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• Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Administrator of the United States Environmental

Summary: The House convened with 68 members present and approved the House Journal from the previous legislative day. The chamber also received notice of a temporary substitute for Legislative District 17, Seat B, and a Senate Joint Memorial transmitted from the Senate. House Concurrent Resolutions 23 and 24 were introduced and referred for printing; HCR 23 seeks a U.S. constitutional convention to impose congressional term limits, while HCR 24 honors fallen Kootenai County and Coeur d’Alene firefighters and supports Idaho first responders. Standing committee reports moved several bills forward. The Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee reported House Bills 532-539 printed and referred them to the Transportation, Local Government, and State Affairs committees as appropriate. The Business Committee recommended House Bill 514 do pass. The House also received first readings for a large group of bills, including measures on juvenile correction public records, child enticement, social media restrictions for children, public employee retirement contributions, military leave, counselor licensure for military chaplains, restroom access, cosmetology licensing, boating enforcement, hospital district dissolution petitions, midwifery authority and rules, and property tax assessment. On the Third Reading Calendar, Representative Ben Adams asked unanimous consent to hold House Bill 493 for one legislative day while the sponsor works with an affected stakeholder; there was no objection. During announcements, members welcomed visiting county officials, the Idaho Vacation Rental Alliance, nurses in the gallery, and noted upcoming meetings including the Rural Health Transformation Program and an Energy Caucus luncheon. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn and recessed until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

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• It would fit with you because you do have environmental inspectors in the meat and poultry side and also

Keywords: 909, all

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• BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

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• Environmental regulation, chair, Landgraf, vice chair, Ordaz, seniority appointments, Bell, Keith of

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• Environmental Regulation. Chair, Landgraf. Vice-Chair, Bourdain. Gauz. Seniority Appointments.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• Hunter was a well-known tribal leader and environmental activist as a tribal chair.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• Under the current law, bondsmen have two years after a final judgment is entered for bond forfeiture.
• Getting someone who's incarcerated, if they can't afford bond, to go to wherever that infirm person is
• This bill requires that a defendant be released on a pre-trial bond once they've been in jail for the
• Some people can't afford bond. They can't afford bail.
• You have these individuals that a magistrate has already set a high bond on for public safety reasons

Bills: HB285 , HB795 , HB1795 , HB1871 , HB2407 , HB2461 , HB2695 , HB3507 , HB4911 , HB200

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, aggravated assault, penal code, public servant, deadly weapon, mass shooting, Penal Code, penalties, felony, Texas Penal Code, felony enhancement, first-degree felony, second-degree felony, violent crime, assault punishment, serious bodily injury

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• The center provides professional development training, environmentally focused curriculum, and paid internships
• College is the ideal home for a statewide climate center because environmental responsibility is a key
• West LA College is the ideal home for a statewide climate center because environmental responsibility
• They've also been the first community college in the state to implement a climate change and environmental
• It's made up of a variety of environmental science classes, and in addition to contextualized classes

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, beginning with AB 387 on youth sports safety and AED access. The author and supporters, including youth sports and cardiac safety advocates, said the bill would improve coordination between youth sports organizations and facilities to ensure AEDs are available and emergency response is better prepared. School administrators, county groups, and school business officials opposed unless amended, citing liability, cost, staffing, maintenance, and school security concerns. Members asked about AED portability, CPR training, and liability; the author said committee amendments were accepted, but the bill was held due to lack of quorum while negotiations continued. AB 467 would codify the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, allowing it to seek multi-year grants and other outside funding after an initial state appropriation sunsets. Supporters said the center has already trained faculty, supported paid internships and fellowships, and reached thousands of Californians, while opponents were absent. Members questioned whether codification was premature before the required report is due in 2027; the author said the measure was needed now to stabilize fundraising. The bill was also placed on hold for lack of quorum. A major portion of the hearing focused on AB 664 and AB 2694, both dealing with community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 664 would authorize Southwestern College to seek up to four targeted bachelor’s programs to address local workforce shortages in South San Diego County; students, local officials, and community college advocates supported it, while CSU and UC opposed, arguing for a statewide solution and concern about the master plan. AB 2694 proposed a broader statewide framework for community college bachelor’s degrees with stronger workforce and partnership requirements, reduced program caps, and limits on duplication; it drew support from community college groups and students, but CSU and UC again opposed or opposed unless amended. Members discussed place-bound students, workforce needs, transfer pathways, and the need for a master-plan-level approach, but no votes were taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard AB 917, which would require certificated employees in very small school districts and certain county-run programs to receive permanent status under the same rules as larger districts. CTA and many educators supported the bill as a fairness and retention measure, while small school district and ROP representatives opposed, saying the current flexibility is necessary to manage enrollment swings, staffing, and specialized regional programs. Testimony emphasized the tension between job security for educators and operational flexibility for small LEAs; the hearing continued with more opposition testimony after the excerpt ended.

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• At the same time, it was not brought up during our environmental committee when this bill was heard.
• At the same time, it was not brought up during our environmental committee when this bill was heard.
• The bill also prohibits cannabinoid vapor products with embedded non-removable batteries due to environmental
• give them a glancing explanation. non-removable batteries due to non-removable batteries due to environmental
• </c> environmental and disposal concerns. environmental and disposal concerns.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• This is certainly a public policy for environmental concerns, but at the end of the day, I just believe
• This is certainly a public policy for environmental concerns, but at the end of the day, I just believe
• This bill is about public safety and environmental safety, right?
• </c><01:52:04.560><c> If</c><01:52:04.800><c> we</c> environmental safety, right?
• If we environmental safety, right?

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, March 21, 2026, 957, house, all

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• Senate Bill 2 is the road bonding package. That message from the governor.

Committee: Senate Senate Committees' Committee

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• for instance, I've been in several collaborative works that I've done with the potential for a new bond

Committee: House House Judiciary

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• I bonded with him. I carried him, and I miss him still.
• mother and all the magical, wonderful, good things that happen mysteriously in the womb and the mother-bond
• , child-bond connection.
• They're a beautiful, voluntary sacrifice that create a lifelong bond.
• You get to see families bond. There's leadership development at camps.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

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• Like when you have a baby, maybe you shouldn't have to choose between bonding with them and, you know
• Stocks are straightforward, and bonds and other sort of market-based assets are straightforward.
• </c><00:40:10.360><c> and</c> Stocks are straightforward and bonds and Stocks are straightforward and
• bonds and other<00:40:10.680><c> sort</c><00:40:10.920><c> of</c><00:40:11.440><c> uh</c> other sort
• You know, overall assets of privately held businesses, stocks, bonds, retirement accounts, you know,

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

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• , because y'all have in the past chosen to fund some of those through appropriation and/or through bond
• /c> those through appropriation and or those through appropriation and or through<00:09:25.200><c> bond
• whichever</c><00:09:26.240><c> way</c><00:09:26.320><c> you</c><00:09:26.480><c> would</c> through bond
• So whichever way you would through bond.
• Uh, there's a billion-dollar bond fund for this type of work that was done last year in Alabama to do

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

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• And it's the first time, if you talk to the inmates, that they've had a bonding experience, felt love
• 39:52.160><c> a</c> talk to the inmates that they've had a talk to the inmates that they've had a bonding
• experience felt love give love bonding experience felt love give love and<00:39:55.520><c> it</c><00
• So they began increasing those defendants' bonds to a point that they knew the defendant couldn't make
• saying, "I found a bed in this treatment program for my defendant, and if you'll agree to lower the bond

Keywords: 0:00:04 Call to Order 0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy 0:51:31 Life Learning Center 1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

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• for supporting ballot questions — county, city, school district ballot questions — whether it be a bond
• for supporting ballot questions — county, city, school district ballot questions — whether it be a bond
• for supporting ballot questions — county, city, school district ballot questions — whether it be a bond
• for supporting ballot questions — county, city, school district ballot questions — whether it be a bond
• It be a bond issue or a levy increase, whatever it may be, that is also under the board's jurisdiction

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental disruptions are already here.
• HB 278 does just that by looking at the long-term environmental, social, and economic costs of carbon
• Representative Heath Howard said HB 278 does just that by looking at the long-term environmental, social
• Make no mistake, this isn’t just bad policy; it is a page from cooh sitto’s playbook of environmental
• He added that this is not just bad policy, but a page from cooh sitto’s playbook of environmental communism

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Legacy Funds, and capital grants from general obligation bonds
• Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Legacy Funds, and capital grants from general obligation bonds
• Uh, there are a couple different aspects in the Governor's both policy and bonding recommendations for
• Uh, there are a couple different aspects in the Governor's both policy and bonding recommendations for
• Aspects in the Governor's both policy and bonding recommendations for you to consider this year that

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We asked initially in a bonding proposal for $20 million.
• Uh we asked initially in a bonding done.
• I know you're also seeking<01:25:39.400><c> bonding</c><01:25:39.880><c> dollars,</c><01:25:41.040><c
• > um</c><01:25:41.440><c> and</c><01:25:41.920><c> you</c> seeking bonding dollars, um and you seeking
• bonding dollars, um and you know,<01:25:42.120><c> added</c><01:25:42.480><c> strain</c><01:25:42.840

Bills: HF1016 , HF2800 , HF156 , HF3051 , HF526 , HF2658 , HF2062 , HF2801

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets