Transcript Highlights:

• And we have experience of evaluating multiple projects in a homeowner-type community where you have an
• And we have experience evaluating multiple projects in a homeowner-type community where you have an erosion

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've evaluated multiple projects in a homeowner... ...experience.
• I've evaluated multiple projects in a homeowner-type community where you have an erosion problem that

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources heard House Bill 2202, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew, which would allow active-duty military personnel, 100% disabled veterans, and youth during youth hunt seasons to receive certain hunting permits at no cost. Mayhew argued the bill would help recruit younger hunters, support military members and disabled veterans, and would not threaten conservation funding because the conservation fund has maintained substantial balances. Committee members questioned the bill’s fiscal impact, possible constitutional issues, effects on Pittman-Robertson federal reimbursements, and whether the bill duplicated existing Missouri Department of Conservation exemptions. Some members supported the concept of honoring veterans but suggested other funding mechanisms or clarifying language, and MDC said it would revise the fiscal note after misreading some figures. Testimony on HB 2202 was mostly opposed or informational. An Army veteran testified against the bill, saying current MDC rules already provide significant exemptions for veterans, active-duty personnel, and seniors, and warning the bill could reduce revenue and federal matching funds. MDC Deputy Director Aaron Jeffreys said the department already offers numerous veteran and military exemptions and supports veteran hunts through partnerships with NGOs, but also explained the agency’s fund balance is being used for major capital projects and is expected to decline. Several members and the sponsor debated whether conservation revenues are being held in reserve unnecessarily or are needed for ongoing projects and future obligations. The committee then heard House Bill 1734, sponsored by Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, which would create a Soil Erosion Control Fund Act to help homeowners associations finance erosion mitigation projects through assessments, state fund allocations, and matching local or grant dollars. Wellenkamp and supporters said erosion and flooding are causing major property damage, especially in water-rich and river-adjacent areas, and that the bill would give communities a practical tool to address problems that are too expensive for cities or counties to solve alone. Members from affected districts described severe flooding and erosion impacts, and the sponsor said the bill includes safeguards such as HOA nonprofit status, homeowner approval, and repayment terms to protect taxpayers. HB 1734 drew broad support from witnesses including the Community Associations Institute, a stream restoration business, the Missouri Municipal League, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy of Missouri, and a St. Charles County lobbyist. Supporters said the proposal would help stabilize land, protect homes and property values, improve habitat and water quality, and reduce long-term public costs. No witnesses testified in opposition, and the hearing on HB 1734 concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates an evaluation process for all full-time virtual programs.
• It creates an evaluation process for all full-time virtual programs in which PED doesn't have them register

Committee: Senate House Education

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 47, the school employee insurance “80-20” bill, which would require school districts and charter schools to pay 80% of employee health insurance premiums, bringing K-12 employees into parity with other public employees. Supporters from school superintendents, school boards, charter schools, teachers, AFT, NIA, and labor groups said the bill would improve recruitment and retention, reduce the burden of rising premiums, and increase take-home pay, especially in rural districts. One amendment proposed by Senator Ramos would have expanded the bill to require a cooperative purchasing process and more insurance options, but it was opposed as a structural change not vetted for this bill and was withdrawn. The committee then approved HB 47 on a roll-call vote and sent it to the Senate floor. The committee next took up House Bill 253, the public education changes bill, which focuses on full-time virtual education and related funding issues. The sponsor and education officials said the bill preserves virtual learning options, requires districts and charters to report virtual enrollment, creates an evaluation/certification process for full-time virtual programs, and includes a temporary funding fix to address budget shortfalls caused by virtual enrollment growth. Testimony from school leaders and boards supported the compromise, noting the need to avoid a statewide loss in unit value while also addressing the Gallup-McKinley situation and other funding distortions. Several senators raised concerns about impacts on small rural districts, out-of-state students, and the treatment of full-time virtual students in rural-unit calculations, but officials said emergency supplemental funding could address shortfalls and that a broader study would be done in the interim. The committee then passed HB 253 on a roll-call vote and advanced it to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• We then evaluated those projects based on relevance, impact to community, feasibility, and then geographic
• A project that's specifically looking at new remote sensing mechanisms to evaluate snow depth is being

Summary: The committee began with presentations from the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRI). Eric Wyseth of IOGA described the association’s history, its more than 400 members, and the industry’s economic impact, saying outfitting and guiding generates about $891 million annually, supports over 7,500 jobs, and largely benefits rural Idaho. He also raised concerns about Fish and Game allocation changes, the importance of keeping public lands in public hands, and the ongoing FERC relicensing process for Hells Canyon Dam, where outfitters want daytime minimum flows maintained for jet boating. Dr. Kendra Kaiser of IWRI outlined the institute’s water research priorities and funding process, including a 32-member advisory committee, more than $500,000 distributed to university projects, and work on statewide issues such as water scarcity, recharge and water quality, snowpack data, flood mapping, monitoring gaps, East Snake Plain reach gains, and Lake Pend Oreille management. Director Matt Weaver praised IWRI’s renewed role as a neutral, applied-science partner for water management. The committee then set aside several code cleanup bills at the sponsor’s request. House Bill 569, sponsored by Representative Sauter, was introduced to expand recreational water skiing rules to allow driver-and-skier operation on public waters under specified equipment, age, and time restrictions; it was moved and passed to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1222, presented by Representative Pickett, was described as a follow-up to last year’s domestic water exemption law, clarifying the definition of a subdivision as five lots and making the changes prospective beginning July 1, 2025. Testimony from the Idaho Water Users Association supported the bill, and it was also sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation after questions about domestic use, irrigation limits, and enforcement. Finally, Representative Boyle presented Senate Joint Memorial 108, which urges federal officials to address concerns that livestock producers on BLM and Forest Service allotments are discouraged from filing depredation claims for wolf or grizzly bear losses because of threats to their permits or grazing terms. The memorial was supported by a Farm Bureau letter in the packet. The committee moved it to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• really why the sunset was set up, to make sure that you all had the opportunity to come back and evaluate
• the success of the program. ...was to make sure that you all had the opportunity to come back and evaluate

Bills: SB101 , SB58 , SB55

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB58, metropolitan redevelopment, redevelopment property, property tax exemption, payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, municipal redevelopment, local government

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 101, which would repeal the July 1, 2030 sunset on the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and make the hospital provider-tax program permanent. The sponsor, the Health Care Authority secretary, and the New Mexico Hospital Association said the program has generated substantial federal Medicaid matching funds and has supported hospital workforce, quality, and infrastructure investments, especially in rural areas. Members asked why the sunset existed originally and whether federal changes under H.R. 1 would phase the program down; the secretary explained the sunset was meant as a review point, but that federal law now prevents creating a new similar program if this one expires. The committee heard support from hospital and business representatives, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from a fixed seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and Albuquerque redevelopment officials said the change would give local governments more flexibility to structure projects based on financial need, while still preserving current tax payments and encouraging redevelopment of blighted or underused areas. Several supporters, including realtors and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, argued the longer window would improve certainty for developers and help spur housing and other reinvestment. Some members raised concerns about lost revenue for schools and whether the tool could be overused, but were told the program applies only in designated redevelopment areas and is intended to leverage future higher assessments. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 7-0. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 55, which increases New Mexico’s state solar tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal credit was reduced, and raises the individual cap from $6,000 to $15,000 while keeping the overall annual program cap at $30 million. The sponsor and numerous solar industry, business, and clean-energy advocates said the change is needed to prevent layoffs, stabilize the rooftop solar market, support local jobs, and preserve grid and affordability benefits for customers. Members asked about permitting, certification, consumer protection, and whether battery storage was included; the sponsor said the bill covers rooftop solar only, the credit is refundable, and EMNRD certifies systems before credits are issued. The committee heard broad support, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant periods, our grantees are providing us quarterly progress reports, they're doing a local evaluation
• And certainly, I think the legislature also recognizes that we have a role to play in re-evaluating our

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contextual tools, contextual signals such as grade bands, course levels, and learning progression to evaluate
• contextual tools, contextual signals such as grade bands, course levels, and learning progression to evaluate

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard two bills. AB 1159 by Assemblymember Addis would update California student data privacy law to extend protections to college students, limit how ed tech companies can collect and use student information, and add restrictions around sensitive data and generative AI use. Supporters, including Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, CFT, labor, civil rights, and education groups, said students and educators need stronger safeguards against invasive data collection and misuse. Opponents, including College Board, TechNet, CalChamber, and ACT Education, argued the bill was overly broad, could interfere with legitimate educational services and AI development, and raised concerns about a private right of action and impacts on adult students and recruitment opportunities. AB 883 by Assemblymember Lowenthal would expedite deletion of personal information for elected and appointed officials under California’s data broker deletion system by having state agencies provide official lists to the privacy agency and requiring brokers to delete the information within five days. Supporters said the measure responds to rising threats, harassment, and violence against public officials and would help reduce exposure of their personal data. TechNet and TechC.A. opposed unless amended, citing concerns about exemptions for lawful data sharing, the five-day timeline, and litigation risk, while the author emphasized the bill does not create a new right but streamlines access to an existing deletion process. Both bills were advanced after committee discussion and roll calls. AB 1159 passed 11-2 and was sent to the Judiciary Committee. AB 883 passed 14-0 and was sent to the Appropriations Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we recommend re-evaluating the 500 connection threshold.
• Also, we recommend re-evaluating the 500 connection threshold for leakage standards.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee opened its 2026 session with committee housekeeping, member introductions, and a reminder that schedules are set a week in advance and amendments must be submitted by the prior day’s deadlines. Chair Reeves emphasized solution-oriented, collaborative, and respectful participation, then outlined that the committee would focus on three interim reports relevant to its work this session: municipal water efficiency, ecosystem services, and food policy. The first presentation, from the William D. Ruckelshaus Center and WSU, reviewed Washington’s municipal water efficiency statute and regulation. Presenters said interviewees largely agreed on the need for better data collection, more technical assistance for smaller systems, and more state funding for both agency staffing and water system infrastructure. Most opposed shifting oversight of the conservation program from the Department of Health to Ecology, and the report recommended keeping oversight at DOH while improving collaboration across agencies and tribes. The presenters also urged broader statewide water planning, more consistent reporting using the AWWA water audit method instead of leakage percentage, re-evaluating the 500-connection threshold, and addressing outdoor water use, rebates, reuse, and public education. Members asked about creating a new office for water oversight, but the presenters said that idea was generally viewed as too costly and impractical under current budget conditions. DNR then presented its 2025 ecosystem services work group report. The department described ecosystem services markets it studied, including regulatory and voluntary forest carbon, avoided wildfire emissions, and water leasing, with lower potential identified for blue carbon, biodiversity, and water quality markets. DNR said about 15,000 acres of state forest land may have carbon-market potential, but emphasized that the analysis was broad and not project-specific, so the report recommends pilots, continued market monitoring, use of third-party developers, and clarification of authority through House Bill 2170. Committee members asked about economic feasibility, timber tradeoffs, and how success would be defined, and DNR said those questions would be better addressed in future, more detailed project-level work. The final presentation covered the Food Policy Forum’s 2025 report to the legislature. Speakers described broad consensus recommendations on food security, local foods in schools, farm-to-food-bank programs, a state farm bill, commercial access, and food system infrastructure. They highlighted pressures on agriculture from development, flooding, drought, water shortages, and the need to preserve farmland and support farmers, food banks, and local procurement systems. The committee chair thanked the presenters and noted that several related bills and policy proposals would be heard later in session. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded after the presentations and brief member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems require contextual signals such as grade bands, course levels, and learning progression to evaluate
• contextual tools, contextual signals such as grade bands, course levels, and learning progression to evaluate

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the Insurance Services Organization, ISO, evaluates community fire protection, including water
• I evaluated him and placed the referral, and he was seen.

Bills: S2732 , S2738 , S2739

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance, referrals, network providers, payment denial, insurance costs, manufactured homes, homeowners insurance, affordability, state regulations, insurance market, consumer protection, mobile homes, firefighting, water supply, cistern program, rural areas, urban interface, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS PETS IN FLORIDA AND THIS REGULATORY STRUCTURE COMBINED WITH A ROBUST RISK EVALUATION
• JOHNS RIVER HABITAT RESTORATION AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND EVALUATING SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO PREVENT MANATEE

Transcript Highlights:

• who can get them away from that... ...somebody can get them away from that perspective to then be evaluated
• I need to give this to the juvenile court to evaluate the best safety plan for the child.' ...the best

Bills: SB156 , SB134 , SB108 , SB47 , SB88 , SB89 , SB106 , SB18 , SB9 , HB38 , HB54

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: habitual felony offender, resentencing, Alabama Department of Corrections, victim notification, criminal justice reform, life sentences, parole eligibility, pardon, parole, law enforcement, GPS monitoring, data sharing, mail theft, stolen mail, criminal penalties, personally identifying information, felony, misdemeanor, SB47, Alabama

Transcript Highlights:

• It ensures Kentucky's child welfare program data is available to be evaluated by researchers to increase
• is available child welfare program data is available to<00:12:39.079><c> be</c><00:12:39.279><c> evaluated

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 01:32 Discussion on 25RS HB 164 10:07 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 164 11:30 Discussion on 25RS HB 242 13:09 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 242 15:08 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 17:37 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Families and Children held its first meeting of 2025, with the chair welcoming new members and Vice Chair Wilson. After roll call, the committee took up House Bill 164, sponsored by Representative Wesley, which concerns an honorary adoption situation. The committee adopted a House committee substitute clarifying that any survivor benefits or inheritance would not go to honorary adoptive parents, and heard emotional testimony from Caitlyn Rollins about fostering and adopting a child who later died before a scheduled adoption date. Members discussed the bill’s purpose as providing closure and ensuring legal parentage is recognized in life and death, while also noting a possible drafting issue about whether all listed conditions must be met. The committee agreed to address that concern through a possible House floor amendment, and HB 164 passed favorably 16-0. The committee then heard House Bill 242, sponsored by Representative Sam, and testimony from child welfare researcher Matthew Walden. The bill is intended to increase transparency in Kentucky’s child welfare system by making program data available to researchers while protecting privacy. With no questions from members, the bill passed the committee favorably by a 16-0 vote. Finally, the committee reviewed referred administrative regulations and considered agency amendment 490 related to adoption assistance and Title IV-E adoption assistance. CHFS representatives explained that the amendment removes a civil determination requirement from certain sections because the cabinet cannot make such determinations and already relies on substantiations and other safety checks. The committee approved the agency amendment by voice vote, then concluded its review of the remaining regulations without further action. The next meeting was announced for February 20, 2025, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh<00:31:03.440><c> that</c><00:31:03.799><c> evaluation</c><00:31:04.799><c> was</c><00:31:05.120><c
• > going</c><00:31:05.279><c> to</c><00:31:05.440><c> be</c><00:31:05.600><c> so</c> Uh that evaluation
• was going to be so Uh that evaluation was going to be so difficult<00:31:06.399><c> especially</c><00
• </c><00:31:55.440><c> There</c><00:31:55.600><c> was</c> evaluation I should say.
• There was evaluation I should say.

Bills: HF2431 , HF2438 , HF2783 , HF1943

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: higher education, college affordability, student aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, financial aid, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, tuition relief, work-study, child care grants, hunger-free campus, food insecurity, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct, Title IX

Transcript Highlights:

• They are constantly evaluating the risk and reward, and you have seen, we have seen, in fact, the sheriff
• They are constantly evaluating the risk and reward, and you have seen, we have seen, in fact, the sheriff
• in access to and transparency of criminal justice system data that is imperative to the proper evaluation
• </c><00:32:36.399><c> of</c><00:32:36.679><c> Criminal</c><00:32:37.159><c> Justice</c> proper evaluation
• of Criminal Justice proper evaluation of Criminal Justice System<00:32:38.440><c> outcomes</c><00:32

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also requesting an increase in some of our performance funding for our district technical colleges
• The beauty of this is that local educational agencies can use this beyond the initial program performance
• The pandemic did have an impact on how CTE performed.
• Finally, I want to take a brief look and share with you about our performance incentive funds. history
• process that we have implemented for the last several years that provides local liaisons with the performance

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your job, as you rightly defined it, is to make sure that the commission is performing its duties.
• I make no statement of competence, but in the event that that person is not performing, having come from
• I think when it comes to her performance or any of the staff's performance, I actually think it's the
• You know, you mentioned the derecho, the performance. of CenterPoint during the derecho was lauded for
• This creates competing interests since there's always some work for them to perform.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to provide the standard. performance measures in the new bill pattern for that new campus.
• Item number two is was adopted was to correct a performance measure at the University of Texas at El
• Item number six is the performance-based research operations mission-specific formulas.
• Item number two is for the performance tier. formula, and that was adopted, and that was $2.3 billion
• And I've discussed this with you, Madam Chairman, on agency performance and measures, particularly. salaries

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said this is a pretty lopsided committee, but there can be merit in further evaluation of some possible
• </c><00:39:52.320><c> of</c><00:39:52.720><c> some</c><00:39:53.119><c> possible</c> further evaluation
• of some possible further evaluation of some possible model<00:39:54.000><c> of</c><00:39:54.320><c>
• So, so people who evaluate um right?
• So, so people who evaluate um kids<02:10:40.239><c> for</c><02:10:40.639><c> their</c><02:10:40.880><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on reviewing and amending draft minutes and then discussing a draft report on SAU consolidation and school administration efficiency. Members first corrected a disputed statement in the minutes about who starts charter schools, and agreed to mark it as disputed. They also noted a donation figure mentioned in the meeting but not reflected in the notes, and then approved the minutes as amended. The committee then reviewed supporting materials, including a Census Bureau education spending table and a 1993 report on eliminating SAUs. The chair argued New Hampshire ranks very high in administrative spending and used that as evidence for reducing administrative costs. Other members pushed back, noting that education costs are largely borne locally and that the committee should stay focused on its charge. Several members also objected to characterizations of SAU boards and to relying heavily on an old report or on the School District Governance Association’s proposal. The draft report itself drew repeated edits. Members objected to language suggesting the testimony from associations was simply that change was not needed, and proposed more neutral wording about concerns over the impacts of changes. There was also disagreement over a proposed model in which a county-level school administrator would be elected; some members said that would be inappropriate and premature, while others argued the committee had not yet fully developed a consolidation model. The discussion ended with a call from some members for more time and for a future joint legislative committee to continue refining any proposal before legislation is introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first pathway, Improving Attendance Utilizing the Minnesota MTSS Framework, helps teams evaluate
• you're doing in middle school and how it applies to high school: your attendance, your academic performance
• you're doing in middle school and how it applies to high school: your attendance, your academic performance
• ><c> academic</c> school. your attendance, your academic school. your attendance, your academic performance
• </c> performance, your credit accumulation. performance, your credit accumulation.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all