Transcript Highlights:

• the bill, give you a chance to look at the amendment from Senator Weeden, and come back with any feedback

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, with that, has there been any feedback from any of the other licensed professions that are a part

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are tightening the belts of Idaho citizens, and the feedback from my constituents is that they are

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the March 11 journal and received routine communications, including notice of a temporary substitute senator and several committee reports. The chamber also received a gubernatorial message transmitting signed Senate bills and House messages on enrolled bills and new legislation. Committee reports moved a number of bills forward, including measures on finance, judiciary, resources, education, local government, agriculture, and transportation, with some bills held for amendment or one legislative day. On the floor, the Senate considered several third-reading bills. Senate Bill 1351, concerning state office vacancies and limits on reappointed gubernatorial appointees, passed 34-0. Senate Bill 1364, revising the expiration of temporary administrative rules, passed 35-0. Senate Bill 1370, amending the abortion trafficking statute by removing the word “recruiting” after constitutional concerns raised by the Attorney General’s office, passed 28-6. Senate Bill 1337, allowing limited flexibility for small irrigation district boards, passed 34-0, and Senate Bill 1339, replacing continuous improvement plans with multi-year strategic performance plans for schools and reducing reporting requirements, also passed on a 34-0 vote. The Senate also passed House Bill 576 on the Consumer Asset Recovery Fund, House Bill 731 on participation in the federal tax credit scholarship program, House Bill 591 cleaning up obsolete indigent eligibility law, House Bill 663 shifting agricultural license plate design authority, House Bill 543 updating retirement system Roth contribution language, House Bill 563 revising CPA licensure pathways, and House Bill 652 designating hunting as Idaho’s state sport. Senate Bill 1303, revising provisions related to renewable/sustainable energy resources and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, passed 27-8. House Bill 822 was introduced, and Senate Bill 1227 received House amendments that the Senate concurred in. The major defeat of the day was Senate Bill 1375, the fiscal year 2027 Health and Human Services maintenance appropriation bill. After extensive debate over Medicaid rate reductions, provider impacts, federal funding losses, and the use of reserves versus cuts, the bill failed 10-25 and was retained by the Secretary. The Senate then returned to committee reports, received additional House and Senate messages, and adjourned until 10:30 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are tightening the belts of Idaho citizens, and the feedback from my constituents is that they are

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would invite the members of this Oversight Committee to give that feedback to the CPUC directly, to

Summary: The Communications and Conveyance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), focused on telecommunications, broadband deployment, resiliency, and the California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine structural issues at the CPUC, including whether telecommunications oversight should remain within the commission, while also reviewing major programs such as Last Mile, BEAD, carrier of last resort, and emergency preparedness. CPUC President John Reynolds and Deputy Executive Director Anna Maria Johnson described the commission’s work on public safety, universal service, broadband grants, Lifeline modernization, and network resiliency, including the 72-hour backup power requirement and merger review. Members questioned CPUC officials about the pace and metrics for Last Mile and BEAD projects, the relationship between middle-mile and last-mile buildout, and how the commission balances carrier obligations with the risk of driving providers out of high-cost areas. They also pressed the CPUC on the California Lifeline home broadband pilot, asking when enrollment would be available, which providers were participating, how much of the state would be covered, and what the surcharge impact would be. CPUC said 15 providers had been approved, one was already serving customers, and the rest were still onboarding, and it committed to provide follow-up information on timelines, coverage, and costs. A major portion of the hearing centered on the California Teleconnect Fund and proposed changes to how schools would access the program. Superintendent Tony Thurmond argued strongly against shifting administration from county offices of education and districts to individual schools, saying it would add burden, worsen inequities, and risk underuse of a valuable broadband subsidy. Committee members echoed concerns that smaller schools and districts may lack the staff to manage direct applications and reporting. In public comment, the Los Angeles County Office of Education supported the CDE’s position and urged changes that would align the program more closely with E-Rate and reduce administrative burdens. No formal vote was taken, and Chair Boerner closed by saying she remained committed to pursuing reforms to the CPUC and referenced her bills AB 2289 and ACA 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• series where counties have given County operations meeting series where counties have given us their feedback

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a part of what makes our state great: the ability to have Idahoans come forward and share their feedback

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 17 and 18 and agreed to hold RS 33446 at the sponsor’s request. It then reconsidered RS 33144, a memorial urging the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit Obergefell v. Hodges. The sponsor argued the issue belongs to the states under federalism and cited Idaho’s constitutional definition of marriage and traditional moral and religious views. Members questioned the need for the memorial given Idaho’s existing constitutional amendment and whether updated public-opinion data should be provided. The committee adopted a substitute amendment removing language referring to the “Anglo-American legal tradition,” and the revised RS 33144 was introduced; the chair later noted noes on the motion for the record. The committee next introduced RS 33-421, a large-load utility bill aimed at codifying rules for new high-demand customers, such as data centers, so growth pays for growth and existing ratepayers are protected from infrastructure costs. The sponsor said the bill would help prevent rate increases and stranded assets, and members asked about impacts on nuclear development, treatment of existing large-load customers, and whether utilities had been consulted. The motion to introduce RS 33-421 passed. The main item of the meeting was H.J.R. 10, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning Idaho endowment lands. The sponsor said the amendment would prioritize revenue-generating uses, preserve traditional uses like timber, mining, and grazing, and protect public access without making the public a beneficiary. Supporters, including recreation and outfitter representatives, said it would provide stability and better recognize recreation and other uses. Opponents from logging, mining, ranching, and the Idaho Department of Lands warned it could create legal ambiguity, invite litigation, conflict with the Admissions Act and fiduciary duties, and shift management away from the current trust framework. After extensive testimony and debate, a motion to hold H.J.R. 10 in committee failed 6-8, and the motion to send it to the floor with a due pass recommendation then failed on a 7-7 tie, so no action was taken to advance the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• is part of what makes our state great: the ability to have Idahoans come forward and share their feedback

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conversations with Senator Shamp, and we're going to continue working on it, and I appreciate your feedback

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. SB 1572, the Return to Civics Instruction Act, would require Freedom Week, civics instruction on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and a Declaration recitation for grades 3-12; it passed 3-2 after some members argued schools already provide civics instruction and that the legislature should not mandate curriculum. SB 1798, as amended, would require each high school to designate a FAFSA point person, post contact information, and implement a FAFSA awareness strategy; the Arizona Board of Regents supported it, while some members raised concerns about mandates on charter schools and staffing burdens. The committee also passed SB 1711, which directs the State Board of Education to develop and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, with testimony split between support for parent-accessible safety materials and concerns about sex-education compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• conversations with Senator Shamp, and we're going to continue working on it, and I appreciate your feedback

Bills: SB1004 , SB1424 , SB1497 , SB1507 , SB1572 , SB1684 , SB1711 , SB1741 , SB1754 , SB1763 , SB1798 , SCR1012 , SCR1041 , SCR1051

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: sex offender registration, sex offender registry, A.R.S. 13-3821, sexual offenses, public safety, GPS monitoring, electronic monitoring, transient offender, homeless registrant, online identifiers, internet identifiers, sheriff notification, Department of Public Safety, DPS, DNA collection, juvenile adjudication, kidnapping of a minor, unlawful imprisonment of a minor, lifetime registration, community notification

Transcript Highlights:

• We did undertake a lot of feedback as we went through the process, as this has happened every year since

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• And so with all the feedback I've received, I don't feel in good conscience we can expand this before

Committee: House Families & Children

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:26 - Discussion of 26RS HB 6 17:45 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 6 20:20 - Discussion of 26RS HJR 50 22:30 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HJR 50 23:19 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Stahl and Representative Hamilton had some really good feedback on this bill, so if anybody

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious about their feedback on how to implement that, too.

Committee: House Children and Families

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one, and then if you've had an opportunity to visit with the department, just curious about their feedback

Committee: House Children and Families

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families met with a quorum and first took up several bills in executive session. House Bill 1818, dealing with protections for children involved in content creation and related financial arrangements, was amended and converted into a House Committee substitute. Members discussed that the bill is aimed at children creating content for financial gain and clarifies that platforms must comply with federal law without being drawn into disputes between children and parents. The substitute was then voted do pass by a 17-0 roll call. House Bill 1948 was also amended and substituted; the amendment changed references from the Family Support Division to the Department of Social Services, and members briefly joked about the wording of “fatherhood” versus “fathership.” The committee then voted the substitute do pass 17-0. The committee next debated House Bill 2688, which drew sharp disagreement. Opponents argued the bill’s due process language for unborn children was too vague, could create legal uncertainty, and might have consequences for IVF, miscarriage investigations, and criminal liability for women and medical providers. Supporters said the bill was about protecting pre-born life and that due process should apply. The bill was voted do pass by a 12-5 roll call. The committee then moved into public hearings. In public hearing, House Bill 1772 was presented as an adoption-fee bill intended to raise state-paid attorney fees for adoptions, increase fees for contested adoptions, and separate guardian fees so more children could be adopted from foster care. The sponsor said the goal was to reduce costs and speed adoptions; Foster Adopt Connect testified in support, while members raised questions about contested adoptions, subsidy timing, and whether the bill would affect access to attorneys. House Bill 1696 proposed clarifying who has the right of sepulcher for minors with court-appointed guardians, giving the guardian priority unless the guardian is under criminal investigation for the child’s death, and adding religious-belief protections regarding cremation. Testimony from family members described painful experiences where legal authority reverted to abusive parents after a child’s death, and committee members generally supported clarifying the law. Finally, House Bill 2505 was heard, a grandparent custody bill giving grandparents priority when both parents are found unfit, unsuitable, or unable to serve as custodians and the child’s welfare requires placement. Supporters, including Foster Adopt Connect and a grandmother who testified emotionally, said grandparents often provide the most stable care and should be recognized in statute. An opponent argued the current law already allows courts to place children with grandparents when appropriate and warned that statutory priority could override the child’s best interests in some cases. The committee adjourned after concluding public testimony on HB 2505.

Transcript Highlights:

• I now support the bill as amended and appreciate the community's responsiveness to community feedback

Bills: SB6256 , SB6275 , SB5868 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: tax exemptions, affordable housing, nonprofit, unoccupied property, housing policy, community reinvestment, economic development, local investment, financial assistance, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges

Transcript Highlights:

• with this modernization initiative because our association had received and continues to receive feedback

Bills: HB2477 , HB2501 , HB2465 , HB2512 , HB2240 , HB2624 , HB2536 , HB2476

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: real estate, appraisal, consumer protection, business operations, regulatory compliance, HB 2501, real estate disclosure, seller disclosure notice, residential property, home heating oil tank, oil tank insurance, pollution liability insurance agency, PLIA, heating oil contamination, remediation assistance, Washington real estate, property sale, buyer disclosure, seller obligations, oil heat

Transcript Highlights:

• with this modernization initiative because our association had received and continues to receive feedback

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public hearings on several bills related to real estate, self-storage, and consumer disclosures. House Bill 2477 would shorten the time to bring claims against appraisers arising from appraisal reports to two years from discovery or five years from signing, except fraud claims, and would limit liability to specified clients and intended users. The sponsor and appraiser witnesses said the bill would reduce long-tail liability, lower insurance and recordkeeping burdens, and help attract new appraisers; no opposition testimony was heard in the excerpt. House Bill 2512 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to exclusive groups unless the property is also publicly marketed. Supporters, including Washington Realtors, Zillow, Habitat for Humanity, Windermere, and others, said it would promote transparency, competition, and fair housing; opponents argued it could limit homeowner privacy and autonomy, and the Attorney General’s office said the Washington Law Against Discrimination already covers discrimination concerns and objected to placing enforcement in that statute. House Bill 2240 would modernize self-storage rental agreements by allowing electronic execution, deeming continued use after notice as acceptance, and setting notice and disposal rules after termination or nonrenewal; storage industry witnesses supported the bill as clarifying safety and notice procedures, while an advocacy witness opposed it as harmful to unhoused people and others who rely on storage units. House Bill 2465 would require a water recreation safety guide for short-term rentals with pools or similar facilities; the sponsor and hospitality industry supported it as a low-cost safety measure, while cities raised implementation concerns and asked for an amendment on where the guide would be posted. House Bill 2501 would update a seller disclosure notice to reflect the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency’s shift from a no-cost insurance program to a loan-and-grant remediation program, and it drew support as a technical correction. House Bill 2624 would exempt public entities, tribes, and nonprofit land conservancies from the 2025 “solicited real estate transactions” appraisal and notice requirements; conservation groups and the Department of Natural Resources supported it as necessary to preserve land acquisition and grant funding, and the sponsor described it as a cleanup bill. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on two liquor-related bills. House Bill 2536, allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or beer/wine restaurant license at one location, was moved out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 14-1 vote. House Bill 2476, modifying the spirits, beer, and wine theater license, was amended via a proposed substitute that restored the 120-seat-per-screen limit except for theaters admitting only patrons 21 and older; the substitute was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 13-2 vote. Members discussed the balance between business flexibility and concerns about alcohol access in family settings and recovery communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did take into account, I think, some of the testimony and feedback we've heard from stakeholders that

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5855 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, face coverings, law enforcement, public safety, civil liberties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• We did take into account, I think, some of the testimony and feedback we've heard from stakeholders that

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on several bills. SB 5865 on garnishment forms was amended to require the Washington Pattern Forms Committee to finish the new forms by December 31, 2026, with an effective date of January 1, 2027; a competing amendment was withdrawn, and the bill received a due pass recommendation. SB 5880 on toxicology testing by certified laboratories was amended to clarify that local governments may accept private donations to help fund ISO-IEC 17025 testing, without requiring them to do so, and it also received a due pass recommendation. SB 5912 to reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force was amended to remove legislators from the task force, add members, revise duties and reporting, and adjust staffing and reimbursement provisions; it too was advanced. SB 5855 on law enforcement face coverings drew extensive amendment debate. The committee rejected amendments that would have narrowed mask exceptions, added weather/environmental language, created a private right of action against federal officers, and established a claims account for officers, but adopted the proposed substitute and sent the bill forward on a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard public testimony on SB 6011, which would let Court of Appeals bailiffs conduct threat assessments and access certain criminal history information for Court of Appeals judges and staff, mirroring authority already given to Supreme Court bailiffs. The bill’s sponsor and the acting chief judge for Division I said the change would address increasing threats and allow bailiffs to investigate and refer matters efficiently; there was no opposition testimony. SB 6009, which would make permanent direct-review procedures for certain administrative and land-use decisions, was described as a successful COVID-era process that reduces unnecessary court steps and conserves resources. The sponsor and a Court of Appeals judge supported making the sunset provisions permanent, and testimony was generally favorable. Public hearing also continued on SB 5868, which would add one Superior Court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties. Court officials, county leaders, and the Administrative Office of the Courts testified that both counties have growing caseloads, trial delays, and backlogs, and that the counties had budgeted their share of the cost. The committee then heard SB 5974, which would add eligibility requirements for sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals, restrict the use of volunteers and specially commissioned officers, and clarify duties of sheriffs. Supporters argued the bill would improve professionalism, accountability, and public trust, especially in immigrant and survivor communities. Opponents, including several sheriffs, cities, and counties, argued it would undermine local control and voter authority, impose costly background checks, and raise constitutional concerns. Public testimony on SB 5974 closed when time expired, and the committee adjourned.