Video & Transcript : 'school purchasing' :

Page 352 of 500
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 4, 2025 - 01:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • DMS also manages the state term contracts for the vehicle purchases to ensure we get the best prices
  • , and quality vehicles, approving the purchase of vehicles, developing equipment purchase approval guidelines
  • , and quality vehicles, approving the purchase of vehicles, developing equipment purchase approval guidelines
  • to submit a purchase requisition along with a request form detailing certain information.
  • Finding 11 dealt with purchasing cards, and the department did not always timely cancel purchasing cards
Summary: The subcommittee first heard a lengthy Auditor General presentation on the Department of Management Services’ fleet management operations. The audit found major problems with oversight, recordkeeping, policies, fee-setting, purchase and disposal approvals, public auction controls, and FleetWave system access and processing. Key findings included that 2,279 vehicles valued at more than $57 million could not be matched between FleetWave and FLAIR, disposal records were missing or incomplete, user access remained active long after employees separated, and the department had not documented a reasonable basis for its $1.75 per-vehicle monthly fee. Members expressed strong concern about the accuracy of the state’s fleet inventory and the risk of waste or misuse. DMS Secretary Allende said the department concurred with the findings, was working with the Auditor General, and planned corrective actions, including better training, clearer guidance, improved reconciliation, and possible centralization or pilot programs for fleet purchasing and management. The committee then returned to vacancy discussions with several agencies. The Division of Administrative Hearings said its two long-vacant judges of compensation claims positions had been hard to fill because of low pay and short reappointment terms, but the chief judge said the division could operate without them and offered those positions up as part of a reduction exercise. The Public Service Commission reported 42 vacancies but said statutory deadlines were still being met, though staff workloads and depth of analysis were affected. The commission also said vacancies help it manage salaries within its trust-fund budget. Members questioned whether some of those positions were truly needed given the lack of delays. The Florida Gaming Control Commission reported 29 vacancies, including a vacant chair that prevented appointment of an inspector general, and said the chair vacancy was a gubernatorial appointment issue. The acting executive director also said the commission’s compulsive gambling prevention program had lapsed after no responsive bids were received for a new contract, but an invitation to negotiate was nearly complete and a new provider was expected soon. The Public Employee Relations Commission reported that its caseload had more than doubled after Senate Bill 256, which increased union recertification work; it said it was meeting deadlines only with overtime and that the workload had not fallen despite decertifications. Members asked for follow-up data on union cases, vacancy needs, and whether some positions across agencies could be reallocated to better match workload.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Feb 19th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you're thinking about meals at school, which I know this Legislature has spent a lot of time thinking
  • about, how we get to universal school meals, that's being done through OSPI.
  • So, like, the food program for our schools currently under OSPI, it will be broad under.
  • The School Nutrition Association, and the more of the main operational administrators.
  • In Ellensburg School District.
Bills: HB2104 , HB2554 , HB2619
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 31 Feb 11th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • He purchased supplies, often signing his name to debts that no one else would carry.
  • He grew up in Twin Falls, graduating from Twin Falls High School.
  • He grew up in Twin Falls, graduating from Twin Falls High School.
  • His kids are all the product of Idaho public schools.
  • His kids are all the product of Idaho public schools.
Summary: The Senate convened with 33 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal, and received communications including a temporary substitute appointment for Legislative District 20. The chamber also received several committee reports and House messages, and welcomed numerous guests, including Idaho Farm Bureau members and other visitors in the gallery. The Senate acted on several gubernatorial appointments and memorials. It adopted committee reports confirming Brett Thomas to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, Erica Malman to the Idaho Personnel Commission, Michael Kennedy to the Idaho Judicial Council, and Representative John Weber to the State Insurance Fund Board. It also adopted House Joint Memorial 10, which urged federal officials to favor sugar over artificial sweeteners in school nutrition standards, with supporters arguing it promoted real food and Idaho’s sugar industry. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 1233, the “Constitutional Courts Act,” which would bar state courts from enforcing or applying religious or cultural law that does not conform to the U.S. and Idaho constitutions. Supporters said it protected constitutional supremacy and religious neutrality, while opponents argued it was unnecessary, legally risky, and potentially targeted religious law in a way that could invite constitutional challenges. After roll call, the bill failed by a vote of 15 ayes to 19 nays, with one absent and excused, and was filed in the Secretary’s office. The Senate also introduced and referred a slate of new bills, including measures on transportation, veterans, state employment, public employee retirement, accessory dwelling units, religious land development, housing covenants, and the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit. The chamber then moved to miscellaneous business, heard a few final announcements and introductions, and adjourned until 11 a.m. on February 12, 2026.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I've been to NCTC and some of their schools.
  • You should know he's at South Texas Law School now. So you did a great job with him.
  • School supplies, backpacks, doing outings at churches, and so it was an honor.
  • Taft School of Law in Denver.
  • You need to go back to 20 years ago and do the same purchasing...
Committee: Senate Nominations
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Transportation Mar 12th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • His walkways parallel to the road to walk to and from school.
  • of students who live within 2 miles of the school.
  • children who walk or ride their bikes as much as 2 miles to school.
  • Chair Senator, that's my school district that opposed going to be up on the bill.
  • It's just in school in construction zones.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on County & Regional Government May 5th, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • I didn't know why, why were the purchasing agents under the.
  • , um, you know, for purchasing decisions in, in the business of county government.
  • House Bill 4259 would give counties the option to place the purchasing agent.
  • are not in compliance with purchasing regulations.
  • Those checks remain firmly in place regardless of where the purchasing agent reports.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Public Health May 12th, 2025

Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • The average age of first use in Texas is 12, that's middle school.
  • 1 in 4 high school seniors report using cannabis.
  • in Pearson Middle School, next to a boba shop that students hang out at after school.
  • It is not equal to medical school.
  • OK, you have to complete 4 years of college and get into medical school, 4 years of medical school, which
Committee: House Public Health
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Seclusion Working Group 12/10/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • psychologist, school social worker, school counselor, licensed school nurse, other licensed mental health
  • would come down to schools reporting on behalf of their schools.
  • their schools. And I'm curious their schools.
  • Ensure data includes schools.
  • </c> through the school to report a misuse. through the school to report a misuse.
Keywords: 1183, house
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Or maybe an incentive to try to purchase these types of firearms.
  • for the purchase of a smart gun.
  • for the purchase of a smart gun.
  • Now, I've purchased two of the firearms in Biofire. Now, I'm a lot of the fire.
  • I've purchased two of the firearms in Biofire.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology met to review its work on intentional microstamping and personalized firearms and to discuss draft recommendations for a final report. The co-chairs summarized testimony received from manufacturers, advocates, law enforcement, and officials from New Jersey, New York, and California. For microstamping, the discussion focused on how the technology could help trace spent casings, its limits in forensic use, and concerns about wear, tampering, implementation costs, and whether it would burden lawful gun owners. For personalized firearms, members reviewed testimony about biometric smart guns, their current commercial availability, higher cost, and potential benefits for preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized use, especially involving children and suicide prevention. Commissioners expressed a range of views. Several supported microstamping as a crime-solving tool and endorsed a recommendation that the legislature direct a feasibility and viability study, set standards and training, fund implementation, and create penalties for tampering. Others opposed microstamping, arguing it has not worked in other states, may not reduce crime, and could impose costs on manufacturers and owners. On personalized firearms, most commissioners supported encouraging the technology, but there was disagreement over whether to create a temporary sales tax exemption; some favored an incentive to promote adoption, while others opposed any tax subsidy for firearms or questioned whether the data justified it. The co-chairs said they would draft a report reflecting the majority consensus and circulate it for review before a final vote at a later meeting, likely in July. The commission also discussed which executive branch agency should conduct the microstamping feasibility study, with the Attorney General’s office and EOPSS mentioned as possibilities. The meeting ended with agreement to reconvene for final votes on the report and recommendations.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jun 22nd, 2026

Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • We were working with specifications, getting purchase orders in.
  • That was a big purchase for us. The cost in 2007 was approximately $336,000 each.
  • So in Santa Barbara County, we have three ways to purchase fire engines.
  • However, fire departments have been purchasing custom-built apparatus for decades.
  • The grant situation has been difficult when it comes to purchasing apparatus.
Keywords: 988, house, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • It is not permissible for us to purchase a building.
  • Purchase of an existing building could not occur.
  • You included the various trucks that were purchased.
  • P-card purchases: we had some questionable purchases that may not have had a valid purpose, travel charges
  • P-card purchases, we had some questionable purchases that may not have sort of valid purpose, travel
Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE Jun 17th, 2026

REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE SALES, USE, MISC. TAXES & EXEMPTIONS SUBCOM.

Transcript Highlights:
  • at the dealership on a new vehicle purchase or any type of dealer purchase, there would be a timing
  • The existing process does require the purchaser to come into DFA, register their vehicle, and before
  • There's also the locals, and they are capped at $2,500 of the purchase price.
  • Shouldn't, because of the cap on the $2,500 of the purchase price.
  • The tax was owed at the time of purchase.
Summary: The committee first approved special expenses incurred by the committee, then took up interim study proposals. ISP 2025-069, sponsored by Representative Perry and presented by Representative Eaton, would move collection of sales tax on motor vehicles from the current post-purchase registration process to the point of sale at dealerships. Committee members and DFA discussed the current 60-day registration/tax payment window, possible fiscal and programming impacts on DFA, the added administrative burden on dealers, verification and audit issues, and concerns about whether the change would improve or complicate tax collection. After questions, the committee voted to send the proposal to research/interim study. The committee then considered ISP 2025-071, from Representative Ray, based on House Bill 1636, which would phase out the state excise tax on soda over five years if revenue triggers were met. Representative Ray explained the tax revenue supports the Medicaid trust fund and said the proposal was intended to continue discussion after the bill failed on the House floor in the regular session. Members asked about the annual revenue generated, the trust fund’s other revenue sources, and whether the revenue would be replaced. DFA was asked to provide additional information on how withdrawals from the Medicaid trust fund are authorized and whether the legislature has oversight. The committee then approved the proposal for interim study and adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Two purchases were made without the required quotes, totaling around $21,000.
  • that purchases exceeding $10,000 were approved by the city council and purchase orders were used for
  • purchases exceeding $20, and the city records evidence of receipts of goods and services.
  • I wondered, looking at Table 9, your purchase of goods and services without purchase orders, I believe
  • The purchase order part of that does not affect federal funding.
Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee. Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work. The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it. Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Water Topics Overview Committee Jun 10th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • They purchase water from another water system.
  • Specifically, we built out a program that now today the private water industry is actually purchasing
  • One of their options was to upgrade their existing facility and then purchase water from Walsh Rural
  • Water District or purchase water from the city of Grafton.
  • Purchase water from the Grafton water plant and take some load off that Park River plant during those
Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • DPI does not track school meal debt at the individual school level.
  • do in schools.
  • And I'm sure this happens at other schools, other elementary schools as well.
  • kids in school, but there certainly are hungry kids going to school.
  • other schools?
Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Second, it gives residents a true opportunity to purchase their homes.
  • Second, it gives residents a true opportunity to purchase their homes.
  • <c> rent</c><00:02:00.200><c> has</c> Since they purchased, my rent has Since they purchased, my rent
  • </c> purchased is a is valuable. purchased is a is valuable.
  • </c><00:21:23.560><c> that</c> in response to the those purchases that in response to the those purchases
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: Lawmakers and manufactured housing residents discussed a Minnesota bill of rights for manufactured home park residents, aimed at addressing rent increases and private equity ownership of mobile home parks. Rep. Matt Norris and Sen. Liz Bolden described the proposal as a response to out-of-state investors buying parks, raising lot rents, and using enforcement gaps to pressure residents. The bill would define “reasonable rent,” give residents a stronger opportunity to purchase their parks when sold, and strengthen penalties and enforcement of existing protections. Bolden said it is a policy-only bill with no expected fiscal cost and noted it had bipartisan support in the Senate, with a plan to move it from the Commerce Committee to the Judiciary Committee and then to the Senate floor. Residents from Blaine International Village, Sylvan/Lake Elmo, and Cimarron described large rent increases, higher eviction rates, and what they characterized as predatory management practices by out-of-state private equity firms. Tammy Fry said her rent rose from $425 to $700 after her park was sold to Haven Park, while new residents were paying $1,000; Bree Mafee said Sylvan’s lot rent is $1,060 a month and has risen more than 35% in five years, with evictions increasing from about three a year to more than 40 since 2020. Speakers emphasized that manufactured housing residents are both homeowners and renters, and said the bill is needed to protect families from losing homes they own but cannot easily move. Several legislators voiced support. Sen. Judy Seeberger said she had seen predatory practices in Cimarron and would vote yes in committee. Sen. Jim Abeler, a Republican, said he had become aware of the issue and could not stay silent, calling the situation wrong and not a partisan matter. During questions, Bolden said the bill includes a reasonableness standard for lot rent increases, with an exception for health and safety needs, and said similar provisions exist in other states. She also said the bill stalled previously due to timing and moving pieces, not a substantive Senate defeat, and residents argued the issue is about housing stability rather than party politics.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Mar 24th, 2026

Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • They want to purchase this to build a fairground, an expo center, and some campsites.
  • Stations and convenience stores to purchase dyed diesel, not just one.
  • I can purchase it after hours.
  • that we needed to log those purchases and collect their exemption certificates.
  • These are quick, even in the urban area, just quick, self-service purchases.
Summary: The committee first met in executive session and took up House Bill 2280, a bill to address abandoned railroad rights-of-way in Missouri by assigning the state land surveyor the duty of surveying them over a 20-year period. Supporters said the bill would help clarify boundaries and ownership where old rail corridors have been abandoned and physical evidence of the centerline has disappeared. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal note and the possibility of shifting survey costs to railroads in the future. The committee voted 21-0 to do pass HB 2280. In public hearing, Representative Farnan presented House Bill 3014, a conveyance bill authorizing the sale of about 59 acres owned by Northwest Missouri State University to Nottoway County Economic Development for a fairground, expo center, and campsites. Members asked about the acreage and whether the bill directed a specific buyer, and the sponsor said the county group was the intended purchaser if it secures funding. No witnesses testified, and the hearing closed without action. The committee then heard House Bill 3392 from Representative Haley, which would remove the requirement that retailers and distributors keep Form 149 exemption certificates on file for dyed diesel sales at retail pumps. Haley and supporting witnesses from Geyer Oil, the Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Missouri Corn Growers said the current paperwork requirement is burdensome, especially for unmanned or rural stations, and had led to a large audit assessment against one company. Department of Revenue staff explained that the current law requires the form, that refunds are available through DOR if a retailer does not accept it, and that they were reviewing proposed amendment language to avoid unintended consequences. No vote was taken on HB 3392, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • school back into the public school.
  • change coming from the private school to the from the public school to the private school or will it
  • the school year.
  • and private schools and home schools.
  • public school.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • When people ask for more transparency around how to get an exception to a purchase of service policy
  • This includes schools, government agencies, health care providers, and employers that receive federal
  • We've purchased roughly 14,000 what we call go kits or go bags, containing the basics of things that
  • You have to have the local relationships built with your local OES department, with your local school
  • districts and schools to create individualized disaster responses for students with IEPs who may need
Keywords: 988, house, all
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Mar 16th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • What this does is it adds driving 20... ...in construction or school zones.
  • It was amended in the House to define active school zone as one where children are present and visible
  • One school in the Treasure Valley had two students hit by speeding vehicles in one year.
  • One school in the Treasure Valley had two students hit by speeding vehicles in one year.
  • Chairman, Senator Lent, if children are present and visible in that school zone, the act of driving 20
Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee approved the February 25, 2026 minutes and then heard several House bills and gubernatorial appointments. HB 681 would remove the statute of limitations for aggravated lewd conduct with a child and for producing sexually exploitative material; the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association supported it, and members discussed the seriousness of the crimes and the effect of fading memories. The committee voted to send HB 681 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard from Terry Kirkham for reappointment to the Pardons and Parole Commission and Paula Gray for reappointment to the Sexual Offender Management Board; both described their prior service, and the committee said it would vote on those appointments at a later meeting. Senator Lent presented HB 491, expanding Good Samaritan immunity to include mental health and suicide emergency first aid, and HB 492, adding a juvenile justice or adult misdemeanor probation representative to the POST Council. Both bills drew little opposition and were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. Senator Kaiser presented HB 522 on unmanned aircraft systems near correctional facilities; after testimony from a drone industry representative and others raising concerns about federal law, commercial flights, and enforcement, the committee voted to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than advance it directly. The committee also advanced HB 570, which adds driving 20 mph or more over the limit in active school or construction zones to reckless driving when children or workers are present and visible. Supporters cited work zone safety and crashes, while some senators questioned whether the new standard was too subjective; the bill still received a due pass recommendation. HB 548 would require reasonable suspicion before law enforcement stops or boards a boat under the Idaho Safe Boating Act; the Idaho Sheriffs Association opposed it, arguing current boat safety checks are mostly consensual and tied to a federal grant program, but the committee sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, HB 654 would add electronic storage device canines to the definition of police dogs for purposes of protecting them from mistreatment; an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force commander testified in support, and the committee advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation.