Transcript Highlights:

• assigned to assist in... ...district has a soil and water conservation field staff assigned to assist
• we assisted 2,980 landowners in their conservation efforts and delivered 13,489 hours of commission staff
• Staff expended an additional 2,791 hours providing technical assistance to landowners participating in
• commitment to listening and responding to district supervisors and staff.
• They're going to be supported by, give or take, 70 mostly part-time staff members who if you look at

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee began with a visit from a BYU-Idaho agribusiness class, whose students and faculty were welcomed and briefly introduced themselves. The committee then took up a rule docket, 02-0601-2501, and approved it with an exception: section 112, new subsections 01 through 05, which incorporated documents by reference without a specific date. The committee adopted findings that this was inconsistent with the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act and directed the agency to return with a compliant rule in the future. The committee next considered RS 33272, presented by Senator Tammy Nichols, which would create standards for kratom products. Nichols said the proposal was intended to preserve lawful access to natural leaf kratom while prohibiting adulterated, synthetic, or artificially enhanced products, requiring limited third-party testing, setting an age restriction, clarifying supply-chain responsibilities, and establishing penalties without creating new licensing or fees. The committee voted to send the RS to print. Senator Todd Lakey then presented RS 33226, the Idaho Direct to Consumer Act, which would reduce regulation on small-scale homemade food and non-alcoholic drink sales made directly from producer to consumer, preempt more restrictive local rules, and include labeling and record-keeping requirements, including for certain direct meat sales. The committee voted to send that RS to print as well. The Idaho Department of Water Resources, speaking in its role with the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, gave an agency update on conservation district support, CREP, WACPA, and related programs. Officials reported on district funding distributions, landowner assistance, conservation acres served, and performance measures, and discussed budget requests including a proposed miscellaneous revenue fund and additional appropriations to address future CREP matching needs. In response to a question, the department said WACPA was not included in the governor’s budget. The Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts then presented on the value of locally led conservation districts, emphasizing volunteer governance, the return on state investment, education efforts, and local projects such as flood recovery and rangeland fire protection. Committee members asked about EPA coordination, and presenters said working through state agencies and local districts remained preferable and generally effective. The meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And staff, let's get a briefing on the amendments before us. All right.
• For the record, Ryan Giannini, staff counsel to this committee.
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee, and before you is Senate Bill 6086.
• For the record, Maya Eita, staff counsel to this committee.
• I do want to take a minute and really thank our staff for exceptional work.

Bills: SB5925 , SB6086 , SB6074 , SB5962 , SB6296 , SGA9272 , SGA9255 , SGA9256 , SGA9271

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Jim Morishima, staff to the committee.
• Any further questions for staff right now? All right. Seeing none...
• I apologize for being late when they were doing staff briefing.
• So just a quick question for staff.
• And this may be a question for staff.

Bills: HB2299 , HB2118 , HB2236

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: seniors, independent living, ombudsman, elderly support, continuing care retirement communities, common interest communities, restrictions, property rights, homeowners association, community governance, housing finance, affordable housing, housing commission, state agency, financial assistance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the staff coordinator for the committee.
• And so I was just going to introduce the staff that are here.
• She's an attorney that also staffs the Agner Committee.
• Chair, you would like to introduce the caucus staff as well?
• And we do, unless I get this wrong, we've trained caucus staff, we've trained committee staff, and L.A.s

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the staff coordinator for the committee.
• And so I was just going to introduce the staff that are here.
• She's an attorney that also staffs the Agner Committee.
• Chair, you would like to introduce the caucus staff as well?
• And we do, unless I get this wrong, we've trained caucus staff, committee staff, and L.A.s have been

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an organizational session and received a presentation from Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Ferries staff on recovery from the December atmospheric river storms. Committee members were introduced, and staff outlined a new process for submitting proviso and project requests through an online app, with members directed to work through their caucus policy staff. The chair also announced caucus meetings and noted staff changes for the session. WSDOT and WSF described emergency response operations, including statewide activations, damage assessment, and the use of emergency declarations to speed repairs. Staff explained how they pursue federal reimbursement through FHWA Emergency Relief and, separately, FEMA for debris removal, while noting that permanent repairs still require environmental clearances. They reported more than 50 emergency work orders, 16 emergency contracts, about 107 road sites closed at one point, and an initial damage estimate of roughly $30 million. Examples of storm damage and recovery included US 2 near Skykomish and Tumwater Canyon, US 12 near Naches, Highway 410, Highway 42 near Mount Baker, I-90 shoulder damage, and a major US 101 slope failure near Forks that will require longer-term geotechnical work. Members asked about environmental permitting, bridge impacts, flood coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, and whether emergency declarations allow broader actions; staff said the declaration mainly speeds stabilization and contracting, does not change tolling authority, and does not waive environmental requirements. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Park staff conduct burns on a regular basis, and it's important for our land management activities.
• About $500,000 was allocated to our staff. Personal protective equipment for our staff.
• In addition to hosting land manager reviews on WMAs, FWC staff are also participating as team members
• Research, management, and planning staff work together to produce scientifically supported strategies
• Research, management, and planning staff work together to produce scientifically supported strategies

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources convened with a quorum present and took up SB 302 by Senator Garcia, which would promote nature-based solutions for coastal resilience. Garcia said the bill would direct DEP to adopt statewide guidelines, encourage local restoration projects through existing grant programs, streamline permitting for green and hybrid infrastructure, support workforce training, and require a study on flood-risk and insurance benefits. Senator Harrell asked about implementation, existing statutory authority, and possible fiscal impacts. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying that hybrid infrastructure need only combine green and gray elements, not prove superiority over either alone. The committee heard supportive testimony on SB 302 from Katie Bauman of Surfrider Foundation, who said nature-based approaches such as dunes, wetlands, and mangroves are cost-effective and protective, and several organizations waived in support, including the Environmental Defense Fund of Florida, the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, and 1,000 Friends of Florida. Senator Harrell said she supported the concept but remained concerned about the breadth of rulemaking and the fiscal implications of workforce funding. After closing remarks from Garcia, the committee voted to report CS for SB 302 favorably. The remainder of the meeting consisted of informational presentations on land management. Brian Bradner of DEP reviewed Florida State Parks management, including prescribed fire, invasive species removal, hydrologic restoration, cultural resource preservation, visitor use, and budgeted land-management activities. Melissa Tucker of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission described wildlife management areas, emphasizing habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, ranch infrastructure, public access, and the economic value of the system. Rick Dolan of the Florida Forest Service outlined state forest management funded through a $20 million appropriation, including road and facility work, recreation upgrades, invasive species control, reforestation, habitat restoration, prescribed burning, and boundary marking. Senators praised the agencies’ work and noted the ongoing cost of managing state lands. The committee then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sheay and the staff for cranking out papers forever and getting them to us?
• Sheay and his staff, without whom we couldn't have the guidance on this.
• Sheay and the staff for cranking out Mr.
• Sheay and the staff for cranking out papers<00:18:41.600><c> for</c><00:18:42.400><c> ever</c><00:18:
• Sheay and his staff without go to Mr.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 25, the capital improvements appropriations bill. Representative Jack moved ought to pass and also offered Amendment 1455H. Discussion focused largely on several capital items and, in particular, a disputed freight rail public-private partnership. Representative Kazinski opposed the rail subsidy, arguing it favored connected private interests and reflected excessive spending, while Representatives Clutier and others defended the rail funding as a public-private partnership that supports rail maintenance, reduces truck traffic, protects roads and bridges, improves safety, and benefits the environment. Representative Jack explained that the amendment was intended to appropriate enough money to cover bids rather than a fixed purchase price. The committee then voted on Amendment 1455H, which passed 17-1. After that, the committee voted on HB 25A, the bill as amended, and it also passed 17-1. Representative Kazinski indicated he would vote no and was asked whether he wanted to write a minority report; he agreed to do so. The chair noted the bill could not go on the consent calendar and would need further discussion. After completing the bill, the chair announced the committee had one Senate bill expected later, with a due date of May 29, and said the committee would take next Tuesday off and schedule the Senate bill when convenient. Members also discussed an upcoming community college system lunch at the Lakes Region campus, thanked staff for their work on the bill, and noted the committee had brought HB 25 in about $10.5 million under the governor’s request.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Dismang, yeah, I just have a question for the commissioner staff. Staff.
• But again, I mean, you can ask staff, do they have a plan, but members voted twice.
• I'm going to provide those to Bureau staff.
• We have historically lost 10 staff, hired 10 staff a month, right? Or 15.
• For some reason, I mean, they need continuity of staff that are there.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We just want to expand that out to classified staff or any staff on the school staff.
• So the certified staff, are they certified, how are they certified?
• educated staff that...
• This is not a mandatory thing for officers or for our staff, correct? No, it's an elective.
• And you have to know your staff and know who could and couldn't do something like that.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and first went into executive session on House Bill 2774, the Jeff Knight bill concerning gas-powered leaf blowers. An amendment was adopted to exempt the city of Clayton, Missouri, allowing it to ban gas-powered leaf blowers if it chooses. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 12 yeas and 0 nays. The committee next took up House Bill 2176 by Representative Perkins and voted it do pass by 8 yeas and 4 nays. After that, the committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1730, sponsored by Representative Koslow, which would treat Missouri-made firearm suppressors that remain in-state as outside federal Commerce Clause oversight. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would protect hearing, reduce federal burdens, and not increase crime; members raised concerns about concealment and public safety, but no opposition testimony was offered and the hearing closed. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2504 by Representative Elliott, which would expand who may be designated as school protection officers to include additional school personnel, such as classified staff, if they volunteer, complete required training, and are approved through local school board and state processes. Supporters, including a school superintendent, security trainer, law enforcement officer, and public advocate, said the bill would improve response times in rural districts that cannot afford school resource officers and emphasized the extensive training and vetting already required. Opponents or skeptical members questioned whether adding more armed personnel in schools was the right response to school violence, but no formal opposition testimony was presented before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• To our incredibly hard-working Assembly Budget Committee staff, led by Christian Griffith.
• Colleagues, I do want to just rise and say thank you to the hard working staff behind us today.
• First of all, I'd like to thank the staff of the budget committee. Look, this is not easy.
• And so my staff right now are preparing boxes so they can be delivered to those families.
• In this budget, the staff and the budget chairs have done a yeoman's job.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff from the State Auditor's Office will give a presentation on their recent performance audit.
• We do have staff here, and we do have agency personnel who are available to answer questions.
• My name is Marisa Sanchez-Reed, and I'm a staff auditor who worked on the audit.
• Staff guidance and training appeared minimal.
• The first one is to ensure all staff understand how to identify affected tribes.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach. Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources. Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You had more staff and the ability to provide the services touch on staffing for the 49 districts as
• We identified approximately 74 staff, a plea full-time and part-time staff.
• And when you look at the number of districts that have those staff, it is even more astounding.
• That one that the district to have one staff member or no staff are nearly 65% of the total level of
• So it doesn't look like we have a lot of revenue because we don't because we don't need staff because

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our faculty and research staff were able to Hiring faculty and research staff to help support that mission
• Our faculty and research staff were able to Faculty and research staff were able to leverage the funding
• </c> our researchers faculty and the staff our researchers faculty and the staff that<00:25:03.320><c
• 49 clinical staff to do the research.
• </c> water divisions mpca remediation staff water divisions mpca remediation staff and<01:41:46.360><

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are zero staff. These are...
• </c><00:53:36.799><c> position</c> program grants the staff position program grants the staff position
• Is there one staff person or are there multiple staff people that are under consideration here?
• </c><01:02:41.319><c> person</c> staff person is there one staff person staff person is there one staff
• </c> it's just to create that um staff it's just to create that um staff security<01:04:59.520><c> and

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are thrilled to represent the incredible work that that staff does.
• We currently have four faculty and staff members.
• We currently have four faculty and staff members total: three faculty and one staff member, who teach
• We do pay the registered behavior techs more than we pay our regular staff.
• And so the challenge for my son is having appropriately trained staff.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'd have to ask staff.
• “No, let me state: the staff has told me regarding the Department of Public Safety that their staff had
• It's not enough federal funding for the staff that is there.
• It's not enough federal funding for the staff that is there.
• Yes, there's plenty of available staff post-reduction.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> zoo is she was both hand-reared by staff zoo is she was both hand-reared by staff so<00:01:59.240
• So obviously this is elevating the risk to our visitors, our staff, and our animals.
• , our staff, and our animals. animals. animals.
• What we want to hope to renovate for staff spaces, for meeting spaces.
• to renovate for staff spaces, for meeting<00:17:25.520><c> spaces.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, go ahead. Mr.
• Go ahead, staff. Mr.
• Any questions for staff? Any questions for staff?
• Any questions for staff?
• Any questions for staff?

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee met in a special morning session and heard several bills related to artificial intelligence and energy. HB 2371 would allow consenting divorcing parties without minor children to use AI-assisted arbitration in simple divorce cases, with the judge retaining final authority; members raised concerns about binding language, privacy, asset division, and spousal support, but the sponsor said amendments were welcome. The bill passed 7-0 with a do pass recommendation. HB 2311 would require conversational AI systems to disclose to minors that they are interacting with AI, restrict sexual content, prohibit deceptive human impersonation, and require self-harm response protocols; Google testified in support, noting similar safeguards already exist in its products, while one public commenter opposed the bill as government overreach. The committee adopted an amendment and advanced the bill 7-0. The committee then heard HB 2409, which would create a statewide summer AI education program focused on digital hygiene, civic integrity, privacy, media literacy, critical thinking, and algorithmic bias. The sponsor argued Arizona needs to prepare students for AI-driven job disruption and teach practical use of the technology, but several members objected to the statewide curriculum and funding implications; the bill passed 4-3. HB 2410 would treat communications with AI as privileged in the same way as communications with human professionals, with the sponsor arguing courts should develop the doctrine through common law as AI use evolves. A criminal justice speaker supported the bill as a privacy and Fourth Amendment safeguard, and the measure passed 6-0 with one present. Finally, the committee considered HB 4005, requiring school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on the ethical, moral, and educational uses of AI. Supporters said students need basic AI literacy and prompt-writing skills, but opponents cited funding and staffing concerns and said districts are already struggling with existing mandates; the bill passed 4-2 with one present. The committee also advanced HB 2456 and HB 2457, both related to energy infrastructure and small modular reactors, after amendments replacing references to large industrial energy users with extra high-load factory customers. Supporters tied the bills to AI-driven data center growth and future energy demand, while opponents raised local zoning, environmental, and public participation concerns; both bills received do pass recommendations by 4-3 votes. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The staff report, please. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, Chris Blake, staff to the committee.
• Kim Whedner, staff to the committee.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote. Mr.
• Hearing and seeing none, staff will announce the vote. Mr.
• Hearing and seeing none, staff will announce the vote. Mr.

Bills: HB2384 , HB2402 , HB2505 , HB1904 , HB2145 , HB2182 , HB2211 , HB2242 , HB2247 , HB2329 , HB2339

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: continuing care retirement community, CCRC, life plan community, senior housing, retirement community, long-term care, assisted living, nursing home, actuarial analysis, solvency, financial oversight, resident contracts, entrance fee, disclosure statement, registration, insurance commissioner, DSHS, consumer protection, elder care, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, could explain the strike-everything amendment? Mr.
• Members, any questions for our staff?
• Thank you, staff. Go ahead. Thank you. Mr.
• Any questions for staff?
• Members, any questions for our staff? Members, any questions for our staff? Thank you.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on March 25 for what was described as its last regular meeting, with a possible special meeting the following week. The committee first took up Senate Bill 1112, adopting a Livingston strike-everything amendment that appropriates $1 million from the special services fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of Corrections for holistic, studio-based rehabilitative programming and requires a report on spending, self-harm, discipline, and recidivism by June 30, 2028. Supporters from Art of Our Soul testified that the trauma-informed art and music therapy program has reduced disciplinary violations, self-harm, and mental health watches, and members described it as a rehabilitation effort with documented benefits. The bill, as amended, received a due pass recommendation by a 16-2 vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1776, which would expand AHCCCS coverage for traditional healing services to include urban Indian organizations. AHCCCS testified neutrally but said the change would require a waiver amendment, would not qualify for 100% federal match, and would carry an estimated $1.3 million general fund impact. The sponsor argued the bill would align Arizona with federal policy and correct an omission of urban Indian organizations from the existing waiver. After discussion about costs and whether the bill should proceed with a committee of the whole amendment, the committee gave SB 1776 a do pass recommendation by a 9-6-2-1 vote, with several members expressing concern about AHCCCS growth and the funding source. Senate Bill 1537, which would rename the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund and repeal its advisory commission, failed. Testimony explained that the commission has not met in years and that the bill was largely a cleanup measure, but the Arizona Police Association opposed the change and some members wanted the commission reformed rather than repealed. The committee voted it down 6-9, with members split over whether the fund should remain tied to its current structure. The committee next adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1584 that shifted a $1 million appropriation for Department of Corrections recruitment and training from the general fund to the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. Supporters said DOC remains understaffed and that the training/recruitment program has worked elsewhere; some members questioned whether the fund could legally be used for that purpose, but the amendment passed and the bill received a do pass recommendation by a 10-5-2-2 vote. Finally, Senate Bill 1673, which funds the law enforcement crime victim notification system, was amended to reduce the appropriation from $5 million general fund to about $2.595 million from the victim compensation fund. Testimony from the Arizona Sheriffs Association, victim notification vendors, and Phoenix officials emphasized the program’s importance, while others argued the amendment would raid victim compensation resources. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed, and the committee adjourned after noting the next calendar had not yet been posted.