Transcript Highlights:

• The chair lays out House Bill 783 by Representative Leilani and recognizes its author, our colleague
• I believe it is Randall County. It was Potter County.
• into another county, if that annexation transcends a county line, then the portion of what's being annexed
• if it crosses, transcends a county line.
• and Randall County for how they're wet or dry or partially wet.

Bills: HB220 , HB783 , HB2240 , HB3336 , HB4202 , HB4449 , HB4904 , HB3441 , HB4284

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, HB 3336, alcoholic beverage tax credit, spent grain

Transcript Highlights:

• when they are doing county projects or authorizing projects that have a countywide impact.
• when they are doing county projects or authorizing projects that have a countywide impact.
• When they are doing county projects or authorizing projects that have a countywide impact.
• counties?
• County versus other counties? County versus other counties? Follow<03:59:46.160><c> up.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee discussed House Bill 185, which would amend RSA 3109 to add timelines for OPLC’s complaint review and investigation process. Members reviewed the existing five-year limitation period for misconduct complaints and noted that the bill would add a 30-day deadline for the office to make a recommendation to the board and a 90-day deadline to complete investigations. Some members raised concerns that the new deadlines could conflict with the existing statute of limitations, create pressure to dismiss cases too quickly, and potentially undermine the separation between OPLC’s investigative role and the boards’ adjudicatory role established by House Bill 655. Nicholas Fry, OPLC general counsel, testified that the agency’s fiscal note originally assumed it would need roughly double its staff to meet the proposed deadlines, though a later amendment reduced that estimate somewhat. He said OPLC would still need additional personnel, including investigatory paralegals and a physician investigator for the Board of Medicine, to meet the timeframes. He also explained OPLC’s current complaint and hearing procedures, including new consumer-friendly correspondence, website guidance, and efforts by the enforcement division to improve transparency and communication with complainants and licensees. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors testified in support of the bill’s basic goal of speeding up intake and investigation, saying the 30-day intake/review period was reasonable and that the bill would not change OPLC’s role in that first step. He argued, however, that the investigation step is where delays occur, especially for lower-priority complaints, and that some cases have remained unresolved for years. Committee members also questioned how the added staffing costs would be paid, with discussion of whether they would come from license fees or the general fund. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those mistakes were shared by residents in our districts, including my district in Wright County
• </c><00:23:45.520><c> And</c><00:23:45.679><c> I</c><00:23:45.919><c> met</c> district in Wright County
• And I met district in Wright County.
• ,</c> state agency, against every county, state agency, against every county, against<00:31:45.039><c
• policy every city policy every county policy every city ordinance<00:32:26.480><c> um</c><00:32:27.600

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority to the Chief Immigration Officer.
• They started in Jefferson County. That is what it is about.
• In 2022, in Pinellas County, a deputy was struck and killed by an illegal alien.
• We live in a rural part of the county, and the van pulled up at our front gate.
• Not only that, there was a warrant out for his arrest in Collier County for domestic assault.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, Mark Nolte, District 51, East half of Lafayette County, and all of Saline County
• Louis County. Those are the questions that we have. We don't have it, like in St. Louis County.
• If in my county, in St.
• Louis County or Jackson County. Line, six-line, eight-line towers.
• Louis County or Jackson County. They run through rural areas and they run over rural landowners.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3114, which would require operating railroads in Missouri to provide digital copies of valuation and station maps to the state land surveyor for inclusion in a public repository. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help surveyors locate abandoned railroad rights-of-way and determine center lines for adjoining landowners’ reversionary rights. Committee members asked about whether the bill would apply to active versus abandoned lines, whether records still exist for older railroads, and whether a deadline should be added for compliance. Railroad testimony raised concerns about the breadth of the request, potential security and proprietary issues, and the burden of compiling historical records, while indicating a willingness to continue discussions and possibly work with surveyors on a more targeted process. The committee then heard House Bill 2298, which would remove the current exemption for electric cooperatives from the requirement that condemning entities pay 150% of appraised value in eminent domain cases. The sponsor argued that co-ops should be treated the same as regulated utilities because landowners face the same burden when transmission lines cross their property, and he cited examples where co-op offers were far below what he believed comparable utility projects would pay. Landowners and a lawyer testifying in favor described alleged unfair treatment, uneven compensation, and the impact of transmission lines on farm operations and property value, while emphasizing that the bill would simply put co-ops on the same footing as other utilities. Opposition testimony from Associated Industries of Missouri and the Missouri Electric Cooperatives argued that the bill would interfere with the cooperative model, which is member-owned and governed by elected boards, and would reduce flexibility in negotiating easements. The co-op representative said the organizations are not partnered with Grain Belt Express, that any interconnection compensation is separate from the project itself, and that most easement acquisitions are settled by negotiation rather than condemnation. Committee members questioned whether co-ops already pay comparable amounts in practice, whether the bill would affect transmission projects tied to Grain Belt Express, and how co-op governance and member oversight should factor into eminent domain policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator from Montgomery County. >> Today's my lucky day.
• Senator from Montgomery County. >> Today's my lucky day.
• ><c> the</c> Authorization.
• Question is on the Authorization.
• </c> Baltimore City, Baltimore County Baltimore City, Baltimore County delegation. delegation. delegation

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, February 19, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• County, and the Rio Grande Valley.
• The county commissioners here in Tarrant County, just like our Tarrant County commissioners, were afraid
• It's Nacogdoches County.
• I have lived in Travis County since 2001.
• I'm pretty sure you know Hidalgo County is one of the most corrupt counties in the whole state of Texas

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the legislation have that authority? Return of premium is, in most counties, a civil matter.
• I want to thank the author. And the chair.
• I want to thank the author and the chair.
• Item 13, SB 1338 has been pulled by the author, and Item 14, SB 1401 has been pulled by the author.
• Item 13, SB 1338 has been pulled by the author. Item 14, SB 1401 has been pulled by the author.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a piece of legislation that will authorize the University of Southern Mississippi to sell, or enter
• Is it authorized at least 600? >> Yes, it would be for the entire property.
• the University of S will authorize the University of S southern<00:02:21.599><c> Mississippi</c><00:
• Is it authorized authorized authorized at<00:04:13.040><c> least</c><00:04:13.519><c> 600?
• Instead, it builds upon authority.

Committee: Joint Universities and Colleges

Keywords: Universities and Colleges - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He authored and passed a complete revision of the Texas Ethics Law.
• Motion to approve or authorize executive director to enter into contract for the maintenance services
• In addition, where the Commission has expressed rulemaking authority and discretion is the de minimis
• Houston Sports Authority.
• We don't have the authority to, with the first one, for of the members who are absent in it.

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, HB18, SB12, political contributions, civil penalties, Attorney General, criminal election offenses, legislation

Summary: In the latest meeting of the Texas Ethics Commission, significant discussions centered around newly passed legislation, specifically HB18 and SB12. HB18 introduces a civil penalty for members who accept political contributions while absent from the state, addressing potential obstructions to legislative actions. Senators and commissioners engaged in an in-depth dialogue about the implications of this bill, with many expressing concerns regarding enforcement and compliance. In contrast, SB12 expands the jurisdiction of the Attorney General to prosecute criminal election offenses, further tightening the oversight of election activities. The meeting concluded with acknowledgement of the efforts put forth by previous commission chairs, highlighting their contributions to the commission's success.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, members, any questions or comments to the author or the testifier?
• Looks like the next testifier, author of the bill, is still testifying in another committee.
• </c><00:07:57.039><c> and</c> uh for first uh bill you've authored and uh for first uh bill you've authored
• Kevin Magnuson, Washington County Attorney? Mr.
• I'm the county attorney for Washington County, and I want to thank the committee for having me here today

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a quick comment: glad to be a co-author on this bill.
• </c> conservation manager with Olstead County conservation manager with Olstead County Soil<01:30:58.040
• </c> talk about um our omad County talk about um our omad County groundwater<01:31:06.719><c> protection
• </c><01:31:26.560><c> uh</c> uh the conversations instead County uh uh the conversations instead County
• </c> letters of support from counties letters of support from counties surrounding<01:45:59.280><c> Olstead

Bills: HF2446 , HF2878 , HF2667 , HF1795 , HF2683 , HF2916

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also don't abate the county school taxes.
• So our county tracks our PILOTs.
• TIF is authorized for cities, counties, and port districts.
• and Pierce County in particular.
• And then some of that funding does come from local cities or counties, like San Juan County, for example

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations. The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices. Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am from District 62, which is Cass County and Bates County.
• I am from District 62, which is Cass County and Bates County.
• Louis City, Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County, Greene County, and St.
• Louis County, and St. Louis City.
• Leave the other 106 counties alone.

Committee: House General Laws

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a resident of Ada County.
• We have another officer based out of Elmore County who also covers Valley and Boise counties.
• We have another officer based out of Elmore County who also covers Valley and Boise counties.
• And some of these counties are paying a lot of money. There's one, I think it was Bear Lake County.
• I live in Leightock County.

Summary: The Idaho Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee began with introductions of a new page and visiting family members, then unanimously approved the minutes from February 19, 2026. The committee heard presentations from court administrators on court assistance offices, family court services, and treatment courts. Testimony described services for self-represented litigants, family law support, mediation and fee assistance, and the structure and outcomes of treatment courts. Members asked questions about recidivism, sanctions, and court procedures, and one line of questioning about child interviews in family cases was cut short because of pending legislation in that area. The committee then took up House Bill 692, which would expand access to child protection hearings and create a rebuttable presumption for attendance by children, relatives, foster parents, fictive kin, service providers, and legislators unless the judge finds exclusion appropriate. The sponsor and advocates said the bill would improve transparency and allow children and caregivers to be heard; opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, confidentiality, and the inclusion of legislators and broad categories of service providers. After discussion, the committee rejected a motion to send the bill directly to the floor and instead approved a substitute motion to send it to general orders by a 15-1 vote. Next, House Bill 23, a House rule change for procedures during a call of the house, was explained as allowing members and staff access to offices and restrooms while still requiring attendance and voting. It passed unanimously. House Bill 683, concerning sex offender residency definitions and removing a care-facility exemption near schools or daycares, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor and a sheriff. House Bill 684, shifting transport costs for escaped state prisoners from counties to the state, passed unanimously as well. Finally, House Bill 615, which would add religious gatherings and houses of worship to the disturbing-the-peace statute, drew both support and constitutional concerns about vagueness and First Amendment issues; it passed the committee 9-2 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate is authorized and prepared to do business. Hold on a minute.
• President, this bill provides specific time frames on our county clerks for the retention of original
• clerks to on time frames on our county clerks to on the<00:10:39.519><c> retention</c><00:10:39.839>
• clerk when the will is probated county clerk when the will is probated for<00:10:51.360><c> the</c><
• She was a stalwart in the Pike County Republican women.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but it's county funding, but it's ODOT-operated, so they're the ones that handle all that.
• So I think that that would be something the bill author would decide whether or not who would.
• , but it's county funding, but it's ODOT operated, so they're the ones that handle all that.
• So I think that that would be something the bill author would. the agency?
• So I think that that would be something the bill author would decide whether or not who would.

Summary: The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee for Transportation heard two bills. House Bill 3758, by Representative Sterling, would require higher compensation standards for property taken through eminent domain for state infrastructure projects, setting compensation at the greater of 150% of fair market value or the cost of comparable replacement property, while limiting deductions for project-related benefits. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would apply to OTA, ODOT, county-managed projects, and existing projects, whether it would affect the right to contest awards, potential lawsuits, and the fiscal impact on road projects. Sterling said the bill was still being refined and was intended as a benchmark to better protect affected property owners. The subcommittee adopted the PCS and passed the bill 5–4. The committee then considered House Bill 4392, also with a PCS, which would create a pilot program called the Sustainable Emerging Aviation Services Investment Program (C-SIP) to support advanced air mobility infrastructure through a public-private partnership model. The bill was described as a community-led program that would invest in enabling infrastructure and near-term services with a path to self-sustainment, eventually supported by user revenues and fees. After brief explanation and no debate, the PCS was adopted and the bill passed 9–0. At the end of the meeting, members were told they would move to another room to discuss transportation funding options for the session, and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several state agencies that currently have continuous spending authority.
• As I mentioned under House Bill 468, we failed to give them funding authority, excuse me, spending authority
• As I mentioned under House Bill 48, we failed to give them funding authority, excuse me, spending authority
• The language there states that they have the authority to spend that money now.
• The authority to spend that money is not also granted.

Summary: The House convened with 67 members present, approved the journal, and received committee reports referring a large slate of bills and resolutions to various committees or to second reading. Several new bills were introduced, including measures on cemetery maintenance districts, ICE agreements and immigration status reporting, milk testing, specialty license plates, driver licensing and vehicle registration deadlines for new residents, child custody interference, cloud seeding, urban renewal, and a sales tax rebate. House Concurrent Resolutions 21 and 22, concerning Transportation and Education rules, were sent for printing. On the floor, the House suspended the rules to take up House Bill 613 immediately. The bill, which addresses liability protections for private polling places, election workers, volunteers, and certain nonprofit locations used for Election Day, passed 68-0 and was transmitted to the Senate. The House also passed House Bill 587, providing continuous spending authority for the rangeland improvement account, after extended debate over legislative oversight versus the need to spend grant and account funds on time; it passed 44-25. House Bill 573, expanding flexibility for enhanced concealed carry instructor qualifications, passed 68-0, and House Bill 624, revising oversight and accountability requirements for the Idaho Home Learning Academy, also passed 68-0. The House returned House Bill 547 and House Bill 525 to committee at the request of sponsors, moved House Bill 530 to general orders, and held the remaining third-reading bills until Monday, February 16, 2026. Announcements noted upcoming committee meetings, a 4-H breakfast, a memorial committee event, and other caucus or lunch notices. The House then adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does a couple of in Klay County.
• We are appreciative of the inclusion of tribal and county-based, county-focused provisions, including
• My name is Barb Wman Brekie, and I'm a Scott County Commissioner.
• My name is Barb Wman Brekie, and I'm a Scott County Commissioner.
• We counties and providers in this area.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just time for a redesign, and we need to give the Ag in the Classroom Board of Directors authority
• The first thing is that right now, Food Producers of Idaho has the authority to approve the design of
• We're asking to remove them and give the authority to my board of directors.
• 628, and I'm Ron Mendive, representing District 5, which is roughly the west one-third of Kootenai County
• I'm sorry, in rural areas, 74% of fatal accidents happen in the country, not in Ada County.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 663, which would allow Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom to redesign its specialty license plate and shift plate design authority from Food Producers of Idaho to the organization’s board of directors. The sponsor and Cassidy Plum, the state director, said the plate provides about 75% of the program’s funding and supports teacher workshops, grants, and ag-literacy curriculum. Samantha Parrott also testified in support, saying the redesign could help increase sales and that Food Producers of Idaho supports the bill. Representative Harris raised the idea of involving students in the design, and Plum said the organization may hold a student competition. The committee voted to send HB 663 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 628, which revises Idaho’s driver’s education law to expand parental instruction options and remove the prior rural-only limitation, while also adjusting language related to approved online course providers. Representative Mendive said the bill is the latest step in a multi-year effort to give families more flexibility and to allow school districts to offer driver training if they choose. Robert Scoville, a Caldwell science teacher and driver’s ed instructor, testified in opposition, arguing that removing school-based instruction would reduce safety and increase teen crash risks, citing crash and fatality statistics and the value of professional instruction. In response, supporters argued parents are already responsible for much of the training, that private instruction remains available, and that the bill increases freedom and reflects what is already happening in many districts. After discussion, the committee debated whether the bill would improve parental choice or weaken driver safety. Several members supported the measure as a matter of local control and family discretion, while others expressed concern about urban safety and the loss of professional instruction. The committee ultimately voted to send HB 628 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.