Transcript Highlights:

• related to individual agencies, so I'm just going to scroll down here, and it's going to do the State Liquor
• It's going to do the State Liquor Division.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it hurts our liquor store distributors and our liquor stores, who generate a significant amount of

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Here in Texas, you do it all the time when you go to a liquor store.
• If you go to a bar or a liquor store, they can look at you, see you have gray hair, and you kind of don't

Bills: HB2963, HB3005, HB3287, HB3288, HB3289, HB3290, HB3344, HB3712, HB3862, HB3874, HB4196, HB4308, HB4901, HB4984

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Transcript Highlights:

• be intoxicated and they'd find that there would be a reason now to find out how the minor got the liquor
• reason now to find out how the minor got reason now to find out how the minor got the<01:27:30.239><c> liquor
• 33.199><c> it</c><01:27:33.520><c> wasn't</c><01:27:34.000><c> from</c><01:27:34.320><c> the</c> the liquor
• And uh if it wasn't from the the liquor.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that includes city sales tax, entertainment tax, lodging and entertainment tax, and restaurant and liquor
• entertainment tax and lodging and entertainment tax and restaurant<00:31:03.679><c> and</c><00:31:03.919><c> liquor
• </c><00:31:05.120><c> And</c><00:31:05.279><c> so</c><00:31:05.440><c> those</c> restaurant and liquor
• And so those restaurant and liquor tax.

Bills: HF4912, HF4664

Keywords: electronic pull-tabs, pull-tabs, tipboards, gambling tax, Minnesota Racing Commission, Thoroughbred, horse racing, Minnesota-bred horses, breeders, owners, racing purses, industry subsidy, gambling revenue dedication, problem gambling, compulsive gambling treatment, general fund appropriation, state affiliate National Council on Problem Gambling, racing incentives, equine industry, public officers

Transcript Highlights:

• So, think the person in the Jeep gets good and liquored up and tries to climb a hill that they know they
• good</c><00:35:46.280><c> and</c> person in the Jeep gets good and person in the Jeep gets good and liquored
• 35:47.600><c> to</c><00:35:47.720><c> climb</c><00:35:48.000><c> a</c><00:35:48.080><c> hill</c> liquored
• up and tries to climb a hill liquored up and tries to climb a hill that<00:35:48.520><c> they</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine being a liquor store and having to scan a bunch of QR codes to see what was recalled.
• Imagine<01:23:25.440><c> being</c><01:23:25.640><c> a</c><01:23:25.680><c> liquor</c><01:23:26.000><c
• > store</c><01:23:26.240><c> and</c><01:23:26.360><c> having</c> Imagine being a liquor store and having
• Imagine being a liquor store and having to<01:23:26.720><c> scan</c><01:23:27.000><c> a</c><01:23:27.040

Bills: HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• revisions; Senate File 44, gambling amendments; and Senate File 46, skill-based amusement games licensing liquor
• revisions; Senate File 44, gambling amendments; and Senate File 46, skill-based amusement games licensing liquor
• revisions; Senate File 44, gambling amendments; and Senate File 46, skill-based amusement games licensing liquor
• revisions; Senate File 44, gambling amendments; and Senate File 46, skill-based amusement games licensing liquor

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Liquor and Cannabis Board administers the state cannabis tax, with all revenue from the tax deposited
• Lastly, the Liquor and Cannabis Board must collect the tax on behalf of counties and cities and may retain
• There are expenditure impacts of $442,000 over the four-year outlook for Liquor and Cannabis Board implementation
• There are expenditure impacts of $442,000 over the four-year outlook for Liquor and Cannabis Board implementation

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you'd go to ABC, which we must buy our liquor from the ABC, so they're already locked in with
• </c> to ABC, which we must buy our liquor to ABC, which we must buy our liquor from<04:15:00.239><c>
• ><c> then</c><04:15:36.880><c> they're</c><04:15:37.040><c> not</c> selling the liquor and then they're
• Someone had called me this past week with a liquor store. Mom and pop liquor store.
• I'm not too sure that the state should be in the liquor business anyway.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It defines infused beverages as a beverage for human consumption that does not contain alcohol liquor
• So having them in the liquor stores for right now makes sense.
• And they do not want to go into a liquor store to buy this product.

Keywords: 1064, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tuesday, uh, in the morning we're going to do the liquor.
• We'll do cannabis and liquor positions Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. Thanks.
• we'll do cannabis and do the liquor we'll do cannabis and liquor<05:42:07.680><c> positions</c><05:42
• :08.400><c> Tuesday</c><05:42:08.840><c> morning</c><05:42:09.160><c> at</c> liquor positions Tuesday
• morning at liquor positions Tuesday morning at 10:00<05:42:09.520><c> a.m.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a non-germane amendment to HB 297 that would create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Insurance Commissioner DJ Beton, joined by department staff, explained that the proposal is intended to help homeowners afford insurance by funding proactive home improvements that reduce risk and improve insurability. He said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beton described the problem as rising homeowners insurance premiums, hard-market underwriting, nonrenewals, and the resulting shift to more expensive surplus lines coverage. He said eligible projects could include roof fortification, exterior improvements, flood-related foundation work, and removal of hazardous trees or limbs. He cited similar programs in other states, especially Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as evidence the model can work and noted that industry representatives were present in support. He also said the program would use means testing aligned with the Department of Energy’s weatherization program to target lower-income applicants. Members asked about the non-germane process, who would administer the program, and how the bill would prevent misuse of grant funds. The commissioner said the department would administer the program using one repurposed existing position, with Treasury handling fund flow through an MOU. Staff explained that applicants would have to show completed work through a signed contract, itemized work, and a sworn contractor affidavit, with some upfront payment allowed for materials and the remainder paid after completion. The chair and members discussed that the amendment is being attached to a different bill only to move the proposal through committee and on to House Finance for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 417F is Senator Waters's bill on premise licenses and off-premise licenses, requiring state liquor
• premise licenses off- premise licenses premise licenses off- premise licenses state<00:06:25.360><c> liquor
• outlets</c><00:06:26.160><c> to</c><00:06:26.240><c> post</c><00:06:26.560><c> warnings</c> state liquor
• outlets to post warnings state liquor outlets to post warnings relative<00:06:27.440><c> to</c><00:06
• I know the liquor commission is here.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Management, the Division of Human Resources, the Office of Information Technology Services, the State Liquor

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate. The Governor reported signing House Bill 624, while the Senate transmitted enrolled Senate Bill 1332 for the Speaker’s signature, sent Senate Bill 1361 to the First Reading Calendar, returned several House bills for enrollment, and reported House Bill 610 had failed in the Senate. Committee reports moved multiple bills forward, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, youth service organizations, agriculture, health and welfare, revenue and taxation, and general government. House Joint Memorial 19, calling for elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, was referred for printing. Several new appropriation and policy bills were introduced and referred, including House Bills 866 through 874 and Senate Bill 1361. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 822, a parental-notification bill concerning minors’ requests related to social or medical transition in schools, child care, and health care settings. Supporters argued it protects parental rights and prevents schools or providers from withholding important information from parents, while opponents said the bill’s definitions were vague, its notification standard was unclear, and the potential penalties—up to $100,000—would chill teachers, coaches, child care workers, and medical providers. Concerns were also raised about committee procedure and the burden on professionals, while supporters responded that the bill only applies when a minor requests help facilitating a transition and that existing processes would prevent the hypothetical problems raised. House Bill 822 passed the House on a 59-9 vote, with two abstentions and two excused, and was sent to the Senate. After passage, the House suspended Rule 27 by a 57-11 vote to prevent a minority report on the bill from being printed in the journal, prompting objections from minority members about procedural fairness. The House then held remaining third-reading bills one legislative day, made announcements, and adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on March 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Management, the Division of Human Resources, the Office of Information Technology Services, the State Liquor

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with 63 members present, approved the journal, and received messages from the governor and Senate. The governor reported signing House Bill 624, while the Senate transmitted enrolled Senate Bill 1332 for the Speaker’s signature, sent Senate Bill 1361 to the House, and returned several House bills that had passed the Senate or failed there. Standing committee reports also moved a number of bills forward, including appropriations, health, revenue, agriculture, and re-referrals of misdirected bills. House Joint Memorial 19, calling for elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, was referred for printing. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 822, the “Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act,” which would require schools, child care providers, and certain health and behavioral providers to notify parents when a minor requests help with social transitioning and would authorize injunctive, declaratory, compensatory relief and potential penalties up to $100,000. Supporters argued the bill protects parental rights and prevents schools from withholding important information from parents. Opponents argued the bill is vague, could chill teachers, coaches, child care providers, and medical professionals, and may drive needed workers out of Idaho; they also raised concerns about the size of the penalty, committee procedure, and confusion over whether notice goes to a parent, parents, or a guardian. The sponsor responded that the bill only applies when a child requests help facilitating a transition and said the measure would withstand legal challenge. House Bill 822 passed the House by a vote of 59-9 with two abstentions and two excused, and the title was approved. The House then suspended Rule 27 by a 57-11 vote to prevent a minority report on the bill from being printed in the journal, prompting objections from minority members about procedural fairness. The House also advanced a large set of new bills to printing and second reading, including several FY 2027 appropriations bills, election-related bills, and a youth service organizations bill, and filed a number of second-reading bills for third reading. The chamber then held announcements, including committee meeting notices, before adjourning until March 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• These changes are to increase flexibility for retail liquor stores to offer larger sample variety and

Bills: SB1238, SB1277, SB1304, SB1378, SB1423, SB1484, SB1501, SR32, SB1502, SB1721, SB1735, SB1832, SB1847, SB1859, SB1876, SB2170, SB2182

Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, assault and battery, strangulation, intimate partner violence, family or household member, repeat offender, felony enhancement, Class B5 felony, stalking, batterers intervention program, court-ordered treatment, protective order, presence of a child, pregnant victim, great bodily injury, animal cruelty, cockfighting, dogfighting, sex offender registration

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, 1933, how did Utah and Idaho, states whose legislatures were dominated by anti-liquor sentiment

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 29 and 30. It then took up HCR 25, a resolution calling for an Article V convention effort focused on a balanced budget amendment. The sponsor and supporters argued that the federal debt and annual deficits are unsustainable, that the resolution is intended to pressure Congress rather than actually trigger a runaway convention, and that any amendment would still require ratification by 38 states. Supporters also said a balanced budget amendment would force fiscal discipline without immediate tax hikes or drastic cuts, and several public witnesses, including former officials, a banker, a student, and party leaders, testified in favor on generational and economic grounds. Opponents and skeptical members raised concerns that the resolution explicitly calls for a constitutional convention, that there is no reliable way to limit the scope or delegate selection, and that a convention could create unintended constitutional changes. Some questioned whether the strategy was honest with constituents, whether Congress should instead be changed through elections, and whether states like Idaho should continue accepting federal funds while advocating fiscal restraint. The Idaho Republican Party chair testified against the measure, saying the risk of an uncontrolled convention outweighed any benefit. After debate, Representative Boyle moved a substitute motion to hold HCR 25 in committee, but that motion failed 9-4. The committee then voted on the original motion to send HCR 25 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and that motion passed 9-4. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Andrew Rulandum with the Lottery Commission and the Idaho State Liquor Division.

Summary: The committee first considered RS 3312, a proposal from Representative Scott aimed at limiting the use of slogans, logos, or similar branding on state budget materials when those messages could be used for political promotion. Members raised drafting questions and concerns that the language was confusing and could unintentionally affect official documents and correspondence. On motion, the committee voted to return the RS to the sponsor for reworking. The committee then took up RS 3314, which would improve transparency in Idaho’s civil asset forfeiture system by requiring local reports to also be sent to the state controller for storage and publication. Scott said the bill would centralize data, not change forfeiture procedures, and suggested changing the reporting deadline from February to April to match existing local reporting timelines. Members asked about the types of property covered and the fiscal impact, and the committee approved the RS with the date change. Next, the committee considered RS 33141, another transparency measure that would add a penalty for state agencies that knowingly or recklessly fail to report executed MOUs, MOAs, contracts, and related agreements to the state controller. Scott described the bill as a response to agencies that were not complying with existing reporting law and said enforcement would likely come through legislative and appropriations action. Members raised concerns about ambiguity, possible liability, and whether the penalty should be tied more clearly to notice and cure provisions. The committee voted to return the RS to the sponsor for further work. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 504, which would address lottery syndicates by limiting bulk lottery ticket purchases and allowing the Lottery Commission to deny winnings tied to prohibited bulk-buy activity. Supporters said the bill was intended to stop organized groups, often from out of state, from buying large numbers of tickets and taking winnings out of Idaho. Questions focused on enforcement, the $5,000 purchase limit, and whether the rule would affect ordinary groups or in-state entities. After testimony, the committee voted to send HB 504 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• and we do have a little bit of a of a generator, a revenue generator, which is Senator Scherer's liquor