Transcript Highlights:

• This bill seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by rural firefighting
• We added a revenue avenue for districts to challenge agency rules with state revenues, and we provided
• But give the schools a chance to use public money on rule challenges.
• But give the schools a chance to use public money on rules challenges.
• And I want to point out there's other people that. money on rules challenges.

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 8:00 p.m. that day, also allowing the Secretary to make the calendar available as soon as practicable. The chamber then took up and passed several House bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 2128, relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue capabilities, passed unanimously. HB 4157, on liability protections for commercial spaceflight and exploration, passed 28-3. HB 2240, concerning certain void marriages, passed after adoption of a Birdwell amendment extending filing deadlines to 90 days for certain active-duty service members and Foreign Service officers. HB 367, on verification of excused absences for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses, passed unanimously after clarifying school district forms and TEA model forms. HB 1506, expanding expedited handgun license eligibility to certain retired county court judges, passed 29-2. HB 4449, on alcohol sales in annexed municipal areas, passed 29-2. HB 3812, on health plan prior authorization requirements, passed 30-1. The Senate also announced a long list of bills and resolutions signed in the presence of the Senate. A major portion of the meeting centered on HB 521, a voting-related bill on curbside voting for voters with disabilities. Senator Paxton described it as an anti-misuse measure requiring a signed eligibility form for curbside voting, creating a 20-foot electioneering buffer, limiting election officer assistance in marking ballots unless a second officer is present, and adding reporting requirements for people who assist seven or more curbside voters. Senators Miles, Menendez, Johnson, Campbell, Cook, and others questioned whether the bill would burden disabled voters, create a de facto registry of volunteers, and impose a harsh Class A misdemeanor penalty for failing to complete the form. Paxton said the bill was intended to protect legitimate curbside voters and curb abuse, and the chamber adopted Paxton Floor Amendment No. 1 after a recorded vote. Zaffirini’s Floor Amendment No. 2, allowing an escorting voter to receive his or her own ballot at the curbside or entrance, was adopted. Menendez’s Floor Amendment No. 3 to reduce the penalty failed. The bill was then passed to third reading on a 20-11 vote, with a motion by Senator Miles to have the exchanges reduced to writing and placed in the journal adopted. The Senate also passed HB 3000, creating a grant program for rural ambulance service providers, after a comptroller-related amendment; HB 5616, establishing the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program and funding for traveling exhibits, after narrowing the bill to mobile exhibits only; HB 4211, addressing certain residential property interests controlled by entities, which passed 30-1; HB 1178, creating temporary educator certificates for out-of-state certified educators and military spouses, which passed unanimously; HB 2243, creating the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, which passed after debate over the need to streamline education mandates; and HB 42, increasing and reallocating the constitutional Higher Education Fund appropriation by 50% to $1.18 billion, which passed 31-0. Finally, HB 2512, a Fort Worth-specific bill limiting ETJ release for land subject to active development agreements, passed after debate over broader ETJ and de-annexation policy, with a local-only clarifying amendment adopted and a proposed broader amendment withdrawn. The meeting ended with the Senate beginning consideration of HB 3372, which would bar school district administrators from receiving financial benefits tied to outside consulting or contracting with education entities, though the transcript cuts off during questions on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was not the result of a suicide; it was due to the TikTok Blackout Challenge, which algorithmically
• Constitutional challenges have emerged in federal courts in Arkansas and Ohio.
• You can already challenge a book if you think it's too explicit.
• The law caused a massive decline in book circulation and is now facing a legal challenge from a group
• I produce ova, but I'm not able to get pregnant due to fertility challenges.

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would void and nullify administrative regulations filed by executive branch agencies.
• The opioid epidemic is one of the largest challenges our Commonwealth has ever faced, as indicated in
• And that cannot be challenged being met.
• </c><06:19:56.878><c> We</c><06:19:57.200><c> should</c> administrative challenges.
• We should administrative challenges.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment clarifies that information may be disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency
• It is disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency when necessary to protect others from an imminent
• Oversight the authority to disclose the identity of a complainant to the appropriate law enforcement agency
• If challenged. Thank you for the question. So I do not think this bill would apply to that.
• House Bill 3907 addresses some workforce challenges we have with our vulnerable populations in Oklahoma

Bills: HB2059 , HB3920 , HB2992 , HB3267 , HB4457 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB4425 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4333 , HB4340 , HB4343 , HB4344 , HB4363 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB4236 , HB4246 , HB1979 , HB3431 , HB3052 , HB3047 , HB3048 , HB4092 , HB4302 , HB3261 , HB3704 , HB3312 , HB3546 , HB3849 , HCR1021 , HB4105 , HB4159 , HB4304 , HB3835 , HB3619 , HB4490 , HB3710 , HB4201 , HB3907 , HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Summary: The House met in session with prayer, the Pledge, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Jake Searock, Doctor of the Day Dr. Nicole Bowden, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Amy Cherry, Nurse of the Day Eileen Cooper Grubbs, and a presentation for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day. Members also welcomed student and community guests in the galleries. The chamber then moved through a long calendar of House bills, with most measures advancing on unanimous consent or broad bipartisan votes. Among the major bills discussed, lawmakers passed measures on county jail medication reimbursement (HB 2059), a sales tax exemption for LifeShare (HB 3920), ratepayer protections for large data centers and crypto mining facilities (HB 2992), a felony offense for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling without intent to commit another crime (HB 3267), PBM access protections for specialty pharmacy patients (HB 4457), adjunct teacher guardrails in K-4 tested subjects (HB 4427), malpractice coverage for state-employed nurse practitioners and physician assistants (HB 4430), and several higher education, water, and state government cleanup bills. The House also approved bills addressing the 988 mental health lifeline, juvenile oversight disclosures, school support employee tracking, a federal education tax credit opt-in, firearms education curriculum development, AI personhood restrictions, child safety reviews related to fentanyl, and expungement relief for trafficking victims. Debate centered most heavily on HB 2992, where supporters argued data centers should pay their share of infrastructure costs so residential and other ratepayers are not burdened, while some members questioned why the bill singled out data centers instead of all large-load users. HB 3267 drew questions about how the new offense would affect people with cognitive impairments, and HB 3312, the firearms education bill, prompted concerns about who would teach the curriculum. HB 3546 on artificial intelligence personhood also generated discussion about accountability and future regulation. Several bills were amended on the floor, including HB 492, HB 4302, and HB 4105. The House recorded numerous final passage votes, with many bills passing overwhelmingly and some by narrower margins, including HB 3800, HB 4333, HB 3704, HB 4159, and HB 3619. Emergency clauses were adopted on some measures, including HB 4427 and HB 3312, while others were passed without emergency action. The chamber also reconsidered and then passed HB 1979 after a motion to reconsider a prior failure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that addresses some of the challenges that we have with respect to sober living homes,
• Health Directors Association of California, representing the leaders of the public behavioral health agencies
• central policy question of why, you know, how appropriate is it to have county behavioral health agencies
• So I supervise an adoption agency.
• PACT is a licensed adoption agency, licensed by the California Department of... ...Social Services.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The committee first took up SB 490 by Senator Umberg, which would set deadlines for DHCS to investigate complaints about unlicensed sober living or recovery homes and require follow-up site visits; if the department cannot act within those timelines, counties and cities could request to assist with enforcement. Supporters, including a Garden Grove councilmember and the League of California Cities, said the bill would improve public safety and close enforcement gaps. County behavioral health representatives opposed the measure, arguing counties lack jurisdiction over private unlicensed residences, could face liability, and would absorb an unfunded workload increase. After extensive questioning about jurisdiction, local pressure, and whether the bill creates a mandate, the committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 490 to Appropriations and placed it on call. The committee then heard SB 381 by Senator Wahab, which would allow adult adoptees and descendants to obtain original birth certificates, create a contact preference form for birth parents, and stop omitting certain birth information from the amended certificate. The author and many adoptees and birth parents testified that access to original records is important for identity, dignity, and medical history, and that the bill would reduce the need for invasive searches through DNA and informal records. Several members raised concerns about privacy, the possibility of unwanted contact, and the mental health impacts on birth parents who expected confidentiality, while others emphasized the health benefits and the fact that most modern adoptions are open. The discussion focused heavily on proposed amendments to the contact form and whether the bill should require opt-in or opt-out contact preferences, but the transcript does not show a final vote on SB 381.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we went looking for these numbers and trying to find where it is, most of the agencies that would
• The Board of Dental Health Care is the agency that's responsible, and they're a part of the Regulation
• Most licenses that are completed and straightforward face just administrative challenges.
• May I—I've already asked the agency for the rationale.
• State agencies are not known for moving quickly. I'd say give it a month. Yes, ma'am. Okay.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:12.360><c> and</c> um and the some of the challenges and um and the some of the challenges
• </c><00:17:12.520><c> and</c> Let's be great as for the challenges and Let's be great as for the challenges
• That's how we're going to take on tomorrow's challenges and build better futures for ourselves.
• That's how we're going to take on tomorrow's challenges and build better futures for ourselves.
• That's how we're going to take on tomorrow's challenges and build better futures for ourselves.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've already identified some of the challenges that are going on.
• As an industry, we must change to meet this challenging demand.
• I know you mentioned some of the challenges already.
• Are those challenges based on community acceptance or is it about the statewide challenges that we're
• We have a productivity challenge.

Summary: The Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation met to examine how industrialized construction, including modular, panelized, manufactured, and 3D-printed building methods, could help lower California’s housing costs and speed delivery. Chair Buffy Wicks opened by describing the committee’s purpose as a cross-cutting effort to address construction costs, drawing on visits to factories in Sweden, Idaho, and Indiana. Members from both the committee and invited participants broadly agreed that California’s housing crisis is driven not only by land use and permitting, but also by high construction costs, labor shortages, and a lack of scalable innovation. Ben Metcalf of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center provided the main policy overview, saying California needs roughly 2.5 million additional homes by 2030 and that multifamily construction costs in the state can be far higher than in Texas or Colorado. He said factory-built housing can reduce hard costs and timelines under the right conditions, but barriers remain in financing, local code and design review, uncertain demand pipelines, and fragmented research and data. In response to committee questions, he discussed possible state actions such as pro-housing incentives, state-backed purchasing or subsidies, more standardized approvals, and better research infrastructure. Members also raised the need to involve labor and building trades in the process. A panel of developers and builders then described projects and cost savings from factory-built and related methods. Caleb Rupp of Pacific Companies said modular construction can save about 20% on average and cited a project where modular delivery reduced the need for public subsidy by $18 million; he suggested incentives such as tax exemptions, state-owned sites, third-party inspections, and limits on local code variation. Lois Kim of Mutual Housing California described a pipeline of more than 660 units across six jurisdictions, saying a predictable factory pipeline can reduce construction time by about 40% and total development costs by at least 10%. Danny Haber of O’WOW said standardized design, componentized construction, and mass timber can cut costs substantially, while also criticizing outdated codes, utility hookup fees, and financing costs. Donna Jamian of Emergent Construction described California’s first code-approved 3D concrete printing projects, including homes in Redding and work on a commercial building and fire-recovery projects in Altadena. She said current codes have not caught up to the technology and asked for participation in local self-certification programs. Committee members asked about the role of state incentives, code alignment, financing support, and how to build developer confidence after failures like Katerra. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further hearings and a forthcoming white paper with policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• a response agency.
• I just want to say that, remember, our agency is a response agency.
• It’s not an investigative agency, and we are not a regulatory agency.
• Not if they contest the determination of the agency, whether the agency says no renewal.
• The determination of the agency.

Committee: House The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:51.120><c> white</c> develop the tools to challenge white develop the tools to challenge white
• </c><00:42:26.560><c> Um,</c><00:42:27.040><c> a</c> but even then I had challenges.
• Um, a but even then I had challenges.
• </c><00:43:08.640><c> and</c> attributes virtually all agency and attributes virtually all agency and
• ><c> think</c> It challenges students to think It challenges students to think critically<00:48:07.520

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 29 was heard in committee as a proposal to suspend adoption of the revised social studies standards, push implementation to 2030-31, repeal the requirement to embed ethnic studies across all standards, and cancel related appropriations. The bill sponsor argued Minnesota schools should focus on basic academic achievement and that ethnic studies requirements add burdens and distract from reading, math, and science. The chair moved the bill to the Committee on Education Finance after opening the hearing and then took extensive public testimony. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of HF 29, including Katherine Kersten, Deanna Moose, Kendall Qualls, Hillary Swanson, and Diane Smith, argued the ethnic studies framework is ideological, overly focused on race, insufficiently transparent, and costly in professional development time; several said it would divide students or burden teachers. Some supporters also claimed the standards or framework promote activism, critical race theory, or racial stratification. Opponents, including Mark Westfall, Crystal Johnson, Jim Grathwol, Marcus Penny, Claude Sigman, and Courtney Major, said the standards are inclusive, research-based, and designed to help students understand multiple perspectives, civic life, and the contributions of diverse Minnesotans. They emphasized that ethnic studies can improve engagement, critical thinking, and representation, and that teachers should be trusted to implement the standards. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal action noted was the chair’s motion to re-refer House File 29 to the Committee on Education Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Support Services Agency income is 1.
• But that is certainly a potential challenge.
• </c> some significant concerns and challenges some significant concerns and challenges going<02:58:40.840
• </c><03:21:19.199><c> to</c> is experiencing many challenges to is experiencing many challenges to providing
• </c><03:25:50.840><c> as</c> the need which has been challenging as the need which has been challenging

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we can't write school policies that override agency rules or state statute.
• </c><01:10:40.239><c> And</c> agency rules that override statute.
• And agency rules that override statute.
• ,</c> federal law, state law, state agencies, federal law, state law, state agencies, rules, rules, rules
• </c><01:38:12.719><c> the</c> go back and they'll challenge the go back and they'll challenge the election

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a group of some of the chapters, and then we have the Eastern Agency and Northern Agency, which
• I just caution members, I think this has got some real challenges that maybe have not yet been addressed
• So this could turn into a lot of challenges.
• So LFC and DFA are required to do certain things, develop joint agency instructions, submit accountability
• Establishing a cadence for legislative work is a unique challenge but New Mexico has the Senate's metronome

Bills: SB273 , SB37 , SB100

Keywords: SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a challenge; there's no... Those are a challenge; there's no question.
• Department of Environmental Quality, so the Department of Environmental Quality might be the correct agency
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2492 prohibits a city, town, county, the state, or any of its agencies
• Support the development of a geothermal permitting roadmap, alignment of agency geothermal permitting
• We do have challenges.

Bills: HB2099 , HB2263 , HB2264 , HB2330 , HB2341 , HB2492 , HB2757 , HB2782 , HB2843 , HB2889 , HB2912 , HB2915 , HB2918 , HB4025 , HB4100 , HCR2020 , HCR2057

Committee: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Keywords: water storage, long-term storage credits, groundwater management, drought contingency, Arizona water regulations, Colorado River, replenishment, groundwater savings facility, groundwater storage, underground water storage, active management area, irrigation non-expansion area, Arizona water law, water rights, water replenishment, recharge, water conservation district, multi-county water conservation district, CAP water, Central Arizona Project

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency didn't fill things out correctly.
• A lot of them still are a federally funded agency.
• It's always the hope with every agency.
• It's always the hope with every agency.
• the changes that the agency is making to its budget, and the enhancements that an agency may be requesting

Summary: The Resources and Conservation Committee convened with introductory remarks from Chair Mendive and members, who briefly described their districts and backgrounds. The chair outlined committee procedures, noted the committee would move quickly on RSs, and mentioned that some Fish and Game administrative rules could draw significant public interest and may be handled in a separate Zoom meeting because of their impact on hunting and other issues. The committee then considered three RSs. RS 32850, presented by Rep. Boyle, would move existing Forest Products Commission rules into law; it was introduced after brief questions about timber assessments. RS 32975, also by Rep. Boyle, would memorialize Congress to clarify federal land exchange procedures under FLPMA after a long-running BLM exchange was challenged in court; it was introduced. RS 32883, presented by Rep. Manwaring, would move the Soil and Water Conservation Commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources as part of an efficiency review; members raised concerns about preserving agricultural issues and committee jurisdiction, but the RS was introduced. Rep. Tanner then gave a presentation on budgeting and JFAC, urging members to review whether older laws and associated costs are still functioning as intended and to consider committee input on budget issues, including dedicated funds and agency reserves. Discussion focused on whether cuts to dedicated funds could affect agencies such as Fish and Game or local districts, with members cautioning against undermining locally managed reserves. Tanner said he was not proposing sweeping dedicated funds, but encouraging review of reserves and fees. He also raised concerns about DEQ staffing and permitting capacity in the context of federal primacy and litigation risk. Finally, budget analyst Janet Jessup demonstrated legislative budget tools and publications, including the base budget builder, budget book, fiscal report, fiscal source book, and performance measures, before the committee adjourned after volunteers were secured to proof the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:09.320><c> we've</c> oig offices and several agencies we've oig offices and several agencies
• I actually broke that agency apart and merged it into several other agencies.
• </c><00:29:54.399><c> task</c> to implement this this challenging task to implement this this challenging
• </c> housed you know within certain agencies housed you know within certain agencies that<00:31:00.799
• </c> have the oversight of the other agencies have the oversight of the other agencies that<00:59:29.319

Bills: HF1 , HF779 , HF1034

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• While the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, the loss of trust in public health and science agencies remains
• American's most challenging health problems. Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr.
• Bhattacharya, committed to promoting free and open debate at the agency, allowing all viewpoints to find

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Keywords: public health, nominations, NIH, FDA, drug affordability, transparency, pharmaceutical industry, healthcare accessibility

Summary: The meeting focused on vital health-related nominations, primarily emphasizing the roles of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for NIH Director and Dr. Monty McCary for FDA Commissioner. During the discussion, various senators expressed their support and concerns regarding these nominations. Senator Sanders voiced opposition to both candidates, highlighting issues related to drug affordability and public trust in health agencies. He emphasized the need for leaders committed to transparency and addressing the epidemic of high prescription drug prices, advocating for action against pharmaceutical industry greed. Overall, the conversation underscored the critical crossroads in public health leadership amidst ongoing challenges such as trust restoration and healthcare accessibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don’t even have a chance of challenging what happened because you don’t even know how it happened.
• We don’t even have a chance of challenging what happened because you don’t even know how it happened.
• We don’t even have a chance of challenging what happened because you don’t even know how it happened.
• There are far too many places where we've given broad rulemaking authority to different agencies.
• Yet very few people know, just because it's challenging to get that information out to people.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> enforcement ability from the agencies enforcement ability from the agencies like<02:51:59.279><c
• ,</c><02:57:26.240><c> as</c> the FTC as an independent agency, as the FTC as an independent agency,
• This federal agency is leadership.
• NTIA, a small but mighty agency housed NTIA, a small but mighty agency housed within<04:24:46.239><c>
• </c> NTIA and this amazing indust uh agency. NTIA and this amazing indust uh agency.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 28, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the agency also explained, it's a little bit of a challenge because they're adopting, or they, those
• So I think our direction to the agency is to bring forward a rule in the future that meets the needs
• Three, administration of an agency in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Revenue largely comes from general fund for this agency.
• I want to choose to work with a state agency. They're closer to home. They're more local.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee began with a visit from a BYU-Idaho agribusiness class, whose students and faculty were welcomed and briefly introduced themselves. The committee then took up a rule docket, 02-0601-2501, and approved it with an exception: section 112, new subsections 01 through 05, which incorporated documents by reference without a specific date. The committee adopted findings that this was inconsistent with the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act and directed the agency to return with a compliant rule in the future. The committee next considered RS 33272, presented by Senator Tammy Nichols, which would create standards for kratom products. Nichols said the proposal was intended to preserve lawful access to natural leaf kratom while prohibiting adulterated, synthetic, or artificially enhanced products, requiring limited third-party testing, setting an age restriction, clarifying supply-chain responsibilities, and establishing penalties without creating new licensing or fees. The committee voted to send the RS to print. Senator Todd Lakey then presented RS 33226, the Idaho Direct to Consumer Act, which would reduce regulation on small-scale homemade food and non-alcoholic drink sales made directly from producer to consumer, preempt more restrictive local rules, and include labeling and record-keeping requirements, including for certain direct meat sales. The committee voted to send that RS to print as well. The Idaho Department of Water Resources, speaking in its role with the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, gave an agency update on conservation district support, CREP, WACPA, and related programs. Officials reported on district funding distributions, landowner assistance, conservation acres served, and performance measures, and discussed budget requests including a proposed miscellaneous revenue fund and additional appropriations to address future CREP matching needs. In response to a question, the department said WACPA was not included in the governor’s budget. The Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts then presented on the value of locally led conservation districts, emphasizing volunteer governance, the return on state investment, education efforts, and local projects such as flood recovery and rangeland fire protection. Committee members asked about EPA coordination, and presenters said working through state agencies and local districts remained preferable and generally effective. The meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.