Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader, Mr.
• Majority Leader, we're going to read... Mr. Majority Leader, we're going to read...
• Majority Leader, Mr.
• Majority Leader, additional calendar, please. Mr.
• Majority Whip. Mr.

Summary: The Senate convened, took attendance, approved the journal, and received gubernatorial communications and nominations. Several nominations were referred to committee, and messages from the House were entered, including transmission of Senate Bills 1058, 1237, and 1294 to the Governor. The chamber recessed for caucus, then reconvened and moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on the calendar. In Committee of the Whole, members considered HB 2082, HB 282, HB 2749, and HB 296 (the transcript also contains some misstatements of bill numbers/titles). Amendments were adopted on HB 282, HB 2749, and HB 296, including a Rogers floor amendment to HB 2749 establishing a sunset and a Shope floor amendment to HB 296 making technical and coordination changes related to water infrastructure and the Clean Water Act. The Committee of the Whole reported all of those measures do pass as amended, and the Senate later adopted the report. The Senate then took up additional business, including confirmation votes on gubernatorial nominees. John A. Conley, Ruby Dylan Williams, Thomas J. Connolly, Charles Essex, and Dr. Lynette Levesay were all confirmed. The chamber then passed several House bills on third reading, including HB 2308, HB 4011, HB 2049 as an emergency measure, HB 2253, and HB 2663, with recorded votes largely showing 24 ayes and 0 nays. Committee announcements were made for upcoming Natural Resources and Education meetings. Near adjournment, Senator Epstein gave a personal privilege statement criticizing ICE conduct in a Minnesota case and calling for accountability, and Senator Gonzales thanked her and offered birthday wishes to a family member. The Senate then adopted a motion to notify the Governor of the day’s confirmations and adjourned until Tuesday, May 26, 2026, subject to earlier recall by the President if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it was, I can get back to you, but it was eight majority yeses. Eight majority yeses.
• Eight yeses of majority, or eight noes of majority. But I can get you.
• I believe it was, I can get back to you, but it was eight majority yeses. Eight majority yeses.
• Eight yeses of majority, or eight noes of majority. But I can get you.
• Or eight noes of the majority. But I can get you. If you get us a number, that would be great.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met on May 5, 2026, and considered a series of bills, several of them brought up through motions for committee consideration. Chair Shelley Mayer said she would allow brief remarks but stated her opposition to those motioned bills, emphasizing her general practice of giving minority members’ bills consideration. The committee first took up S-16 (Jacob’s Law, on bullying and related school safety issues), which was moved out of committee on a majority vote, with Senators Jackson and Bynoe recorded without recommendation. The committee then debated S-717, a local bill by Senator Rose to exempt the Wantagh Union Free School District from the state’s indigenous mascots/logos restrictions. Senator Rose argued Wantagh’s mascot and name are tied to local history and not intended to denigrate anyone. The bill was moved, but the committee vote was not favorable enough to advance it, and it was referred onward to the Investigations Committee. S-4496, Senator White’s bill to protect women’s sports from what supporters described as unfair competition by biological males, drew strong support from the sponsor and strong opposition from Chair Mayer, who said she opposed it as mean-spirited and unnecessary; the bill did not advance. The committee also considered several school bus and transportation bills. S-4748, by Senator Borrello, would repeal the electric school bus mandate and replace it with a feasibility study; he cited safety, cost, and operational problems with early adopters. S-8847, by Senator White, similarly sought to remove electric bus mandates and leave decisions to local districts, and S-9667, by Senator Ryan, would delay the zero-emission school bus mandate by five years. The committee advanced some of these measures to other committees or the floor, while others did not move. In addition, the committee approved S-7788 on special education reserve funds, S-8288A on reasonable rates for public school room use, S-8368 on records retention for Education Department proceedings, S-8370 on temporary resident placement of children with disabilities, S-8370 on release of student records to juvenile detention facilities, and S-1049 on updating the Dignity for All Students Act’s cyberbullying definition to include AI-related harassment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see a majority vote of those elected and constituting the House.
• Stuart, I 77 to 3 nay, having received a majority vote of those elected and constituting the House, I
• Let's take the vote. 77 to 0 nay, having received a majority vote of those elected and constituting the
• Let's take the vote. 77 to 0 nay, having received a majority vote of those elected and constituting the
• Having seen a majority vote of those elected to and constituting the House, I declare the bill to have

Bills: HB2936 , HB2967 , HB3627 , HB3721 , HB4132 , HB4303 , HB4478 , HB4322 , HB4227

Keywords: HB2936, children, child protection, adoption, Oklahoma Adoption Code, gestational carrier, gestational agreement, surrogacy, intended parent, preplacement home study, home study, prospective adoptive parent, foster placement, child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, lewd molestation, sex offender registry, Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act

Transcript Highlights:

• And to be honest, and I want to be fully transparent, this is my first participation in a major buildout
• To be honest, and I want to be fully transparent, this is my first participation in a major buildout
• So those three are major initiatives that will serve as demonstration projects because we Those three
• There might be one or two that are able to pull it off, but the vast majority won't be able to.
• But part of our role is to ensure... ...off, but the vast majority won't be able to.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• That incentivizes researchers to make sure that major discoveries are made on private time.
• discoveries are made on sure that major discoveries are made on private<00:04:21.959><c> time.
• </c><00:12:18.720><c> So</c> is a major help in your research. So is a major help in your research.
• And the highway research facility was a major attractant there. It's free enterprise.
• </c> major attractant there. major attractant there.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, I hand up the following conference assignments for the
• majority, ask they be filed in the journal, and ask that you recognize Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
• . >> The handup is received and shall be filed in the journal, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins. >> Thank
• [Applause] >> Thank you, Majority Leader, Senator Gianaris. >> At this time, Mr.
• President, and thank you to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for introducing this resolution.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Republican Speaker of the House for the next two years during the time that we have the one-seat majority
• So, with that, um, we had a great negotiating team that came in just this week, and that was Majority
• Also with me today is majority whip Representative Nash, and has done a lot of work within our caucus
• </c><00:04:49.600><c> uh</c> uh also with me today is uh majority uh uh also with me today is uh majority
• So, uh, the 67-66, it's a Republican majority, so I'm the Majority Leader.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Majority Leader, and we are joined by our Assembly Member Dr. Patel.
• Over the past nearly three decades, major policy Over the past nearly three decades, major policy changes
• And, you know, appreciate also our majority leader for her two bills.
• That is really important, Majority Leader. So I'll start with a question for the doctor.
• I will turn it over to our Majority Leader.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Approvals of major filings move faster than at any time in decades.
• It's really unprecedented following a major catastrophe.
• Market stabilization over three to five years after major reforms.
• Additionally, insurance The majority of the money tax-free.
• These are three major homeowner insurers.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing a detailed update on implementation after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Lara said the strategy has helped stabilize the market, speed claims payments, and keep insurers in California, citing $22.4 billion paid to wildfire survivors, 94% of 4,121 claims paid fully or partially, $210 million returned through department investigations, and a 27% reduction in claim closure time. He said major insurers, including Mercury, CSAA, USAA companies, Pacific Specialty, and California Casualty, have filed under SIS, with several more filings pending, and that approvals have generally been completed within 100 days of public notice. He also discussed modernization of rate review, a new data reconciliation tool, a planned regulation to require rate reviews within 60 days plus a possible 30-day extension, and ongoing work on Fair Plan oversight, wildfire risk modeling, and mitigation standards such as Zone Zero. Committee members focused on wildfire survivor non-renewals, Fair Plan growth, claim handling timelines, and whether new legislative proposals could help or hinder market stability. Lara said visible consumer relief should begin in 12 to 24 months, with broader market stabilization expected over three to five years, and emphasized that mitigation, faster rate review, and insurer participation are key to reducing reliance on the Fair Plan. He also highlighted his 22-bill package, including SB 876 on disaster claims handling, AB 1795 on smoke damage standards, AB 1680 on Fair Plan accountability, and reforms to the intervener process. Members raised concerns about balancing consumer protections with insurer participation, and Lara said the Legislature should weigh those tradeoffs through the committee process. Public commenters were divided but generally acknowledged the importance of the issue. Consumer and survivor advocates argued that insurers still delay or underpay claims and that more protections are needed, while industry representatives praised the department’s work and urged caution so the new system is not undermined. Several speakers stressed the need for mitigation, Zone Zero rules, and adequate rates, while others warned that wildfire and liability insurance problems are affecting foster care providers, commercial coverage, and utility wildfire costs. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Worker misclassification was a really one major area, looked into the concept of a contractor board,
• , which basically said that a majority of the 12 members voted yes to it, but it was not to the level
• Again, in the majority votes, the third recommendation is legislation should be considered that holds
• , which basically said that a majority of the 12 members voted yes to, which basically said that a majority
• Of those recommendations that were majority, but not consensus, we were a little bit disappointed as

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Attorney General’s office on a new workers’ rights unit and two request bills. The office said the unit will focus on wage theft and civil rights enforcement, using existing resources for a small staff. It also described a bill to expand civil investigative demand authority for labor, wage theft, prevailing wage, and discrimination investigations, and an Immigrant Worker Protection Act that would require employer notice when federal immigration authorities request employee records, limit access to nonpublic work areas without a warrant, and restrict disclosure of employee data without proper legal process. Senators asked about costs, funding sources, and the scope of the proposed authority, and the office said it would follow up with more detail. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Washington’s workers’ compensation system from Labor and Industries, including how claims are filed, how the medical provider network works, and how treatment authorizations and utilization review are handled. L&I said the network was created to improve care quality and return workers to work, and explained that most routine care is automatically authorized while certain procedures require prior approval or review. A question from Senator Conway focused on the role of the medical director and the appeals process; L&I said decisions can be protested and reconsidered, with exceptions reviewed through a complex treatment unit and medical staff. An experience panel followed with testimony from labor representatives, physicians, and an injured-worker attorney, who argued that the medical provider network and treatment guidelines can delay or deny needed care, especially in complex cases such as PTSD, brain injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. They described long appeals, utilization review barriers, provider shortages, and the impact on injured workers and families, while L&I’s presentation emphasized the system’s structure and review safeguards. The committee then heard a report from the Underground Economy Task Force in the construction industry. L&I summarized the task force’s findings on worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums, and outlined consensus and majority recommendations, including better interagency communication, stronger penalties for repeat offenders, more authority to address successorship, possible contractor notice requirements, and further study of cash payments. The Attorney General’s office, labor, and business representatives generally supported the report’s goals but differed on some recommendations, especially those affecting independent contractors, contractor liability, and administrative burdens. The chair and Senator Conway thanked participants and said the report would inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves, and Mr.
• You may continue, Madam Majority Leader.
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized.
• Madam Majority Leader moves, and Ms.
• Madam Majority Leader moves, and Ms.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, adopted the previous day’s journal, and handled several procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow committee notices and moving some bills and items on and off the file. Members also introduced a number of guests and fellows on the floor, including Equality California Comcast Fellows, tribal youth visitors, interns, local officials, and community representatives. On the floor file, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1216 (TK-12 omnibus education technical changes), AB 377 (high-speed rail), and AB 951 (health care coverage), and adopted ACR 103 declaring July 14-18, 2025 as California Western Monarch Protection Week. The body also adopted AJR 18, a resolution calling for an official legislative apology to California Native Americans for historic injustices and affirming support for healing and reconciliation, and ACR 71 designating a portion of State Route 101 as the Little Saigon Freeway. Each of these measures drew supportive remarks from multiple members, and co-author rolls were opened before final adoption. The Assembly also adopted SCR 66 proclaiming Law Day, after a lengthy partisan debate over the rule of law, executive power, and recent federal and state actions; the resolution was ultimately adopted by voice vote after 51 co-authors were added. Members then adopted SJR 3 urging Congress to reverse SNAP cuts and protect CalFresh benefits, with debate focused on food insecurity, fraud, work requirements, and the impact on low-income Californians; the resolution passed with 69 ayes and no noes after 70 co-authors were added. SB 757, authorizing local governments to use nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect abatement costs, also passed 68-0, and ACR 94 on anti-microbial resistance was adopted on the consent calendar. The session concluded with adjournments in memory honoring Jane Day, agricultural leader John C. Harris, and Willie Earl Arno, followed by announcements of committee meetings and the schedule for the next floor session. The Assembly adjourned until Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves, and Mr.
• You may continue, Madam Majority Leader.
• You may continue, Madam Majority Leader.
• Madam Majority Leader moves, and Ms.
• Madam Majority Leader moves, and Ms.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules to withdraw SB 104 and SB 138 from Budget and Fiscal Review and to allow several committees to notice bills. Members also introduced guests and honorees, including Equality California Comcast Fellows, tribal youth from the Yohavitham Nation, a legislative fellow, a Chinese language school delegation, local elected officials, staff, and an intern shadowing an Assembly member. On the floor file, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1216 (education omnibus technical changes), AB 377 (high-speed rail), and AB 951 (health care coverage), all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body also adopted ACR 103 designating California Western Monarch Protection Week and ACR 71 designating a portion of Highway 101 as the Little Saigon Freeway, both after supportive remarks about environmental conservation and Vietnamese American history. AJR 18, an apology and acknowledgment of historic harms against California Native Americans, drew extensive bipartisan and caucus support and was adopted with 68-0 after 66 coauthors were added. The most contentious debate came on SCR 66, proclaiming Law Day, where members argued over the rule of law, executive power, and recent court fights involving both the Trump administration and Governor Newsom; the resolution was ultimately adopted after 51 coauthors were added. The Assembly also adopted SJR 3 urging Congress to oppose SNAP cuts, with debate focused on food insecurity, fraud, and work requirements; it passed 69-0 after 70 coauthors were added. SB 757, authorizing local governments to use nuisance abatement liens and special assessments to collect cleanup costs, passed 68-0, and the second-day consent calendar, including ACR 94 on antimicrobial resistance, was adopted. The session concluded with multiple adjournments in memory, including tributes to Jane Day, agricultural leader John C. Harris, and Willie Earl Arno. The Assembly then announced committee meetings and upcoming check-in and floor session dates before adjourning until Thursday, July 17, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it kind of points out to me a major concern that I have.
• In the State Board of Education, from majority to just 50% of voting parents, meaning there's no majority
• I would like to see a majority of parents at that school.
• I think that's a majority. I don't think it's 50%. By the State Board of Education.
• I think that's a majority. I don't think it's 50% of 50%.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 considered a series of education-related bills, many of them after adopting amendments. SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School was amended to remove virtual preschool provisions and then passed favorably, with the sponsor describing it as a clarifying bill about FLVS operations, revenue sources, reporting, and student access. SB 1374, on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct, was also approved; it requires faster district action and reporting when instructional personnel are arrested for certain offenses and clarifies that self-reports are not admissions of guilt. SB 1402, on student enrollment and dropout retrieval programs, was amended and passed to broaden eligibility for dropout retrieval services and allow certain virtual providers to receive a school improvement rating instead of a school grade. SB 364, moving the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Education to Florida Memorial University, was amended and reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 772 on diabetes management in schools, which would allow districts to obtain and store glucagon for emergency use by trained school staff or nurses, with liability protections included. SB 1102 on school readiness programs for children with disabilities passed after testimony that it would expand identification of disabilities, require more training for providers, and direct special-needs funding toward better-supported classrooms. SB 1382, also on school readiness, was approved and would change the definition of economically disadvantaged families, adjust priority tiers, and update the waitlist and forecasting process for child care assistance. The most debated measure was SB 140, which was substantially rewritten by delete-all amendment to create “job engine charter schools,” allow municipalities to seek charter schools aimed at attracting industry, authorize parent votes for conversion of existing public schools, and set requirements for district five-year property plans and surplus property use, including affordable housing and charter school purposes. Supporters argued it could aid economic development and repurpose underused property, while opponents raised concerns about privatization, reduced stakeholder input, unclear voting procedures, and loss of district control over property. Despite extensive debate and multiple public speakers against it, the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 430, a merged AED and cardiac emergency response bill requiring public schools to have a cardiac emergency plan, trained staff, and an operational AED in a publicized location, with reimbursement provisions and liability protections; it passed after supporters emphasized life-saving benefits and manageable training costs. The committee adjourned after recording additional members’ votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Majority Floor Leader, do well before going to third.
• Madam Majority Floor Leader, do well before going to third.
• Madam Majority floor leader, do passage.
• Well done, Senator Casease. >> Madam Majority Floor Leader, Madam Majority Floor Leader, do you have
• </c><01:39:50.239><c> floor</c> you've all heard the majority floor you've all heard the majority floor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ensuring the winners have majority ensuring the winners have majority support<00:02:39.640><c> or
• or somebody achieves a majority.
• </c> majority or somebody achieves a majority majority or somebody achieves a majority it<00:25:57.240
• But the objective is to get a majority of votes, a majority of the votes, to get that person seated.
• </c> achieve a candidate H who has a majority achieve a candidate H who has a majority of<00:49:01.760

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Going into the majority, that's certainly something I will take with me.
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized.
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• All debate having ceased, oh, excuse me, members, I have the Majority Leader.
• Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves, and Mr. Lackey seconds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Having received a majority, the House declares the bill to have passed.
• Having received a majority vote, the House declares the bill to have passed.
• Having received a majority vote, the House declares the bill to have passed. Mr.
• Having received a majority vote, the House declares the bill to have passed. Mr.
• Having received a majority vote, I declare the bill to have passed. Mr.

Bills: HB3329 , HR1039 , HR1040 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3419 , HB3420 , HB3706 , HB3711 , HB4139 , HB1268 , HB3660 , HJR1023 , HB3298 , HB3056 , HJR1084 , HB3934 , HB3919 , HB4118 , HB4119 , HB3791 , HB4260 , HB4178 , HB4215 , HB4324 , HB3270 , HB4352 , HB4305 , HB2955 , HB3315 , HB3066 , HB1245 , HB4125 , HB3075 , HB3129 , HB3239 , HB4153 , HB3265 , HB4491 , SB680 , HB4263 , HB4268 , HB1675 , HB3885 , HB2984 , HB3697 , HB2959 , HB3671 , HB3852 , HB2933 , HB3057 , HB3802 , HB4294 , HB4285 , HB3708 , HB3979 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB3985 , HB3588 , HB3742 , HB3845 , HJR1070 , HB3590 , HB3595 , HB3391 , HB3183 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB1002 , HB4434 , HJR1086 , HB4060 , HB3881 , HB3500 , HB4408 , HB3648 , HB3127 , HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Majority Leader Rodriguez. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Majority Leader Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Majority Leader. >> Thank you, Mr. President.
• Majority Leader Rodriguez.
• Majority consideration of resolutions. Majority Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Mr. President.

Transcript Highlights:

• The majority of each committee having voted in the affirmative... ...The majority of each committee having
• The majority of each committee having voted in the affirmative... ...the majority of each committee having
• Having failed to receive a majority in both the Senate and the House, the motion has failed.
• The House having failed to achieve a majority, the motion has failed.
• Majority of each committee having voted in the affirmative, the motion is passed.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met to consider several Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid items, Idaho State Police budgets, the Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Department of Administration and Military Division. The committee first approved a FY 2026 Medicaid forecast supplemental, then approved a budget-neutral FY 2026 hospital assessment fund shift and creation of a separate hospital assessment budgeted program. For FY 2027 Medicaid, members heard extensive discussion of MMIS procurement, estate recovery, program integrity, purchasing staff, hospital assessment alignment, population forecast adjustments, and proposed reductions tied to provider rates and RESHAB. After debate among three competing motions, the committee rejected two alternatives and passed the original motion, which included the governor’s recommended Medicaid adjustments and the $22 million reduction concept, sending it with a do pass recommendation. The committee then approved Idaho State Police Brand Inspection replacement items for trucks and equipment, as well as Idaho State Police division requests for a commercial vehicle safety grant increase, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement patrol vehicles and equipment. POST Academy replacement items were also approved. For the Department of Juvenile Corrections, members approved clinician service transfer funding from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of six FTPs and related funding for direct care staff and substance use disorder mentoring services. In the Department of Administration budget, the committee debated Medicaid procurement staffing and related transfers. A substitute motion to fund three FTPs failed, and the committee ultimately approved a compromise motion funding two FTPs, utilities alignment, program transfers, inflationary utilities, IT hardware, and a prior rescission adjustment. The Military Division enhancement request for indirect cost recovery for emergency management and state education assistance funding was also approved. The committee adjourned after announcing its Monday agenda, which included DEQ, public school support and financing, services for the deaf and blind, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I'm going to go to the University of Utah and major in business, business... ...to the University
• of Utah and major in business and then try and go into law school.
• The majority having, each committee having failed to vote in the majority for this particular motion,
• Having failed to achieve a majority vote in the Senate and the House, the motion failed.
• Having failed to achieve a majority vote in the Senate and the House, the motion fails.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee began with recognition of two outgoing pages, who described their experiences working at the Capitol and their plans for college and law school. The committee then received a general fund budget update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who explained the green sheet, noted that the governor’s enhancement requests are effectively larger because of prior cuts, and highlighted policy bills tied to budget reductions, including House Bill 622 for IDLA and Senate Bill 1312 for Medicaid. Senator Wintrow asked about how agencies already filled out on the budget sheet could still be adjusted, and LaHosette said an agency would need to be added to the agenda before a motion could be made. The committee then acted on several budgets. It approved a $17,800 reimbursement to the Military Division for hazardous materials costs, but rejected a larger Military Division enhancement package after debate over restoring the State Education Assistance Program for guardsmen and concerns about budget process and ending balances. The committee approved Percy’s $2.6 million dedicated-funds request for pension software, continuity planning, and replacement items. It also approved the Division of Veterans Services budget, including new equipment, replacement items, federal IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for veterans’ home construction and renovation funds. A proposed intent language item for the Division of Veterans Services, directing the legislature to add $36,200 ongoing in fiscal year 2028 for cemetery maintenance, failed after members said it could not bind a future legislature and that the intent was only to signal future attention. The committee then approved the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired enhancement request and accepted language directing the agency to prioritize site restoration services. It also approved a small Vocational Rehabilitation lease increase for the Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and later approved the State Tax Commission’s $765,300 supplemental for federal tax conformity implementation, along with a larger enhancement package for property tax education, GenTax automation, personnel, replacement items, seasonal employees, and OITS hardware. The committee accepted language restricting one Tax Commission item to fast tax collection vendor payments and requiring any unused amount to revert to the general fund. Finally, the committee adopted technical corrections to previously approved maintenance bill language for the Legislature and the State Board of Education, including fixes to transfer authority and year references. The chair announced that the committee would hear budget presentations for the Department of Water Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on Monday, with no votes scheduled, and then adjourned.