 was reported favorably by a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered confirmation appointments in tabs 3 and 4 and recommended confirmation of all appointees on a single favorable vote. After that, the committee heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools, which would reduce district mandates, expand teacher apprenticeship and multi-year contracts, create a 10-year renewable professional certificate, simplify testing and accountability rules, increase flexibility for district finances and facilities planning, and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs to school districts. Senators Gaetz and Berman questioned the impact on charter school funding, capital dollars, teacher contracts, and how the bill differed from last year’s version. The sponsor said charter schools would retain access to operational funds, the bill does not eliminate annual audits, and the main substantive change from last year was the multi-year teacher contract provision. Several organizations and district representatives waived in support of SB 320, while Florida Citizens Alliance testified in information, praising some testing and licensure changes but suggesting a cap on multi-year contracts and outside auditing safeguards. The sponsor closed by emphasizing that districts would still be subject to annual audits and that the bill is intended to give schools more flexibility and reduce bureaucracy. SB 320 was reported favorably on a roll call vote, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the science and teacher education program require the commission to develop accountability and an evaluation
• And before we move on, a large part of the amendment comes from the commission on evaluation of services

Bills: SB213 , HB24 , HB163 , HB226 , HB271 , HB288 , HB319 , HB24

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: utility tax, poultry industry, energy consumption, agricultural exemption, tax exemption, HB24, Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program, EMS, emergency medical services, EMSP, paramedic training, EMT training, tuition reimbursement, scholarship, workforce development, volunteer rescue squad, volunteer fire department, ambulance service, nonprofit ambulance, Alabama Department of Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• 00.400><c> lower</c><01:42:00.760><c> performing.
• And uh things for uh lower performing.
• </c><02:49:00.320><c> a</c> to make a calculation and perform a to make a calculation and perform a transfer
• We have a mission to perform. We'll come August, reassess.
• </c> We have a mission to perform. We have a mission to perform.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, past performance doesn't predict future results, but on a long time frame, because precious metals
• Now, past performance doesn't predict future results, but on a long time frame, because precious metals
• And over the last 10 years, over the last decade, Bitcoin has been the best performing asset.
• And what I mean by best performing asset is that it's like, you know, sure, maybe an exotic car or a
• </c><04:23:08.720><c> of</c> Safety to uh manage the performance of Safety to uh manage the performance

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• service-exempt positions, including research scientists, staff at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
• exempt positions, including research scientists, staff at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
• . including research scientists, staff at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and other

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Employment Relations

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The population forecast adjustment in the department serves as the developmental disability evaluation
• committee for all the court-ordered evaluations.
• Rapid growth in this population over recent years has driven rising evaluation and treatment costs, creating

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met to consider several budget items and related language for the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Health and Welfare. For the Attorney General’s office, members debated competing restoration proposals tied to the Consumer Protection Fund and the Internet Crimes Against Children program. The committee first rejected a narrower substitute focused only on the Internet Crimes Against Children personnel costs, then approved the broader restoration motion and sent it forward with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then took up reconsideration of Senate Bill 1428 items for Health and Welfare, including the Division of Early Learning and Development, the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency, and the Division of Family and Community Partnerships. Members approved funding for moving the Idaho Home Visiting Program to Early Learning and Development, a Walker mower replacement for the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, transfer authority language, a reporting requirement for the Home Visiting Program, unlimited transfer language for Youth Safety and Permanency to Switzie, restoration funding for post-adoption services and safety assessments, and $180,000 for kinship navigation services. All of these actions received do-pass recommendations. The committee also revisited the Division of Public Health Services after Senate Bill 1401 failed on the House floor. Members approved a substitute that kept the Idaho Home Visiting Program in Public Health Services for now, restored funding for immunization assessment, laboratory testing, ARPA grants, HIV and hepatitis prevention, and suicide prevention, and reduced the Health Care Policy Initiatives program. The committee adopted reporting language on outcomes and return on investment for several public health programs, plus a new report on immigration status data for HIV prevention services. That last language item drew debate over privacy and discrimination concerns, but it was adopted. Finally, the committee addressed the Rural Health Transformation Program, a new federal funding stream for Idaho. Members approved a supplemental appropriation for FY 2026 and a larger FY 2027 appropriation, both with 12 limited-service positions, to support the program’s administration and spending. The committee also adopted intent language clarifying that physician assistant and dental hygienist reforms proposed to CMS should continue and be reported back to JFAC and germane policy committees. The meeting ended early because of time constraints, with the remaining items postponed until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3178 creates a standard depreciation table for county assessors to use when evaluating farm
• One of my concerns is that when we look at property tax or assessment and evaluations, I I applaud the
• to address some of the inconsistencies we're seeing in different counties from county assessors' evaluations

Bills: HR1038 , HB3263 , HB3127 , HB2997 , HB3115 , HB2123 , HB3587 , HB3028 , HB2035 , HB3369 , HB3620 , HB3621 , HB3622 , HB3624 , HB3175 , HB3173 , HB3178 , HB1979 , HB4476

Keywords: Oklahoma Youth Expo, OYE, 4-H, FFA, agriculture, agricultural education, youth expo, livestock show, junior livestock, scholarships, youth leadership, Oklahoma City, rural communities, ag mechanics, engineering contest, farm youth, student recognition, ceremonial resolution, house resolution, livestock competition

Transcript Highlights:

• Multiple psychological evaluations reportedly concluded she was unable to safely parent her children.
• outcomes if judges had access to complete history of abuse reports, prior removals, psychological evaluations
• abuse while in foster care, should that child have a clear right to timely medical or forensic evaluation

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 12, 16, and 17, 2026. It then heard House Bill 593, a Department of Environmental Quality cleanup bill tied to the DOGE Task Force review. Senator Semmelroth explained that the bill removes obsolete references and repeals outdated provisions related to the state hazardous waste management planning committee and the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Act council. After brief support from a Republic Services representative and DEQ’s hazardous waste bureau chief, the committee voted to send HB 593 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Next, the committee heard House Bill 714, which repeals the Hazardous Waste Siting Act and consolidates hazardous waste siting provisions into the Hazardous Waste Management Act. Senator Burkey said the bill streamlines Idaho’s hazardous waste laws while preserving safety, public notice, hearings, and expert review. Republic Services and DEQ testified in support, describing the measure as protective, efficient, and the product of stakeholder review. The committee then voted to send HB 714 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee also considered House Bill 788, a pilot program intended to reduce Medicaid prior authorization burdens for certain medical professionals who precept medical students in high-need specialties. Representative Wheeler said the goal is to increase preceptorships by giving eligible providers a temporary “gold card” exemption, and he asked for a sunset date of July 1, 2030. The Idaho Freedom Foundation testified in opposition, arguing prior authorization is a cost-control tool and that the bill could raise Medicaid costs. The committee voted to send HB 788 to amending orders, with several senators recorded as no. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 724, which would establish foster child safety rights, require written notice of those rights, and direct courts and the Department of Health and Welfare to consider safety in placement and visitation decisions. Representative Wheeler said the bill responds to concerns from foster parents and aims to ensure children in state custody have clear protections. Multiple foster parents, a child psychologist, and a former foster youth testified in support, describing serious safety failures and arguing that children need clearer rights and more complete information before reunification or placement decisions. The committee voted to send HB 724 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Multiple psychological evaluations reportedly concluded she was unable to safely parent her children.
• outcomes if judges had access to complete history of abuse reports, prior removals, psychological evaluations
• abuse while in foster care, should that child have a clear right to timely medical or forensic evaluation

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Four, provide strong implementation and evaluation strategies.
• They don't evaluate teachers. They don't supervise.
• I don't evaluate, I don't supervise, and I don't make any personnel decisions.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grant periods, our grantees are providing us quarterly progress reports, they're doing a local evaluation
• we have, our grantees are doing, providing us quarterly progress reports, they're doing a local evaluation
• And certainly, I think the legislature also recognizes that we have a role to play in re-evaluating our

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and routine committee actions. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, appointments to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, the appointment of Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, a reference of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Members then heard testimony from Trista Gonzalez, nominee to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, who described her long career in tax administration, efforts to improve taxpayer compliance and service, readiness for the state’s lithium extraction tax, and the department’s work on online sales tax, cannabis, and tobacco enforcement. Senators asked about responsiveness to legislators, small business support, accountability, and enforcement; public commenters from tax and accounting groups supported her nomination. Her appointment advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, nominee to lead the Board of State and Community Corrections. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention-facility inspections, large grant programs for violence intervention and reentry, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audit transparency, statutory authority for in-custody death reviews, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, site visits, audits, and compliance reviews to reduce fraud and ensure grant funds are used appropriately, and that trailer bill language had clarified access to records for death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in some juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with counties and the courts to improve conditions. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. His appointment also advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• conclusion of these grant periods, our grantees are providing us Quarterly progress reports, a local evaluation
• we have, our grantees are doing, providing us quarterly progress reports, they're doing a local evaluation
• And certainly, I think the legislature also recognizes that we have a role to play in re-evaluating our

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by 5-0 vote, before moving to appointments required to appear. Trista Gonzalez, nominated to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, testified about her 33-year career in tax administration and emphasized taxpayer service, efficiency, and team culture. Members asked about responsiveness to legislators, the lithium extraction tax, online sales tax compliance after Wayfair, and enforcement against illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Gonzalez said the department is ready for the lithium tax, works to register businesses meeting the $500,000 threshold, and coordinates with law enforcement on inspections and seizures. Public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. Aaron McGuire, nominated as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, described his experience at the agency and its expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, major grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Senators questioned him about grant oversight, fraud prevention, public access to audits, implementation of SB 519, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, reporting, site visits, audits, and recovery actions to monitor grants, and that trailer bill language has clarified access to records for in-custody death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in Los Angeles juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with the courts and local officials. Supporters from Amity Foundation, Health Right 360, Westcare, and Giffords testified in favor, and the committee approved his nomination 5-0 to advance to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an original contract for medical consultant examinations, reviews, and evaluations.
• this is to assist the UA System on planning and strategy development initiatives, and this is for evaluation
• This is an original contract for medical consultant examinations, reviews, and evaluations for medical

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The review subcommittee met to consider a supplemental agenda, methods of finance, an alternative delivery project, discretionary grants, and a large slate of construction, out-of-state, and in-state contracts. The supplemental item was a $2.6 million out-of-state contract with Tyler Technologies for a mobile app that would let citizens access state services through a single sign-on, initially for DFA vehicle and licensing services, with possible expansion to other agencies. Members also reviewed five methods of finance, including University of Arkansas projects for roof and cooling tower replacements, a new $100 million academic classroom building at U of A Fayetteville, a police department renovation at UA Fort Smith, and a boiler/chiller replacement at Hope-Texarkana. Questions focused on project timing, why some items were being reviewed after work had begun, and the high estimated cost of the Fayetteville classroom building; DFA explained that projects under $250,000 are not reviewed and that the larger project was still in design and would later seek a guaranteed maximum price. The committee also reviewed two DHS discretionary grants: one for targeted youth advocacy in southwest Arkansas and another adding $582,000 for family-centered treatment training and implementation. In the services contract section, members discussed construction-related contracts, including an ASMSA electrical scope increase tied to three-phase power requirements and the U of A Fayetteville architect contract for the classroom building. Out-of-state contracts included major items such as ACT Education’s $17 million amendment to provide required pre-ACT testing for 9th and 10th graders, a $12.5 million DFA contract for rural health transformation grant management, DHS’s $16.5 million EBT services contract with updated chip-card and fraud-prevention features, and ADH’s special procurement for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The committee also reviewed U of A system consulting contracts for financial advisory and sponsorship strategy work, with university officials saying the outside expertise was needed for specialized planning and revenue-generation efforts. In-state contracts covered corrections reentry services, nursing board investigations, foster care and child welfare services, DHS office janitorial work, emergency management radio system expansion, veterans’ home nursing staffing, and UAMS grants consulting. A lengthy exchange centered on the Department of Corrections’ reentry housing contract, with members pressing officials about vacant beds and urging fuller use of the program, while corrections staff said placements depend on screening and eligibility. Another discussion addressed the balance between out-of-state and in-state contracting, with a member noting the large dollar volume going to out-of-state vendors and asking whether Arkansas vendors receive any preference; State Procurement said current law does not allow an in-state preference. The committee approved the supplemental agenda, the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, the discretionary grants, and the contract lists, and then received routine reports and an emergency action report before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Banks are meant to evaluate customers based on their financial credibility, not their political views
• Next, HR and finance leaders evaluate those proposals and select the plan they believe delivers the best
• perspective: the Affordable Care Act work group in 2010 and the state of California, just last year, evaluated

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What should that performance be that we're designing to?
• What should that performance be that we're designing to?
• But there are two parts to define in a performance-based code.
• So it's an interesting history, but performance-based, essentially, the HUD code came out of a performance-based
• Does the performance code assure the same safety?

Summary: The committee held its first official work session with member and staff introductions, then received an update from the State Building Code Council on the current three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed code changes. Council staff said the council is moving toward CR-102 rulemaking and final adoption in the spring, with legislative mandates nearing completion on minimum dwelling unit size, emergency shelters, single-exit stairs for buildings up to six stories and 24 units, and sixplexes in the residential code. Members asked about how technical advisory groups are selected, and staff explained that the council advertises seats, reviews applications and recommendations, and approves members in public meetings, typically including firefighters, engineers, architects, and other subject-matter experts. A major portion of the meeting focused on the single-stair and sixplex work and on how fire safety, egress, and local service levels are being considered. Council representatives said the single-stair proposal includes emergency escape and rescue openings on all levels and is intended to provide more options for safe egress while reducing building footprint and cost. They emphasized that the recommendations are still entering the public rulemaking process and that cost-benefit considerations were part of the legislative intent. Members also raised questions about whether self-rescue devices or other builder options could be codified, and council staff said such ideas are considered through the advisory process, though not all become required code provisions. The second half of the session covered performance-based codes, prompted by a bill referred to as HB 2381. Todd Byrd explained the difference between prescriptive codes, which specify exact solutions, and performance-based codes, which set outcomes and allow designers and manufacturers more flexibility in how to meet them. He described the bill as a narrow proposal for low-rise residential buildings up to 24 units and under the high-rise threshold, with third-party or state certification and local jurisdiction approval still required. He cited international examples, especially Japan and Sweden, where performance-based approaches supported innovation and prefabrication, and said such systems can lower costs while maintaining safety. Members discussed seismic safety, builder participation, embodied carbon, and energy-code interactions, and council staff said the proposal could help align material, energy, and design optimization without changing the existing energy code. The committee took no vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.