Transcript Highlights:

• And then we bring a lot of marketing and messaging into that school.
• In the sports arena, we invest in high school sports, so we are the primary sponsor of high school athletics
• In the sports arena, we invest in high school sports, so we are the primary sponsor of high school athletics
• So we do a lot of education to high school athletes and beyond.
• We work with the School Nutrition Association across the state of Idaho.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee approved minutes from February 26 and March 3, 2026, then heard three House bills. House Bill 630 would move existing administrative-rule language on airborne control permits for predatory animals into statute without changing policy; the sponsor said the permits are free, limited to private property, and used for livestock, wildlife, or domestic animal protection rather than sport hunting. House Bill 631 would similarly codify current rule language on certificates of free sale for Idaho products, with the fee capped at $100 per certificate. Both bills drew no opposing testimony and were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. The committee also heard House Bill 826 on the Idaho Honey Commission. The sponsor said the bill shifts regulatory authority from the commission to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, cleans up code, and reflects current practice under an existing memorandum of understanding. Testimony from the Idaho Honey Industry Association supported the bill, emphasizing the importance of the honey sector and noting that hobbyist beekeepers are not affected. Members asked about hobbyist thresholds, pesticide-related bee registration, and penalties; the sponsor and department explained that hobbyists remain exempt from commission funding, bee site registration is handled elsewhere in department rules, and the $10,000 penalty already exists while the misdemeanor provision is being removed. The committee passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. After the bills, Dairy West gave a presentation on its regional checkoff program covering Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Speakers described producer-funded promotion, research, school nutrition, sports sponsorships, retail promotion, farmer relations, sustainability outreach, and export development. They said Idaho remains the largest dairy-producing state in the region, with major exports to Mexico, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, and emerging markets elsewhere. In response to questions, they said the industry relies heavily on immigrant labor and that the organization is not a lobbying group. The committee took no action on the presentation and adjourned after the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eagle High School won the girls' state championship. Paisley's pretty excited.
• Staffing in our schools.
• These are nurses, school psychologists, counselors.
• It transfers flexibility and creates transparency in our schools.
• It transfers flexibility and creates transparency in our schools.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the access to abortion medication bill that was Senator Bateman's, and the use of mobile devices in schools
• it costs to educate the 1.1 million kids who are in public school.
• We really increased allocations for school nurses and school counselors.
• We really increased allocations for school nurses and school counselors.
• about, you know, my school still only has a quarter of a nurse or a half a school counselor.

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a media availability focused on the late-session agenda, including the House policy cutoff, a supplemental budget, and the House Finance Committee hearing on the proposed “millionaire’s tax”/income tax measure. They said several Senate bills had moved or were moving quickly, including a face mask bill, an abortion medication access bill, a mobile devices in schools bill, a driver privacy/personal safety data protections bill, and a West Coast Health Collaborative bill. They also said the supplemental budget would emphasize food, shelter, health care, continuity of government, and other core services. A major topic was allegations of fraudulent or bot-generated remote sign-ins on the millionaire’s tax hearings. Leaders said remote testimony and sign-ins have broadened public participation, but misuse of the system is a problem that will be reviewed over the interim. They said the goal is to preserve easy public access while improving accuracy, and that the sign-in numbers should be treated cautiously because the system is informational rather than equivalent to voting. They also said there had been no direct contact with state Supreme Court justices about the tax bill. The leaders defended the need for the income tax proposal by arguing that state spending growth reflects inflation, population growth, the McCleary school-funding changes, and major investments in child care, higher education, Medicaid dental care, IT systems, and special education. They said the Legislature is trying to balance the tax code and that they do not support taxing incomes below $1 million, though they would not rule out future legislative changes decades from now. On tort claims against the state, they said Senator Dhingra’s arbitration bill has advanced the discussion but is unlikely to move further this session, and that broader liability reductions may require constitutional changes or prevention-focused investments. They also discussed long-term care workforce pressures, saying Washington is better positioned than many states but still faces an aging-population challenge. On the millionaire’s tax process, they said the House Finance Committee is expected to increase tax reductions in the bill, with leaders aiming to resolve differences with the Senate without going to conference if possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• He dropped out of school at the age of 14 to work in the fields before enlisting in the Army. in the
• Speaker. to recognize SciFair Independent School District.
• HB 4 by Buckley, relating to the assessment of public school students.
• School accountability and actions and proceedings challenging the operations of the public school system
• Program for certain. school districts to support those measures.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you, or optometrists, in your schooling, trained on live human eyes?
• Those two schools are actually covered by the same accrediting board.
• And you gave the example of a public school teacher.
• You gave the example of a public school teacher abusing children.
• We haven't had one incident of it in our school system.

Summary: The committee first continued the public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ authority to perform certain office-based procedures. Supporters, including an optometrist from rural Missouri, argued the bill would improve access to care in counties without resident ophthalmologists, reduce wait times and travel burdens, and better align scope of practice with optometry training. Opponents, including representatives of osteopathic physicians, raised concerns about patient safety, the lack of live-human-eye training in Missouri, and whether the bill would actually direct services to rural areas. The hearing then closed on HB 2897 without a vote. The committee next heard House Bill 2353 on interior designers’ licensure and sign-and-seal authority. The sponsor and supporters said the bill modernizes the profession, moves oversight under the state’s architecture/engineering board, and would let licensed interior designers stamp their own non-structural work after education, testing, and experience requirements. Supporters emphasized workforce retention, consumer savings, and that interior designers are trained in fire/life safety, ADA, and code compliance. Opponents from engineering groups said they were still negotiating language but objected to provisions that could be read to require interior designers for broad categories of buildings or blur boundaries with architecture and engineering; they asked for clearer scope language and continued collaboration. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate outside the standard foster care licensing system under a new oversight board. The sponsor said the bill is intended to address a shortage of foster placements while allowing Christian homes to maintain their religious mission, with background checks, inspections, and reporting still required. Supporters from Christian child care agencies said the bill would preserve religious freedom and expand placement capacity. Opponents, including child advocacy and child abuse prevention groups and several legislators, argued the proposal would create a separate, less accountable system for vulnerable children, weaken state oversight, and risk repeating past abuse scandals; they said existing licensing rules already allow faith-based providers to participate. The discussion was extensive, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• do, that Christian schools do, and other private schools do as well.
• off the floor where we included Catholic schools into the funding for Jewish schools around the state
• School board members always had good cause, from my understanding.
• from dismissing a student based on academic performance while the school is under school improvement
• umpire schools.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So maybe that's an excusable absence like we used to do in school. No, okay.
• What we used to do in school? No.
• Because you can't vote late on forums. what we used to do in school? No.
• the representative and me when we visited the school.
• Most importantly, I want to recognize the students of Hadley Elementary School.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a public hybrid hearing with several late-file bills and a large turnout. The main topics were symbolic designations and local property/lease matters: bills to designate the American lobster as the official crustacean of the Commonwealth, asparagus as the official state vegetable, and a Waltham bill concerning the Veterans Memorial Ice Rink lease and right of first refusal. Senator Howard also testified on a Lowell bill making a limited language change to facilitate redevelopment of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINK) at UMass Lowell. Testimony on the lobster bill emphasized the industry’s cultural and economic importance to coastal Massachusetts, its sustainability efforts, and its role in working waterfronts and the seafood economy. The asparagus bill drew especially enthusiastic support from Hadley Elementary students, teachers, local farmers, and legislators, who described asparagus as central to western Massachusetts agriculture, identity, and civic education. The Waltham rink bill was presented as necessary to protect a heavily used community and youth hockey facility after major city investment, while committee members noted concerns about privatization and affordability of ice time. The Lowell bill was described as a narrow technical fix to remove a reversionary clause that could impede a major redevelopment project. Committee members generally expressed support or favorable reactions to the proposals, with several lighthearted comments about lobster and asparagus. The hearing concluded after testimony ended, and a motion was made and seconded to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I used to love to read books to school children on Read Across America Day.
• Two of the players here with us today played high school football at Menlo-Atherton High School with
• Beyond his work on the school board, Mr.
• Following his work on the school board, Mr. Cassidy was then elected.
• One of his favorite stories was that when he was at James Lick High School, one of the oldest high schools

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several floor recognitions and ceremonial presentations. Senator Perez presented SR 81, declaring March 2, 2026, as Read Across America Day. Senators Choi and Rubio spoke in support, emphasizing literacy, libraries, volunteer reading programs, and the importance of diverse books and student engagement. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call vote, 37-0, and Perez introduced guests from the California Teachers Association. The chamber then honored the 50th anniversary of the California Conservation Corps, with Senator Laird leading the recognition and several senators praising the Corps’ service, conservation work, disaster response, and job-training role for young adults and veterans. The Senate also welcomed the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Agriculture Leadership Class and the College of San Mateo Bulldogs, including the 2025 state championship football team and a coach from the women’s softball team. Later, the Senate confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Senator Wahab presented SCR 125 recognizing the beginning of Ramadan, with Senator Becker offering supportive remarks about an iftar dinner and the meaning of the holiday. The resolution was adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate then took up several adjournments in memory, including Stephen Cassidy, John Joseph Zoria, Crystal Schoenfelder, and Belinda Baraghani, with multiple senators sharing personal tributes to their public service, community leadership, and mentorship. The session concluded with remarks on Ramadan and the Senate entering recess, with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the city-type school districts are not even offering it now.
• They can learn whether it’s parent-taught or whether it’s the school district doing it.
• My name is Tanya Hossite, and I am representing Phillips Driving School.
• My husband and I own Phillips Driving School. We are strongly opposed to House Bill 628.
• Kids are busy when they’re in high school. They have sports. They have music.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh while we were able to, we tried working with the school, we ultimately had to release him early
• ,</c><00:05:44.720><c> we</c> working with the the school, we working with the the school, we ultimately
• It puts some burden on the school to work with the student to try and come up with extra tutoring or
• whatever, but unless it causes an undue hardship on the school, they're required to do it.
• whatever, but unless it causes an undue hardship on the school, they're required to do it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He sings bass in his school choir, and he plays the cello.
• After high school graduation, she will attend flight school, Marley. Finn Meekam is from Eagle.
• He enjoys music and sings in his high school choir.
• After high school graduation, she will attend flight school, Marley. Finn Meekam is from Eagle.
• He enjoys music and sings in his high school choir.

Summary: The Senate convened with 32 members present, approved the journal, and received communications including the designation of Brian Merrill as a substitute senator for District 23. Senators also adopted a consent request to read petitions, resolutions, and memorials by number and title only, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 120 was introduced and referred to Judiciary and Rules for printing. Committee reports were received on several measures, including enrolled Senate Bill 1222 and Senate Joint Memorial 108, and multiple bills were reported out for second reading or referral, such as SB 1276, SB 1291, SB 1292, SB 1293, and HB 613. The Senate also received House-passed bills and referred them to the appropriate committees, including HB 528, 521, 498, 539, 516, 522, 635, 594, and 610. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1242, a cleanup bill for the Idaho Potato Commission, by a 35-0 vote, and SB 1243, which removed obsolete references to the Idaho One Plan, also by 35-0. The Senate then passed HB 514, allowing cosmetology students to take licensing exams after completing 80% of required hours, and HB 515, which removed an unused state bullying-reporting requirement while strengthening parent notification when suspensions occur; both passed 35-0. The chamber also passed SB 1244, repealing outdated regional library system statutes, by unanimous consent using the same roll call vote. The Senate next took up SB 1261, which revises PERSI re-employment rules so retired members appointed or elected to certain offices can serve without losing benefits; it passed 35-0 and was declared an emergency measure with an effective date. After the floor business, the Senate recessed for page graduation and held a lengthy recognition program for the pages, including remarks about their future plans and a musical performance. The meeting concluded with announcements and adjournment until 11:00 a.m. the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• He graduated from Globe High School.
• I would never have thought of coming out at school.
• Including our schools.
• But instead, the Tolson Union High School District said, But instead, the Tolson Union High School District
• So I'm disappointed in the Tolson Union School District.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 90% of Fayette County kids are in public school.
• Over 90% of Fayette County kids are in public school.
• It's my interest and yours in school.
• And I will say that I think by and large Fayette County does have a great school system.
• And I will say that I think by and large Fayette County does have a great school system.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:08 Infrastructure Grant Program 00:00:45 SB 76 Discussion 00:25:50 SB 76 Vote 00:31:55, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, so it began with an informational presentation from Dr. Kristen Goodell, executive director of LifeKY, about innovation infrastructure and a proposed grant program to support life sciences and other startup facilities. She argued that Kentucky’s research investments only translate into jobs and companies if startups have access to physical lab and equipment space, and said shared facilities can serve many companies over time. Goodell described LifeKY’s Northern Kentucky facility as a proof of concept, noting it has attracted companies from other states and Japan, secured a Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership, and could be replicated elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Members asked about university pipelines, local talent development, sustainability, and how the grant program would measure return on investment; Goodell emphasized public-private partnerships, earned revenue, philanthropy, internships, and STEM programming as part of the model. The committee then took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, which would limit school board occupational license tax increases by raising the population threshold for such increases from 300,000 to 500,000. Bledsoe said the bill was intended to respond to Fayette County’s recent tax controversy, restore public trust, and provide stability for employees, employers, and the school system. He argued that occupational taxes affect many commuters who work in Fayette County but live elsewhere, and said the measure would give time for community buy-in before any future increase. Supportive comments came from Senator Nunn and others, while Senator Boswell asked about the tax rate and cautioned against local tax increases offsetting state income tax reductions. After discussion, the committee called the roll on SB 76. The bill advanced on a roll-call vote, with Senator Armstrong explaining a no vote because he did not want to take tools away from local government and preferred local control. The transcript indicates the measure moved forward from committee after the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the same goes for high schools and ESDs.
• or through our outreach with the schools and OSPI.
• nursing schools, we serve much more diverse folks than the other nursing schools.
• This involves high school students who are going to be working toward high school credits but have work
• We're intending to open that up to high school students in the area.

Summary: The work session focused first on Washington’s apprenticeship system, especially building trades programs and support services. Labor and Industries staff explained how registered apprenticeship works in the state, including the role of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, the requirements for paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and the difference between apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship. Panelists emphasized that apprenticeship is tied to actual jobs and training agents, and that many waitlists reflect a shortage of job openings and employer participation rather than a lack of interest. They also discussed youth apprenticeship, the growth of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and the use of Career Bridge and L&I’s database to help people find programs. Representatives asked whether the state should expand apprenticeship programs and how people can find openings. Speakers said more programs alone would not solve the backlog without more employers signing on as training agents and more apprenticeship utilization on projects. The panel also highlighted the Constructed Career Initiative, a grant-funded navigation and support program that helps people enter and stay in building trades apprenticeships through outreach, case management, and wraparound aid such as transportation, tools, and work clothes. A related nonprofit, Build Up, described similar support services, including prison-based boot and PPE programs and assistance for reentry participants. The panel said these services are especially important because apprentices often face unstable income, housing, food, and transportation barriers. The panel also discussed House Bill 2084 and the new Construction Training Pathway Oversight Committee, which is examining construction training in correctional facilities and how to create clearer pathways from prison-based training to apprenticeship, college, or work. Speakers said the committee is still in its early stages and will report to the legislature. The session ended with committee members thanking the panel and noting the importance of support services and referral networks for apprentices. The meeting then resumed at Renton Technical College, where college leaders and faculty discussed serving non-traditional students. The college reported strong enrollment growth, a median student age of 30, a diverse student body, and high job placement rates, while also noting significant budget cuts and program reductions from the prior year. Health care and early childhood education programs were highlighted, including efforts to expand access through hybrid scheduling, evening and Saturday classes, Spanish-language offerings, and in-person wraparound support for admissions, financial aid, and registration. Faculty said these changes were driven by student data and were aimed at helping working parents, English learners, and other non-traditional students complete credentials and enter family-wage careers.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 461 ensures that families facing school attendance challenges are supported.
• AB 461 ensures that families facing school attendance challenges receive the support they need rather
• job, helps children succeed in school, and helps the mental health of the family.
• They're happening in our districts, in our schools, in our streets.
• emergency seizure medications to children in school when needed.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We couldn't agree more, but if kids aren't attending school, they'll miss out on that future.
• </c> School has grown to serve four schools School has grown to serve four schools on<00:32:00.960><c
• 18.600><c> on</c> additional 305 students at 27 schools on additional 305 students at 27 schools on aahu
• to recognize those schools whose efforts are really exceptional in this area.
• Richardson School of Law to Larry Richardson School of Law to Larry okinaga<00:40:12.119><c> at</c><00

Keywords: House Agenda:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we have in front of us here with House Joint Memorial 10 is that the federal school lunch rules
• It doesn't regulate parents, school districts, or individual medical needs.
• It's purely just a request to Congress to prioritize real sugar in school lunch.
• It's strictly just school lunches, correct? Ms. Parrott. Mr.
• This would only address, you know, what's on the tray in the school lunch.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The committee began by approving the minutes from January 28, 2026. The main item on the agenda was House Joint Memorial 10, introduced by Representative Crane and supported by Samantha Parrott of the Snake River Sugar Beet Growers Association and grower Gayland Lee. Testimony described the memorial as a request to Congress, HHS, and USDA to prioritize real sugar from Idaho sugar beets in school lunch programs instead of chemical sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose. Supporters emphasized Idaho’s sugar beet industry, rural jobs, and the idea that the memorial is a nonbinding statement that does not regulate parents, school districts, vending machines, or individual dietary needs. Representative Leavitt asked for clarification that the memorial applies only to school lunches and not vending machines or other school food sales, and witnesses confirmed that distinction. Gayland Lee added comments about sugar’s uses in food and argued that replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners can sometimes increase calories in reformulated products. After testimony and no further questions, Representative Diger moved to send H.J.M. 10 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote with no opposition. Before adjournment, the chair announced a scheduling change for Monday: the committee will meet across the hall at 1:30 p.m. to accommodate the local government committee, and it will review six Idaho State Department of Agriculture dockets, with agendas to be sent out that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't even imagine her disappointment when she gets to the middle school and high school level and
• I played in Catholic schools. I played in private schools. I played against public schools.
• I played in Catholic schools. I played in private schools. I played against public schools.
• So in high school, he played in high school, I gather, right?
• I was an average high school swimmer on my high school swim team.

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a lot of other schools that would love to take our place if we didn't choose to compete.
• </c> them was working at the Carlson school them was working at the Carlson school um<00:21:18.240><c
• </c> our medical school and our academic our medical school and our academic medical<01:05:20.480><c>
• : The law school, the veterinary school, and public policy are all very strong.
• , working on building more, better schools in the K-12 space.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our school system.
• after-school care.
• , of funding school meals.
• Our schools aren't better.
• This includes common school funding, which is traditional public schools, not charter schools, as well

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification