Transcript Highlights:

• and variety development program at Aberdeen.
• and programs in our Department of Soil and Water Systems.
• It's a tremendous program, and we make great efforts to try and maintain this and provide as much exposure
• And it is going to take a tremendous research program and all of the resources...
• And we ship lambs out of there today a month early.

Summary: The committee heard two main presentations. First, University of Idaho representatives Rob McQuaid, Matt Powell, and Dean Dennis Becker described the university’s land-grant mission and its work in agriculture, natural resources, extension, research, and workforce training. They highlighted the Morrill, Hatch, and Smith-Lever Acts; the university’s colleges and research stations; the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station; 4-H; the CAFE dairy research facility; the deep soil ecotron; the wildfire, forestry, and policy analysis programs; and the university’s role in veterinary, forestry, and agricultural education. Members asked about quagga mussels, New World screwworm, chronic wasting disease, federal and state funding cuts, and the status of the CAFE project. The university officials said they were willing to assist on invasive species issues, but emphasized not duplicating or diluting agency work, and they described significant impacts from federal funding delays and state cuts. No votes were taken. The committee then heard testimony from Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse on Idaho’s position regarding ICE’s 287(g) partnership programs. He argued that participation should remain voluntary and locally controlled, and explained the differences among the jail enforcement, warrant service officer, and task force models. He said local agencies already cooperate with ICE in limited ways, but mandatory participation could create staffing, liability, and community-trust problems. Members asked about costs, detention standards, administrative versus criminal warrants, liability exposure, and whether deputies lose local control under task force arrangements. Hulse said the programs vary in cost and complexity, that ICE housing standards can be burdensome, and that local sheriffs should decide based on resources and community needs. The committee also discussed the number of Idaho agencies currently participating and the compensation and exit provisions in the agreements. No formal action or vote was taken. In a later segment, the committee heard testimony from the Idaho Wool Growers Association and sheep producers on the long-running domestic sheep and bighorn sheep conflict. Stan Boyd reviewed prior legislation and litigation involving bighorn sheep transplants, notice requirements, and “hold harmless” protections for permittees, while Harry Solon described how forest closures and bighorn-related decisions reduced his family’s sheep operation and forced layoffs. The testimony focused on the economic and family impacts of the closures and lawsuits, and on the history of state efforts to protect grazing permittees. No committee action was recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Besides providing library services, they tend to provide early childhood education, after school programs
• They also have early childhood literacy programs such as Story Time, which tend to operate not only as
• The Cuesta Public Library has a business bridge program which provides free classes and trainings to
• And this is one of my favorites: The Hatch Library during their summer reading program has a children's
• programs like health services, job training, education, and sheltering that address immediate needs

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The role of Programs Manager at PSFA was my dream job and the highlight of my career.
• But that, I mean, the Severance Tax Bonding Program and the notes program specifically, which traditionally
• Our early intervention program has been connected with more families since the pandemic, trying to make
• those connections early so that our families know about our programming.
• We have worked for the past year, and when I say the past year, the Measurement and Verification Program

Transcript Highlights:

• The Medicaid Managed Care Program continues to be a challenge, and the public and LFC staff do not have
• When you look at new programs and new policy, there are some federal and national evaluation tools that
• to do this accounting, not only in this program but the SNAP program, and I was scratching my head.
• Until about the early 2030s, and then it about flatlines.
• Doing, and that was non-profit work in early childhood.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Program for the secondary and post-secondary leadership.
• intervention and requiring.
• There's a breakfast program, and there's also a lunch program, are currently getting artificial sweeteners
• sugars to be used in school lunch programs and breakfast programs across the state of Idaho.
• And what that does is it prevents local citizens, Idaho citizens, from winning.

Summary: The House convened with 65 members present, approved the journal, and received Senate Bill 1221, which was referred to the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including House Bills 502, 512, 494, 531, and 542, while House Bill 570 was re-referred to Judiciary, Rules and Administration. The House also introduced a number of new bills and resolutions, including measures on justifiable homicide, copyright/piracy repeals, court-rule review, LLC formation, short-term rentals, unauthorized workers, inspection requirements, the FAST Act, rangeland improvement, virtual education, income tax changes, the parental choice tax credit, indigent eligibility, patient immigration status, and a constitutional amendment on state-owned land. House Concurrent Resolution 26 supporting wildlife crossings was filed for printing. On the floor, House Concurrent Resolution 24 honoring the firefighters and engineer affected by the Coeur d'Alene brush fire incident passed 68-0, and House Bill 515 on school notification procedures for serious bullying incidents passed 68-0 after debate over whether it should also apply to private schools. House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on fire protection charges in the wildland-urban interface, passed 46-22. House Joint Memorial 9, urging Congress to reaffirm FLPMA for federal land exchanges, passed 69-0. House Bill 518, authorizing the Attorney General to take on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions when requested by local law enforcement, passed 68-0 with support from members who said it would strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. The House then returned House Bill 522 to committee due to a clerical error after the sponsor described it as a drone-restriction bill aimed at prison security. House Joint Memorial 10, supporting the use of natural sugar in school meal programs and aligning with the MAHA movement, passed by voice vote. House Bill 504, aimed at stopping lottery syndicates from bulk-buying tickets, passed 62-6. Announcements followed on legislative receptions, an ICAC presentation, Disability Advocacy Day, a Medicaid listening session, and committee meetings, and the House adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just one look at this beautiful program guide, and I think everybody should be on board with it.
• bonding together to actually improve and create our programs to be more robust.
• actually improve and create our programs to be more robust.
• And we trained up pre-service teachers early in their program—so freshmen, sophomore students, and even
• And it's currently—we're in our second year—and they're doing that right now as an after-school program

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Ed Kates, headmaster of Kootenai Classical Academy, describing the Hillsdale College charter school model and its emphasis on classical education, virtue development, Socratic discussion, phonics, limited technology use, constitutional history, and sports. He highlighted the school’s rapid growth, strong waitlists, spelling bee success, and student achievement, and answered questions about how new schools are founded, why some districts have declined the curriculum, the role of music, the purpose of education, and the school’s per-student cost. Committee members generally praised the school’s approach and discussed broader concerns about education focused too narrowly on jobs or testing. The committee then heard from Dr. Sally Brown of the Idaho Higher Education Literacy Partnership (I-HELP), joined by colleagues from NNU and Boise State. She explained that I-HELP works across Idaho’s higher education institutions to strengthen teacher preparation in the science of reading, revise literacy standards and assessments, and support literacy initiatives statewide. She described the partnership’s concept and competency guides, reliability and validity work on assessments, and a literacy learning lab at the College of Idaho that trains pre-service tutors and supports first-grade reading intervention. Members asked about collaboration with BYU-Idaho, whether the effort is improving teacher readiness, and how the state’s K-3 reading investments are working; Brown said the state is moving in the right direction but emphasized the need for continued teacher preparation, mentoring, and instructional coaching. No formal votes or committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE PROGRAMS AND THOSE PRISONS ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND THERE RECIDIVISM RATES WILL YIELD BETTER RESULTS
• PROGRAMMING AND ALL THAT ZERO INMATE IDLENESS.
• WE HAVE GIVEN INMATE MENTORS IN THOSE AREAS AND PRETTY INTENSIVE PROGRAMS ON THE SHORT SCALE AND THAT
• WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IP'S AND EARLY RELEASE?
• AND DANGEROUS PLACE AND I AM ALL ABOUT PROGRAMS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also added funding for infectious disease prevention, a dementia services program, and an epilepsy
• </c> prevention and a dementia services prevention and a dementia services program<01:56:28.239><c> and
• </c><02:04:09.360><c> program</c> strengthen um the um fraud and program strengthen um the um fraud and
• We have the and overdose prevention.
• Um uh operation and maintenance program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> early learning program. early learning program.
• And these programs span early learning, health and safety, food and nutrition, special needs and early
• And these programs span early for.
• And these programs span early learning,<01:16:35.040><c> health</c><01:16:35.280><c> and</c><01:16:35.520
• , special needs and early intervention<01:16:39.679><c> and</c><01:16:40.159><c> parenting</c><01:16:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and significantly bolsters funding to expand and increase support for Texas anti-gang programs around
• We met with agencies to better understand their programs and their functions, and then we prioritize.
• And the 287(g) program was one of those.
• And the 287 program was one of those.
• First and foremost, to participate in the 287(g) program.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several conference committee matters and resolutions. It granted the House request for a conference committee on House Bill 46 and adopted a conference report on Senate Bill 37, which was described as higher education governance reform, including stronger board authority, changes to faculty senates, general education requirements, and a new ombudsman office. Senators also adopted a large package of resolutions and HCRs by voice vote. A major focus was Senate Bill 12, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” whose conference report was adopted after extended questioning. The bill was described as giving parents more access to school materials and grievance procedures, requiring parental consent for student clubs, and restricting school district employees from assisting with social transitioning or related gender-identity instruction. Senators raised concerns about effects on students already socially transitioned and on parental rights in medical or psychological decisions; the author said the House language was retained in key areas and that districts would need policies and parent notification. The report passed 20-11. The Senate then adopted a resolution allowing the conference committee on Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, to go outside the bounds, and later adopted the budget conference report. Senators highlighted major funding for public education, property tax relief, public safety, health and human services, child care, water and transportation infrastructure, and the Texas Energy Fund. The budget discussion also covered higher education, mental health facilities, community attendant wages, rural hospitals, DFPS case management, child care assistance, and a study rider on TRS. The report passed unanimously, 30-0. Finally, the Senate suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 8 and adopted its conference report. The bill requires counties with jails or jail contracts to participate in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program, with sheriffs choosing among available models and counties receiving tiered grants to help cover costs. Supporters framed it as a public safety measure targeting criminal illegal aliens, while opponents questioned whether it would divert local resources and increase fear in immigrant communities. The report was adopted after debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sustainable Development to develop educational and outreach programs to promote understanding of the
• </c><01:59:27.599><c> It</c> health and nuisance prevention. It health and nuisance prevention.
• intervention and compassionate intervention and discourage<02:03:25.119><c> the</c><02:03:25.360><c>
• I run the aquaculture development program at the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
• I run the aquaculture development program at the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide free, compassionate, and comprehensive crisis intervention and mental health services to survivors
• A woman who has been brutally assaulted has a right to prevent fertilization and to prevent the conception
• That it did not prevent implantation. And then, Dr.
• One of our nurses educated her and her mom about sexually transmitted infection prevention and pregnancy
• prevention, and the child said... yes, I want all of that.

Bills: HB220 , HB783 , HB2240 , HB3336 , HB4202 , HB4449 , HB4904 , HB3441 , HB4284

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, HB 3336, alcoholic beverage tax credit, spent grain

Transcript Highlights:

• The RHT program with preventative care.
• care and the citizens this preventative care and the tools<00:15:50.480><c> related</c><00:15:50.800
• preventative medicine tool and it gets into actually telehealth.
• though it's for education, chronic care, and preventative health reasons.
• </c> and preventative health reasons. and preventative health reasons.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: A presenter from Fast Health Corporation described a proposed Kentucky Health Command System tied to Senate Bill 175, which would create a state-sanctioned AI platform for rural hospitals and telehealth. The company said the system would help rural residents get health information remotely, triage minor issues, and escalate more serious cases to Kentucky providers, with use cases including blood pressure, diabetes, maternity care, smoking cessation, and other preventive-care topics. The presenter argued the system would help rural hospitals compete with out-of-state telehealth companies and keep patients connected to local care. The presentation also emphasized a commercial model the sponsor said would generate new revenue through ads and branded interactions, with the bill reportedly directing 80% of that revenue to rural hospitals and 20% to the state to maintain the system. The presenter said the technology would augment, not replace, doctors and nurses, and claimed it could improve access and convenience in underserved areas. Committee members raised concerns about liability, whether the AI could provide medical advice, and whether there was evidence it had reduced emergency room visits; the presenter said the system could not give medical advice and acknowledged the technology is still very new. The sponsor of the bill said the goal was to help transform rural health care, reduce unnecessary ER use, and capture revenue that would otherwise go to commercial search engines and out-of-state companies. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion ended with questions about branding, loyalty, and the legal limits of the AI system.

Transcript Highlights:

• While it's too early to speak to the PUC's final decisions and some of the key Senate Bill 6 rulemakings
• through prevention, education, and protection.
• , water supply, alarm systems, and where applicable, explosion prevention and control measures.
• They detect issues early, they report that information out, and it ensures that first responders and
• morning or late afternoon and early evening time frames.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• four programs and can speak to their excellence.
• and early childhood offerings. infrastructure increases.
• mandated regular and short-term special education programs and services.
• Strategic Leadership Support Program, and includes $30 million and 28 FTEs.
• for counselors and social workers, and to expand enrollment in existing programs like TCHAT.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you see those two types of programs here: the targeted 2+2 programs and the newest thing, which is
• look at to see and help you plan for what major and degree program your student wants to go into and
• with multiple strategies, interventions, projects, and programs.
• And that's FGCU, took the principles and how we developed our programs.
• It is your degree program. The power of and.

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary held an informational hearing focused on how Florida’s public colleges and universities are aligning bachelor’s degree programs with workforce needs and improving student outcomes. Chancellor Kathy Hebda described Florida College System enrollment growth, the state college system’s workforce-oriented bachelor’s degrees, approval and accountability processes for those programs, and outcomes data showing strong completion and wage results, especially in health care. Emily Sykes of the Board of Governors outlined the State University System’s program review practices, performance-based funding metrics, strategic emphasis programs, and the MyFloridaFuture tool that lets students compare earnings, debt, and employment outcomes by major and institution. University and college leaders then described campus-level workforce initiatives. Florida Gulf Coast University highlighted employer-driven microcredentials, digital badges, internships, career fairs, service learning, and partnerships with regional employers. UCF discussed its career navigator requirements, major industry partnerships such as Lockheed Martin, nursing and faculty career-integration efforts, and a centralized career development center. Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida emphasized their bachelor’s programs, transfer pathways, teacher and nursing outcomes, military and defense-related workforce pipelines, cybersecurity training, and stackable credentials tied to regional labor needs. During member questions, senators asked how microcredentials and military experience translate into college credit, whether credentials transfer across institutions, and what legislators can do to help. Witnesses said the state’s common course and articulation systems already support transfer, and they encouraged continued legislative support for innovation, faster curriculum alignment, internships, and specialized transfer degrees. No bills were voted on, and the meeting ended with no public comment and an adjournment motion adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Program for secondary and post-secondary leadership.
• intervention and requiring.
• There's a breakfast program, and there's also a lunch program, are currently getting artificial sweeteners
• sugars to be used in school lunch programs and breakfast programs across the state of Idaho.
• And what that does is it prevents local citizens, Idaho citizens, from winning.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• dignity, protect public health and safety, and support a process that works for businesses and the public
• and Control.
• And then to your point about the early 90s, if you ever drive through some of the neighborhoods, and
• Ferrari and Lamborghini, and everything in between.
• supporting problem gambling prevention and treatment statewide.

Summary: The committee first considered the reappointment of Troy L. Campbell to the Arizona State Liquor Board. Campbell described his nearly 10 years of service, his role as chair since 2019, and his focus on fairness, public safety, and applying the law consistently. He answered questions about the board’s workload and authority, noting it hears roughly 40 to 50 cases a year and does not issue fines. With no public testimony, the committee voted 6-0 to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard several liquor and consumer-related bills. SB 1478, an annual liquor-policy cleanup bill, made technical changes to liquor statutes, including conforming the definition of cider to federal tax law and clarifying other terminology. The bill drew support from industry stakeholders and neutral testimony from the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. SB 1108 would require Swedish rounding of cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, with signage and enforcement provisions; an amendment removed an individual-item exemption and clarified tax calculations, and the bill passed as amended with support from business groups. SB 1205 would regulate private-property vehicle booting by setting signage, notice, fee, and recordkeeping requirements and making violations a misdemeanor; members raised concerns about appeals and signage on non-parking property, but the committee adopted a technical amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee also took up SB 1241, which would allow private permitting providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential projects without municipal or county approval. Supporters argued it would reduce delays and costs for homeowners and help cities focus on higher-priority work, while cities and counties opposed the bill on public-safety and local-control grounds, warning about private incentives and inspection quality. After adopting an amendment granting immunity to municipalities that rely on private providers, the committee recommended the bill do pass as amended by a 5-2 vote, with some members explaining their votes and asking for further stakeholder work. Finally, the committee heard SB 1366, which creates a Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee to review towing fees, standards, insurance, background checks, and related DPS policies, and to report recommendations by the end of 2026. Supporters said the study would help address inconsistent standards and consumer concerns before permanent changes are made. Some members objected that the study committee did not include minority-party appointments, but the sponsor said that could be addressed later. The committee adopted a strike-everything amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee then began SB 1431, a housing-design bill limiting municipal design standards and restrictions on certain shared features, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate and no final action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• QUESTION ONE AND TWO QUESTION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TYPES OF PROGRAM PUBLIC, NONPROFIT FOR PROFIT AND
• AND ALSO TERMINATION OF A PROGRAM.
• DIRECTOR AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN LINE 69 OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
• WHO TAKE THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN ARE UNABLE TO FULFILL THEIR DREAM AND I SEE THAT.
• PEOPLE WHO TAKE THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN ARE UNABLE TO FULFILL THEIR DREAM AND I SEE THAT.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> in those beds and treatment programs, in those beds and treatment programs, let's<00:38:56.560>
• my LSAT soon and hopefully getting into the JD Flex program.
• of those programs and are grateful for that partnership.
• for</c><01:38:19.600><c> that</c> those programs and are grateful for that those programs and are grateful
• And such data shall include program.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 2095, which would provide supplemental appropriations for the Judiciary for the 2025-2027 biennium. Judiciary Administrative Director Brandon Kimura testified in strong support and outlined a request for about $6.4 million in supplemental operating funds, plus four permanent full-time position conversions. He grouped the request into security, services to court users, and staffing needs, including $3.25 million for supplemental armed private security at judiciary facilities statewide, nearly $200,000 for cybersecurity staffing and support, restoration of funding for substance use treatment purchase-of-service contracts, restoration of funding for the Office of Public Guardian on Kauaʻi, salary commission funding, a Kona court operations position, and two Court-Appointed Special Advocates positions converted from temporary to permanent. He also described five capital improvement requests totaling $55.4 million, led by $30 million for construction of a new South Kohala courthouse, $1.2 million each for air conditioning upgrades in Hilo and Kauaʻi, $15 million for elevator upgrades at Kahumanu Hale, and $8 million in lump-sum bond funds for emerging projects. Several organizations testified in support, including Parents and Children Together and the True Cost Coalition. Supporters emphasized the importance of the purchase-of-service funding for domestic violence and substance use treatment services and said the restoration would return funding to pre-COVID levels and help providers maintain capacity. Kimura explained that the Judiciary often shifts funds among contracts during the year to avoid service interruptions, but that the reduced funding has caused delays and operational problems for providers and probationers. Members asked detailed questions about the capital projects and operating requests. Representative Shimizu asked for more information on the lump-sum bond funds and the elevator project, and Kimura explained that the Kahumanu Hale request covers four remaining elevator shafts after earlier funding addressed the first five elevators. Representative Cochran asked about the absence of Maui County projects, and Kimura said the Judiciary is still planning for its older Maui facilities with DAGS. Chair Tarnas questioned the need for armed private guards and discussed whether court security should be prioritized within the Department of Law Enforcement; Kimura said the Judiciary needs additional personnel now and has not asked DLE to deprioritize other missions, though the chair suggested further coordination between the agencies. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.