Transcript Highlights:

• But the recent state interpretation of the Business and Professions Code definition of contractor, and
• But the recent state interpretation of the Business and Professions Code, definition of contractor, and
• If other states, California-like states, wanted to form a different compact, that door would also be
• I know Washington State has expressed interest.
• Even the state of Washington—one senator has introduced a bill to create such a thing—but even Washington

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a lengthy agenda of Senate bills, with most measures ultimately advancing on party-line or broad bipartisan votes after substantial testimony and several amendments. Early in the hearing, SB 418 by Sen. Menjivar was presented as a health access bill to codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and require coverage for up to a 12-month supply of medically approved hormone therapy; supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care amid federal threats, while there was no opposition testimony. The committee later also took up SB 456, which would exempt muralists from contractor licensing requirements for commissioned fine art murals; supporters said recent enforcement had chilled mural projects and harmed artists and communities, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 641, part of the wildfire response package, and SB 774, a sunset review bill for the Department of Real Estate and Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers, also advanced with support and no opposition. SB 775 and SB 776, sunset extensions for the behavioral sciences, psychology, and optometry boards, passed after witnesses described technical changes and the need to keep the boards operating. SB 777, dealing with abandoned cemeteries, drew testimony from local governments, industry, and counties; after amendments removed a local takeover mandate and shifted the bill toward a stakeholder working group and study process, opposition softened or was withdrawn and the bill moved forward to Local Government. SB 790, on interstate reciprocity for online higher education, generated the most debate, with supporters arguing California students and institutions need stronger consumer protections and access to the national reciprocity framework, while opponents said the bill’s terms conflicted with the existing compact; it passed as amended to Appropriations after committee members emphasized continued work on student protections. The consent calendar, including SB 389 and SB 861, was also approved, and the committee adjourned after additional vote changes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the state representative from the fourth legislative district in Hopkins County.
• I'm the state My name is Wade Williams.
• I'm the state representative<00:01:35.920><c> from</c><00:01:36.159><c> the</c><00:01:36.479><c> fourth
• It's just part of the energy or the demand charge or whatever it is. It's not a separate line item.
• </c> by Washington. by Washington.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:02 HB 398 Discussion 01:01 HB 398 Roll Call Vote 16:09 Chair Comments 18:05, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These businesses work with energy efficiency programs to provide customers around the state with energy-efficient
• Mark Fenstermaker for Valley Clean Energy. Oppose unless amended for the reasons stated by Mr.
• I'm on behalf of Golden State Clean Energy in support. I'm sorry, I'm Jim Wood.
• Over the past decade, the state has added more than 30 gigawatts of new clean energy.
• Over the past decade, the state has added more than 30 gigawatts of new clean energy capacity.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , solar energy, or geothermal energy by the State Tax Commission.
• of the United States.
• Currently, the state of Idaho and the state of Wyoming are already doing this.
• No, I'm sorry, the state of Utah and the state of Wyoming are already doing this.
• And if there's a conflict between state and local ordinance, then the state is the authority.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and pledge, approved the journal, and received several communications, including substitute legislator designations and gubernatorial appointments to the Idaho Lottery Commission and State Building Authority. Members also made brief announcements and introductions before moving into committee reports and the day’s floor calendar. The chamber advanced a number of bills and resolutions through reading and referral, including measures on the Idaho Child Care Program, Health and Human Services appropriations, elections, development impact fees, hazardous waste, and several House concurrent resolutions and joint memorials. On final consideration, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1285 on occupational licensure for nonpublic school diplomas, Senate Bill 1286 on consumer protections for veterans benefits, Senate Bill 1323 on enforcement of contracts involving gold and silver specie, Senate Bill 1338 on allowing a portion of idle state funds to be invested in gold and silver bullion, and Senate Bill 1342 establishing a limited right for households to keep hens for egg production. The Senate also passed House Bill 531 updating epinephrine delivery system language for schools, House Bill 518 expanding authority for the Attorney General in human trafficking cases, House Bill 512 reinstating an open-book jurisprudence exam for land surveyors, House Bill 551 correcting urban renewal-related property tax treatment for fire and ambulance districts, House Bill 594 codifying a Supreme Court ruling on distribution of late property tax fees and interest, and House Bill 587 clarifying continuous funding for rangeland improvement programs. Debate on several measures included concerns about local control, continuous spending, and oversight, but each bill ultimately received majority support. The Senate reordered the third-reading calendar and then adjourned until Monday, March 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• That position is funded by both the state and the state and covers Valley and Boise counties.
• Why did I put state legislators in there?
• And since the state lost them, the state should pay instead of the county. Follow up. Go ahead.
• Representative Boyle, does the state have the ability to ask reimbursement from another state then, to
• It's our prisoner, our state prisoner, that escapes and goes to another state and has to be collected

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary recommendation is to establish the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan as a state initiative
• Obviously, I'm in here in a space with that background from Washington State.
• Washington state has a solid record of wanting to invest in quality early learning programming.
• We see some of the most complex and underserved children and youth in the state of Washington.
• In 2024, we served over 800 youth in Washington state across multiple counties.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on recommendations from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. Tisha Kirshbaum of the Health Care Authority described the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan, a prenatal-to-25 system-of-care framework meant to reduce fragmentation, improve coordination across multiple state agencies, and expand early, community-based behavioral health supports. Members asked about duplication among agencies, simplification of the system, and upstream services such as community health workers, school-based supports, and crisis access. The committee then heard House Bill 2429, which would direct the governor and state agencies to align with the Washington Thriving plan, create an executive coordination officer and leadership council, extend the work group, and require broader alignment by state, tribal, local, and nonprofit entities. The bill received strong support from the governor’s office, the Health Care Authority, parents, youth, providers, and advocates, while a few testifiers raised concerns about government overreach, cost, or the need to address non-psychiatric causes of distress. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2364, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Work First Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force and updates the related advisory council to align with the state’s 10-year plan to dismantle poverty. Staff and the prime sponsor said the bill reflects the evolution of the poverty-reduction effort and adds agencies such as the Department of Revenue, Health Care Authority, and Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Testimony from DSHS and advocates was uniformly supportive, emphasizing bipartisan collaboration and the need to update statute to match current work. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2171 on supporting foster youth. The bill would create an endangered foster youth alert system, require county rapid-response protocols, establish a foster youth empowerment account, create an oversight board through the Ombuds office, and expand training for foster parents and child welfare workers. The prime sponsor and several advocates described the bill as a response to lived experience and a way to improve accountability and long-term support. DCYF said it supports the intent but raised legal and cost concerns, and some youth advocates warned that public alerts could increase risk or trauma for youth who run away from unsafe placements. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2314, which would create a pilot allowing certain community-based clients with developmental disabilities to receive dental care at residential habilitation centers. Supporters said the bill would use existing dental capacity to address severe access gaps and long waits in the community, while opponents from disability advocacy groups argued it would pull people back into institutional settings instead of building community-based dental capacity. Testimony on the bill was mixed, and no final committee action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the streets of our state, across our state, and working with citizens to bring some sanity and common
• It also requires, as has been stated, the Secretary of State to provide important guidance in the form
• And I understand those concerns, and a lot of states—Washington and Oregon—you know, their time… frame
• As the Assemblymember mentioned, OVR Plus has been adopted in 13 states and Washington, D.C., and implementation
• For example, launch costs were $148,000 in Washington, $306,000 in Washington, D.C. dollars in Colorado

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of state agencies.
• With state agencies.
• We would join 45 states.
• State.
• to the state?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So we may may be trying to get some language in there that allows us to the differencing coding code.
• So the code, the code, the Florida building code is is widely recognized at to be the strongest in the
• plus is adopted in some areas of the state that every area, the state.
• is State Farm National Carrier.
• market interest into your state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our state and the common good of Minnesota.
• Whereas in 1984, the state of Minnesota established a sister state relationship with Taiwan, and Minnesota
• Whereas, law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the state of Minnesota, and I recognize
• market for United States soybeans and corn.
• United States Code Title 22558.

Transcript Highlights:

• bright light with warning alarms signaling trouble coming from Republicans and Donald Trump in Washington
• Huge cuts to health care and food programs, and shifting costs down to state and local governments and
• Energy costs are on the rise because Republicans canceled clean power projects.
• Energy costs are on the labor shortages.
• They're only interested in retribution against a state that doesn't support Donald Trump.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Mike Hanky of People's Energy Cooperative.
• </c> receive direct support from the state receive direct support from the state which<00:48:30.800><
• </c><00:48:52.359><c> financial</c> state by the state providing financial state by the state providing
• </c><00:49:23.559><c> really</c> many have had is does the state really many have had is does the state
• </c> me that they had approached the state me that they had approached the state regarding<00:59:58.280

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have other states taken similar action? Yeah, other states have enacted regulations.
• And we have been waiving state law after state law for development as well as... ...waiving state law
• State agencies have issues.
• State statute is clear.
• operate in this state.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• we think will support energy self-sufficiency in the state.
• And in closing, Mark Glick, my last paragraph of the Hawaii State Energy Office, said in PGB's final
• You are going to state office of energy.
• in</c><01:01:19.280><c> PGB's</c><01:01:20.160><c> final</c> State Energy Office, said in PGB's final
• State Energy Office, said in PGB's final environmental<01:01:21.280><c> income</c><01:01:21.680><c>

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3322 relating to law enforcement. Chairs recommended adopting amendments from the Department of Law Enforcement that would exempt plainclothes officers from identification requirements, limit conspicuous agency markings to vehicles used in immigration enforcement operations, and allow a plainclothes officer to wear a mask when within eyesight of an unmasked officer from the same agency while performing official duties. Although there was an initial quorum issue, both committees ultimately voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation and advance the bill as amended. The next major item was SB 3333 relating to property tax treatment for certain housing. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from a Maui County real property tax board member and a representative of Nali Maui, who described homeowners in affordable housing being taxed at much higher rates when exemptions were missed or when resale restrictions kept values below market. The committees recommended passing the bill with amendments, including a deferred effective date of April 19, 2042, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also heard SB 2422 on a pro housing score program for counties, SB 2981 on eliminating minimum off-street parking requirements in urban districts, SB 2007 on county land use boundary amendments, SB 3028 on restructuring the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system, SB 3033 on public petitions for review of beach structures, and SB 2434 on electric vehicle infrastructure. SB 2422 drew support with a request for flexibility and an appeals process for counties facing extraordinary circumstances; the chair’s recommendation was to pass it with amendments and note a $200,000 implementation study request, which was adopted. SB 2981 received strong support from housing and transportation advocates and was advanced unamended, while SB 2007 drew opposition from the Sierra Club and discussion about the Land Use Commission’s limited enforcement tools and the number of approved but unbuilt units. SB 3028 received mixed testimony, with support for the marginal-rate change but concerns about earmarking and blanks in the bill, and SB 3033 was supported as an early-warning mechanism for erosion-threatened coastal structures, though OPSD said it should not be the regulatory decision-maker. SB 2434 prompted concern about whether utility capacity can support EV infrastructure goals, with the chair citing a recent report suggesting transmission and distribution constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• , cannot use their state university or state college-issued identification as the ID that... ...or state
• tuition, paying in-state tuition versus out-of-state?
• than becoming in-state tuition, paying in-state tuition versus out-of-state tuition. Senator Grall.
• So again, back to New York, California, and several other states like Oregon, Washington, Connecticut
• State University.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and pledge, and included a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a doctor of the day, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to special order business, with several bills temporarily postponed before taking up a series of measures on health care, public records, cybersecurity, court clerks, trademarks, septic permits, and elections. The first major bill, CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, would require hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, train staff, designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment, and have AHCA publish scores and adopt minimum standards. Senator Harrell said the bill was intended to ensure emergency rooms are prepared for children, and it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which protects victim identities and temporarily exempts the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim from disclosure, after questions about access for victims of police misconduct; it passed 33-4. The chamber then approved CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, after adopting an amendment and an amendment to the amendment that kept the program within Florida Digital Service and extended the grant-award timeline; Harrell said it would help local governments defend against ransomware and hacking, and it passed 37-0. CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments that let clerks retain more excess revenue and adjusted related fee distributions, though Leader Berman warned it would shift revenue away from municipalities and law enforcement. CS/HB 679 on trademark registration and CS/HB 589 on septic system permits also passed unanimously after technical amendments, with the septic bill intended to reduce permit delays and clarify liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/HB 991, which incorporated citizenship verification using Real ID data, changed candidate-qualifying rules, altered acceptable voter IDs, and added other election-related provisions. Multiple amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to preserve student and senior IDs for voting, exempt some seniors from citizenship-document requirements, rely on human review rather than automated systems, and delay implementation. Supporters argued the bill would improve election integrity and address non-citizen registration and voting, citing state reports and examples of prosecutions; opponents argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors, and create barriers based on access to documents. The amendment package was adopted, and debate on the underlying bill continued with questions about federal law, documentation, and whether voters could still participate if state verification failed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee meeting is called to order.
• We appreciate all of the time and energy that went into the process.
• I'm James Feinstein, Vice President of Perch Energy.
• Will you state your name and answer that question?
• Will you state your name and answer that question?

Bills: SB9

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met to consider two Senate bills. SB 321, with Senate Amendment 1, would change community solar billing so subscribers receive one consolidated utility bill instead of separate bills from the utility and the solar provider. Supporters said the bill would simplify enrollment and payment, improve customer retention—especially for low-income customers—and include safeguards such as guaranteed savings and an escrow mechanism to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers. After public testimony from solar developers, the Public Advocate, the Sierra Club, and others, the committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, so the vote was circulated to absent members and the bill was later reported out for floor action. The committee then heard SB 9, with Senate Amendment 1, a long-negotiated wetlands protection bill. The sponsor and DNREC explained that it would create a state non-tidal wetlands program with exemptions for certain agricultural, conservation, and routine activities, general permits for some lower-impact projects, and individual permits for higher-value wetlands. Witnesses described the bill as a compromise among environmental, agricultural, development, and local government stakeholders, while some members raised questions about flooding, landowner impacts, wetland delineation, and the role of the regulatory advisory committee. Public testimony was broadly supportive from environmental groups, the Farm Bureau, builders, engineers, and affordable housing advocates. The committee then voted to release SB 9 from committee. At the end of the meeting, members offered thanks and remarks recognizing the chair’s service and leadership on environmental and energy issues. Both bills were ultimately released from committee and reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do agree that Arizona is no longer a baby state. It's a big-boy state.
• Arizona is no longer a baby state. It's a big-boy state.
• Washington State meets for 60 calendar days, and they have a population of 7.7.
• it harder for clean energy projects to advance in our state.
• This has been a long-time issue in our state because we are a welfare state.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• energy.
• Fastest growing states.
• And likely prevent certain forms of energy from happening in this state.
• Iowa, 60.9% of their energy comes from renewable energy sources, and Missouri is at 11.3.
• We are finding ways, they are finding ways, to store this energy that can be used all across the state

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues heard House Bill 3375, sponsored by Rep. Koslow, a broad eminent domain reform measure aimed at protecting landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. The bill would create protections for beginning farmers and ranchers, require 15 days’ notice before surveyors enter property, extend the response period in eminent domain cases from 10 days to 60 days, bar eminent domain for wind and solar facilities, require land restoration and maintenance after construction, increase compensation to 125% of fair market value in certain cases, add tax-liability compensation, change treatment of heritage and blight-related compensation, and allow attorney’s fees when a landowner wins a higher award than the condemning authority offered. Members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, its effect on energy development, and several drafting and implementation issues, including surveyor access, maintenance standards, and whether the bill could create conflicts with existing attorney-fee provisions. The sponsor said he was open to changes and noted that an HCS would address some drafting errors and feedback. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, a landowner/banker, and attorney Brent Hayden, who argued that landowners are often pressured into quick, low offers and should be treated as partners rather than obstacles. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency, due process, compensation, and restoration standards, and that it would not stop infrastructure development. Hayden described current eminent domain practice as giving landowners little leverage over route selection or restoration and said the bill would create needed discipline for condemning authorities. Several supporters also defended the wind-and-solar restriction as a response to the amount of land those projects can require and to concerns about using eminent domain for generation projects. Opposition came from the Missouri Energy Development Association, municipal utilities, and MoDOT. Opponents said they agreed some reforms may be reasonable but warned the bill, as written, could increase costs, delay projects, and create litigation risk that would ultimately be passed on to customers and taxpayers. MoDOT said the fiscal impact could be substantial, potentially doubling annual right-of-way spending. Utility representatives also cautioned that the bill could conflict with existing attorney-fee rules and should be aligned with compromise language from other legislation. The hearing ended without a vote or committee action, with the sponsor and witnesses indicating further negotiations and possible revisions were expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're eight people, which is very small compared to other energy-producing states, the major energy-producing
• states, but I am proud of the partnerships we have with other energy entities around the state.
• Obviously, we're a major energy state, so that should come from Wyoming.
• Obviously, we're a major energy<00:04:46.080><c> state,</c><00:04:46.400><c> so</c><00:04:46.639><c>
• Uh, one other thing we do on the federal side is the state energy program.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> amendment is coded A14. amendment is coded A14.
• </c><00:09:14.160><c> for</c> not have that same energy for not have that same energy for pornographic
• </c><00:09:30.640><c> and</c> wish we would have the same energy and wish we would have the same energy
• Um, states need companies accountable.
• </c> pass the design code pass the design code so<00:40:58.160><c> that</c><00:40:58.400><c> we</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house