Transcript Highlights:

• A conservative estimate, because there is such a lag on these arbitrations, of how much this practice

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the minutes from February 12, 2026, and then voted to send the gubernatorial reappointment of Trent Nate to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation. The committee then heard several code-cleanup bills from Senator Todd Lakey. Senate Bill 1274 would remove obsolete references in state law related to the transfer of county public defender employees, comp time, and an employee problem-solving procedure; Senate Bill 1275 would delete outdated provisions concerning veterans’ assets and the North Idaho Veterans Home; and Senate Bill 1273 would repeal several obsolete PERSI-related provisions tied to old retirement and contribution arrangements. Each of those bills drew no testimony or opposition and was sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee spent most of the meeting on Senate Bill 1319, the Emergency Care Affordability Act, sponsored by Senator Burt. The bill would create a new chapter in Title 41 governing billing and reimbursement for out-of-network freestanding emergency rooms, requiring them to accept the local in-network allowed amount for emergency services from state-regulated health plans, disclose that they do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE, and allow self-funded plans to opt in. Supporters, including Blue Cross of Idaho and the Association of Health Plans, argued that freestanding ERs are exploiting the federal No Surprises Act and its independent dispute resolution process by sending nearly all claims to arbitration at inflated rates, which they said raises premiums for Idaho consumers and state employee health plans. They said the bill is intended to address a loophole and does not affect hospital ERs or other emergency billing disputes. Committee members raised questions about EMTALA, federal preemption, whether the bill targets one business model, and whether patients are actually being balance-billed. Supporters said EMTALA still requires treatment, but the bill is aimed at billing practices and transparency, not access to emergency care. Some senators expressed concern about singling out one provider type and possible legal issues, while others said the bill was justified because insurers are required to cover emergency care and the current federal dispute process is driving up costs. After discussion, the committee approved Senate Bill 1319 on a 6-3 roll call vote and sent it to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• A conservative estimate, because there is such a lag on these arbitrations, of how much this practice

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Office of Species Conservation, gosh, I think the legislature did it 20 years ago.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I really want to say the goal here is to find efficiencies and not compound conservative prescriptive

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I want to find efficiencies and not compound conservative prescriptive solutions; find the most efficient

Summary: The committee held its first official work session with member and staff introductions, then received an update from the State Building Code Council on the current three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed code changes. Council staff said the council is moving toward CR-102 rulemaking and final adoption in the spring, with legislative mandates nearing completion on minimum dwelling unit size, emergency shelters, single-exit stairs for buildings up to six stories and 24 units, and sixplexes in the residential code. Members asked about how technical advisory groups are selected, and staff explained that the council advertises seats, reviews applications and recommendations, and approves members in public meetings, typically including firefighters, engineers, architects, and other subject-matter experts. A major portion of the meeting focused on the single-stair and sixplex work and on how fire safety, egress, and local service levels are being considered. Council representatives said the single-stair proposal includes emergency escape and rescue openings on all levels and is intended to provide more options for safe egress while reducing building footprint and cost. They emphasized that the recommendations are still entering the public rulemaking process and that cost-benefit considerations were part of the legislative intent. Members also raised questions about whether self-rescue devices or other builder options could be codified, and council staff said such ideas are considered through the advisory process, though not all become required code provisions. The second half of the session covered performance-based codes, prompted by a bill referred to as HB 2381. Todd Byrd explained the difference between prescriptive codes, which specify exact solutions, and performance-based codes, which set outcomes and allow designers and manufacturers more flexibility in how to meet them. He described the bill as a narrow proposal for low-rise residential buildings up to 24 units and under the high-rise threshold, with third-party or state certification and local jurisdiction approval still required. He cited international examples, especially Japan and Sweden, where performance-based approaches supported innovation and prefabrication, and said such systems can lower costs while maintaining safety. Members discussed seismic safety, builder participation, embodied carbon, and energy-code interactions, and council staff said the proposal could help align material, energy, and design optimization without changing the existing energy code. The committee took no vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pressley about language for that in the future.
• Keep making bills that make the life of voters easier and I will agree with you more in the future.
• first time somebody's trying to vote and that will make it less likely they will be voting in the future
• I do appreciate that as a fiscal conservative.
• Should I just select no in the future. If we do want written testimony in the record.

Bills: HB304

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: franchise tax credit, food desert, grocery store, healthy corner store, nutrition assistance, economic development, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• don't think the goal is to cut secretaries, custodians, paras, paraprofessionals, or extracurricular programs
• It's General File 84, voluntary water conservation program. >> Okay, Mr. Speaker, it is not...
• water,</c><01:46:12.240><c> voluntary</c><01:46:12.800><c> water</c> Sponsored by voluntary water conservation
• program and actually letting the water within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River Basin.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My father, when he was alive, there was a program down there called the STAR program, and he was able
• uh uh there's a program down there called<00:45:26.680><c> the</c><00:45:27.240><c> program</c><00:45
• </c><00:46:15.960><c> star</c> did it's called the Stark program star did it's called the Stark program
• </c><02:43:50.319><c> educational</c> are essential programming educational are essential programming
• </c> you're able to continue with your future you're able to continue with your future payments<03:38

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reason why investments in Grant programs reason why investments in Grant programs like<01:24:07.040
• , to successfully develop and open opportunities for future generations.
• , to successfully develop and open opportunities for future generations.
• , to successfully develop and open opportunities for future generations.
• Thank you. ...opportunities for future generations.

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Director of its veteran service programs Director of its veteran service programs in in in 2020<
• They don't want to address unnecessary programs.
• They don't want to address unnecessary programs.
• </c> to the strength of our athletic programs to the strength of our athletic programs and<04:15:59.760
• </c> ref refuse payments to defense programs ref refuse payments to defense programs or<05:06:09.958>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Move the two program as described.
• </c> enact something in the future. enact something in the future.
• </c> future commitments. future commitments.
• Lawton Conservation Loan Program and Fund, Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund.
• </c> unnecessary programs duplication. unnecessary programs duplication.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, next up we have HB 506 HD1 SD2, relating to conservation enforcement.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state aerial photography program. state aerial photography program.
• </c> program once, use many times. program once, use many times.
• And I think, infra- state program.
• </c> company's safety program. company's safety program.
• </c> would call a that deductible program. would call a that deductible program.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> implement an RP pacer program. implement an RP pacer program.
• </c> in administer an ARPACER program. in administer an ARPACER program.
• program. >> Right.
• . program. program.
• </c> incentive programs. All industries do. incentive programs. All industries do.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• According to former director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock's transgender health program, John Turco, quote,
• According to former director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock's transgender health program, John Turco, quote,
• health program John turko quote<00:30:19.200><c> there</c><00:30:19.320><c> is</c><00:30:19.480><c>
• She faces the same challenges as her peers: homework, friendships, and planning for the future.
• How do I ultimately choose to stay when my future in this state is looking increasingly uncertain?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know when you look at a lot of financial get-out-of-debt programs and that sort of thing, a lot of
• I'm with Conservative Ladies of America, and we urge the committee to stop this bill, ESSB 5925.

Bills: SB6011

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </p> health care programs. But we in this health care programs.
• I'm not calling on a federally run program.
• You have a massive Medicare program, lots of folks within the risk pool.
• It's also about the future.
• </c> from President Trump but not future from President Trump but not future presidents. presidents.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Bills: SB5223 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6184 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6226 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB6269

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, SB 6183, HIV, antiviral drugs, antiretroviral therapy, AIDS

Bills: SB5223 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6184 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6226 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB6269

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, SB 6183, HIV, antiviral drugs, antiretroviral therapy, AIDS

Summary: The Senate briefly convened to approve the previous day’s journal, then moved through the fifth order for introduction and first reading of bills. Senate Bill 6351 was introduced and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. The chamber then went at ease in anticipation of fiscal cutoff committee report activity later in the day. When the Senate reconvened, it took up reports of standing committees and supplemental standing committee reports. Substitute Senate Bill 5292, concerning family and medical leave rates, and engrossed substitute House Bill/Senate Bill 5466 were both reported and referred to the Committee on Rules. The referrals were approved without objection. No substantive debate or votes on the bills occurred in this transcript beyond the referral motions. The Senate adjourned at the end of the session until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her words: 'We thought we were helping her, but instead we've taken her future away.'
• Sorry, uh, New Futures...
• And so, for those reasons, New Futures asks the committee to ITL House Bill 377.
• </c> them I was recently doubting my future them I was recently doubting my future as<04:12:13.279><c
• </c> be closing the door to Bright Futures be closing the door to Bright Futures for<04:12:46.239><c>

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all