Transcript Highlights:

• The department assessed just under $530,000 to 26 providers out of 171, and if the assessment had been
• </c><00:45:37.319><c> of</c> the minimum assessment of the minimum assessment of $1,000<00:45:39.240>
• assessments.
• <00:50:31.000><c> docket</c> assessing docket assessing docket participants<00:50:33.079><c> rather</
• </c> are paying twice our annual assessment are paying twice our annual assessment and<00:50:44.240><

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• done so they have their have assessments done so they can<00:37:47.599><c> get</c><00:37:47.760><c>
• We are asking our children to practice for their own deaths.
• We are asking our children<01:23:14.080><c> to</c><01:23:14.320><c> practice</c><01:23:14.960><c> for
• to practice for their own deaths. deaths. deaths.
• When we practiced for lockdown drills at school, I felt scared and awkward.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> not give them the authority to assess not give them the authority to assess fines<00:15:06.560><
• And do you able to review and assess it?
• So, I don't know what assess fines.
• </c> specific rulemaking authority to assess specific rulemaking authority to assess fines.<00:19:26.240
• It also says imposition of assess fines.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then took up Department of Safety Rule 25161 on administrative license suspension forms. After discussion of a staff concern that the rule text should expressly require a defendant’s signature or refusal to sign, and the officer’s witness signature, the agency agreed to revised language. The committee voted to grant conditional approval with those edits. The committee next considered Department of Agriculture rule 192, concerning importation of bovines and domestic animals. Staff identified several issues, including an overly broad federal citation, an unclear definition of infection, a possible conflict between provisions on telephone-issued permits and documents that must be carried, and missing struck-through repeal language. Because the department had not proposed written fixes, members moved to postpone the item until next month, and the motion passed. A second Agriculture item, 25207, was discussed as a long-expired set of rules that the agency said were still needed to run its programs; the committee granted conditional approval. The Public Utilities Commission’s competitive natural gas supplier and aggregator rules prompted the most extensive debate. Staff argued the cited statutes did not clearly authorize the commission to impose fines on natural gas suppliers, while the agency responded that authority could be read from related Department of Energy transition language and general rulemaking provisions. Members discussed whether the issue reflected a statutory gap created when responsibilities were split between the Department of Energy and the commission. The committee ultimately voted to waive and postpone the item to next month so the attorneys could work out the authority question. The committee also postponed Department of Energy items 219 and 220 at the agency’s request, and it noted that the Liquor Commission’s emergency rule had been revised to reduce reporting from monthly to quarterly before being reissued, with the item also postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• shall set rates to be implemented over time, beginning with reference-based pricing as soon as practicable
• > but</c><00:04:07.840><c> not</c><00:04:08.400><c> later</c><00:04:09.280><c> than</c> soon as practicable
• , but not later than soon as practicable, but not later than hospital<00:04:10.159><c> fiscal</c><00:
• applies to 14 hospitals and removes the reduction cap entirely, how are the hospitals supposed to assess
• supposed to assess the impact on<01:09:00.719><c> staffing</c><01:09:01.440><c> and</c><01:09:01.920

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He asked whether, if that is a best practice in the private sector, the government would also benefit
• private sector and we know it's a in our private sector and we know it's a best<00:34:06.960><c> practice
• <c> you</c><00:34:07.760><c> believe</c><00:34:08.000><c> that</c><00:34:08.159><c> the</c> best practice
• , do you believe that the best practice, do you believe that the government<00:34:09.200><c> would</c
• to the state of New Hampshire assessed to the state of New Hampshire rather<01:00:05.599><c> than</c

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you want to know what biomarkers are and all the information on them, or you just want to practice
• or you just all the information on them or you just want<00:37:32.800><c> to</c><00:37:32.880><c> practice
• crossing your eyes, all want to practice crossing your eyes, all the<00:37:35.359><c> definitions</c
• </c><01:32:56.440><c> of</c><01:32:56.840><c> determining</c><01:32:57.320><c> this</c> fair assessment
• of determining this fair assessment of determining this threshold. threshold. threshold.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:35.280><c> So</c><01:05:35.680><c> would</c> um assessments and so forth.
• So would um assessments and so forth.
• I hope we don't have any practical jokes being played on us that day.
• ><01:46:54.320><c> don't</c><01:46:54.480><c> have</c><01:46:54.639><c> any</c><01:46:54.880><c> practical
• </c><01:46:55.360><c> jokes</c> hope we don't have any practical jokes hope we don't have any practical

Bills: HF2178 , HF942 , HF2470 , HF1043 , HF1287 , HF1229 , HF1230 , HF424 , HF571 , HF404 , HF910 , HF1055 , HF318 , HF319 , HF401 , HF609 , HF306 , HF1599 , HF1881

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF2178, Cohasset, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, public infrastructure, water tower, water infrastructure, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, street reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, Public Facilities Authority, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, local government aid, utility infrastructure, public works, infrastructure, stormwater

Transcript Highlights:

• point is we haven't assessed a fourth mill and because we haven't assessed the fourth mill there's a
• mill</c> we haven't assessed the fourth mill we haven't assessed the fourth mill there's<00:37:34.640
• assessed assessed And<00:37:54.560><c> and</c><00:37:54.960><c> so</c><00:37:55.119><c> I</c><00:37:
• Wyoming to assess four mills up to five. And so to assess four mills up to five.
• You asked assess that for uh chairman.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met to consider amendments to House Bill 111. It first adopted amendment number one without objection. Members then discussed a Senate amendment related to a $750,000 state match for the Central Wyoming College Jackson project, with Senator Laursen explaining the request as a way to leverage local fundraising for the final phase of the project. He said the project had been underway since 2018, that the building was nearing completion, and that the amendment was intended to encourage a local fundraising campaign rather than wait for a later appropriation. Representative Lien questioned whether the funding had gone through the usual approval process, and other members raised concerns about bypassing standard procedures, while Laursen argued the request was consistent with prior late-stage project adjustments and reflected local skin in the game. The discussion also covered a Senate amendment concerning University of Wyoming land use, specifically whether language should remain requiring open space or allow trustees more flexibility to decide between open space and parking. One member moved to delete the Senate amendment and reinsert the stricken language, but after discussion the motion was withdrawn so the committee could consider all amendments together. Members noted that the university had already been discussing the plan and that the language change would not necessarily alter the trustees’ authority, though it might protect the university. The committee then turned to a Gillette College/Enzi building amendment. Senator Driscoll said the proposal was his own and not requested by the college, and Janelle Overberlander, founding president of Gillette Community College District, testified about the history of the project, including the 2021 separation from the Northern Wyoming Community College District, prior planning for a STEM building, and the later decision to revive the project as an academic building honoring Senator Enzi. She said the building is intended to address lab space needs and support industry partners, including companies expected to bring jobs to Campbell County. Driscoll explained that the amendment would provide a dollar-for-dollar match for non-state money and require Gillette College to move to a four-mill levy, which he said would eventually make the college a net contributor to the system. The committee continued discussing the amendment and its long-term fiscal effects, but no final vote on the later amendments is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uncomfortable with this data practices uncomfortable with this data practices change<00:21:12.480
• </c> anonymously ask for data practice anonymously ask for data practice request<00:21:30.799><c> and
• </c> of evidence um and current practices of evidence um and current practices governing<01:24:09.760
• </c> office is governed by the data practices office is governed by the data practices provisions<02:
• </c> transparent in its data practices. transparent in its data practices.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was we kind of had a co-mingling of assessed and market.
• it from assessed value to market<00:03:00.560><c> value.
• </c><00:03:05.360><c> value</c> changed the language from assessed value changed the language from assessed
• And co-mingling of assessed and market.
• </c> whether you use fair market or assess. whether you use fair market or assess.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The joint conference committee on House Bill 45 met to reconcile changes to the long-term homeowner property tax exemption. Members reviewed the original bill, which removed the exemption’s sunset, adjusted the signup/reporting date and procedures, clarified treatment for homeowners who sold one house and bought another, changed valuation language from assessed value to fair market value, and added a $3 million cap. The committee also discussed Senate amendments and a proposed cleanup amendment intended to prevent stacking the long-term homeowner exemption with a separate voter-approved homeowners’ property tax initiative if that initiative becomes law. Members asked about the difference between using “shall not qualify” versus a repealer, and were told the repealer was removed to avoid creating a trigger-bill issue if the initiative does not pass. Questions also focused on whether the catch title’s “limitation” language referred to the $3 million cap, and it was explained that the language could apply both to the cap and to the restriction on using both exemptions. One senator asked what Senate language was being deleted, and the response was that the committee was removing language that had gone too far, including a 25% exemption provision that was outside the scope of this bill and would be handled later in the interim. After discussion, the committee moved to concurrence. A roll call vote was taken, and all six members present voted aye. The committee announced concurrence and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have the hospital assessment that's provided by the hospitals: they assess themselves a portion
• The hospital assessment piece is built into those four programs currently.
• And then, let's see, Enhancement 22, hospital assessment fund alignment.
• To a newly created hospital assessment budgeted program in the Division of Medicaid.
• Hospital assessment budgeted program in the Division of Medicaid.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and first took up the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Medicaid. Members approved a 2026 supplemental for the Medicaid forecast adjustment, increasing general fund and dedicated fund spending while reducing federal funds, and also approved a separate budget-neutral 2026 supplemental to move hospital assessment funding into a dedicated fund and create a new hospital assessment budgeted program, as required by House Bill 345. Both motions passed with do-pass recommendations after roll-call votes. The committee then considered the 2027 Medicaid budget. Testimony covered MMIS procurement, estate recovery staffing, program integrity contract support, Medicaid purchasing staff tied to the Department of Administration, hospital assessment fund alignment, population forecast adjustments, and an additional governor’s initiative reduction. Three competing motions were offered: one from Representative Bruce, one from Senator Cook, and one from Senator Wintrow. After debate over provider-rate cuts, RESHAB funding, forecast assumptions, and whether to reduce the governor’s requested $22 million adjustment, the Bruce motion failed and the Cook substitute failed, while the Wintrow motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee next approved Idaho State Police budgets. It passed a Brand Inspection Division request for $288,100 in dedicated funds for replacement vehicles and equipment, a Division of Idaho State Police motion adding funds for the commercial vehicle safety grant, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement items, and a POST Academy motion for $324,100 in dedicated funds for replacement items. The Department of Juvenile Corrections budget was also approved, including a clinician services transfer from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of direct care and mentoring funding with six FTPs. Finally, the committee considered the Department of Administration and Military Division budgets; after debate over Medicaid procurement staffing and a training position transfer, the committee approved a Department of Administration motion with reduced general fund and increased dedicated funding, then approved the Military Division’s request for emergency management overhead recovery and state education assistance funding. The meeting ended with announcements of the next Monday agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mr.<00:28:26.720><c> Speaker,</c><00:28:27.279><c> our</c><00:28:27.520><c> practice</c><00:28:27.919
• Speaker, our practice has been that Mr.
• the economic harms, the ways that assess the economic harms, the ways that costs<00:40:38.560><c> are
• “This matters because this practice is moving from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and it’s coming west and
• </c><00:45:18.000><c> is</c> because this is moving, this practice is because this is moving, this practice

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year we moved to a new model called an assessment model.
• And so what I'm assessment model.
• credits mean reinsurance assessments will not be passed on through higher premiums.
• pay and then they get a tax refund on that assessment.
• pay and then they get a tax refund on that assessment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In the AHCCCS reimbursement practices.
• It's a practical, like a practical, like a practice in hearing me out on this.
• The practice was so broad that, in the end, it destabilized the entire behavioral health continuum.
• As Mark talked about, what we are doing is codifying the existing practice that was amended in October
• As Mark talked about, what we are doing is codifying the existing practice that was amended in October

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes, then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain lab services when a member was referred by a contracting provider and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address unpaid claims and improve access, while Access testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create a fiscal impact. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement rates to no more than contracting rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require Access to contract with an administrative services organization for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping Access ultimately responsible for administration. The chair’s amendment expanded ASO duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed Access claims-payment authority, added tribal observers to the selection committee, and exempted IHS and tribal-facility services. The sponsor and tribal witnesses described the bill as a response to fraud, provider nonpayment, and harm to Native communities, while Access raised concerns about the fast timeline, tribal consultation requirements, possible duplication of program-integrity functions, and fiscal uncertainty. After debate over the emergency clause and tribal consultation, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct Access to seek federal approval for a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness. Supporters said the bill would create a long-term community-care option for the sickest SMI members, reduce cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness, and potentially save state general fund dollars; family members and advocates testified in support. Access was neutral and said it was finalizing a fiscal estimate. The Angus amendment narrowed eligibility to long-term SMI, reduced the enrollment cap from 500 to 250, changed reporting to semiannual, and removed priority-order language; the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 as amended unanimously. Later, the committee passed Senate Bill 1193, which protects emergency medical care technicians’ personal identifying information from sale or disclosure by the Department of Health Services, after adopting a clarifying amendment expanding the protected information and addressing commercial requests. It then heard Senate Bill 1318, which repeals the state’s separate dense-breast notification requirement so Arizona law aligns with the FDA’s newer mammography notice standard; the sponsor and DHS said the change would reduce confusion from duplicate, slightly different notices, and the bill was moving forward with discussion of possible future amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as an academic medical center, we have an obligation to not only practice contemporary medicine,
• but to change the practice of medicine.
• That speed is, a credible concern that a practitioner may be impaired, unstable, or unsafe to practice
• It's about equipping our medical examiners with the clear authority and best practices needed to provide
• Lastly, the bill directs the Attorney General to assess a $5,000 civil penalty on any employer that does

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and public testimony, beginning with introductions and then taking up several health and human services measures. A major focus was SB 1120 and SB 1121, which address radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms. SB 1120 would require health care facilities to equip at least 50% of procedure rooms with radiation protection systems by July 1, 2027, while SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms with such systems and instead require real-time dosimeters for staff who opt out of lead aprons. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital executive testified that enhanced radiation protection systems can dramatically reduce occupational exposure, lower cancer and orthopedic risks, and help with workforce recruitment and retention; a hospital alliance remained neutral pending further stakeholder discussions. Both bills were amended and passed out of committee on 7-0 votes, and SB 1118, which appropriates state funds for a rural hospital grant program to install radiation protection systems, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1001, which appropriates $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, after testimony from blind and low-vision Arizonans and advocates describing long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and the program’s role in preventing unnecessary dependence. SB 1072, a major funding bill for home- and community-based services and room-and-board rate increases for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drew testimony from providers about severe staffing shortages, overtime, turnover, and underfunding; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1125, requiring DCS to pursue MOUs with tribes and improve tribal communication and access to licensing and enforcement information, also passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then considered SB 1123, which removes a board-certification requirement so trained forensic pathologists can supervise autopsy training for residents and fellows; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and training fix, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under physician order and DHS rules, generated mixed testimony: supporters argued it could improve health and independence for residents, while opponents raised concerns about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings. The bill passed 5-2. SB 1112, which reduces the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allows the court to waive the witness requirement under certain conditions, drew strong testimony from families and mental health advocates on both sides; it passed 5-2. The committee also began hearing SB 1113, which would allow certain service of process in court-ordered evaluation and treatment cases by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:15:12.960><c> of</c> even though the assessment of even though the assessment of manufacturing
• </c><01:27:02.639><c> value</c> included in some of the assessed value included in some of the assessed
• It's worth noting that by and large the state assesses the generators, or has historically assessed the
• the generators or has state assesses the generators or has historically<01:29:34.960><c> assessed</c
• </c> purposes of property tax assessments. purposes of property tax assessments.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on HB 302, which would add precious metals and digital assets as potential investment options. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli said she took no position on the bill and did not see an immediate fiscal impact or operational problem, but explained that the state’s operating funds and rainy day fund require liquidity and stability, so they would not be suitable for volatile assets like precious metals or digital assets. She said the only funds that might potentially use such investments would be certain trust funds held in perpetuity, which are managed by an outside investment advisor under a contract and investment policy. Members asked about the treasurer’s current investment practices, including the types of funds managed, the role and discretion of the investment advisor, the state’s risk profile, and whether the bill would affect existing authority. Misipelli said the office follows RSA 11 and related statutes, with different objectives ranging from conservative to aggressive depending on the fund, and that the advisor meets with the office regularly, with formal performance reviews on a quarterly basis. She also said the office recently centralized management of about 40 trust accounts totaling roughly $60 million into five combined portfolios under a five-year contract with an RFP-selected vendor. When asked whether precious metals or digital assets are already indirectly available through mutual funds, she said that was possible for some mutual funds, but she was not certain about digital assets. Representative Ammon, the bill’s sponsor, said similar legislation had passed the Oklahoma House, the Texas House and Senate, and had advanced in Arizona. He argued the bill was intended to give the treasurer more tools to help balance portfolios and hedge inflation, noting concerns about federal debt and inflation. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair ended the questioning after thanking the treasurer and asking her to remain available in case further questions arose.

Transcript Highlights:

• . have adequate loss assessment coverage have adequate loss assessment coverage that<00:54:27.359><c>
• . assessment. assessment.
• Assessments.
• </c> additional coverage of loss assessment additional coverage of loss assessment of<01:02:12.559><c
• </c> standards for loss assessment coverage. standards for loss assessment coverage.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• According to MassDOT's vulnerable road user safety assessment, 41% of fatal and serious injury pedestrian
• What are the best practices? And I know there's spot purchasing and things that munis can do.
• What best practices should we be taking from them to make our rates more competitive?
• We do have an assessment that has only really risen with just cost of living over the years.
• So there’s now this program that is partially funded through assessments, but also through application

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is related to the four benefit plans and is specific to the hospital assessment.
• The hospital assessment is provided by the hospitals.
• The hospital assessment piece is built into those four programs currently.
• the hospital assessment budget program for the budget and for a budget-neutral program adjustment.
• And then, let's see, Enhancement 22, hospital assessment fund alignment.

Keywords: 989, all

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:

• I think that there's been a rise in probably. delinquent assessments, and that was with COVID.
• So that is probably the reason why there is probably uptake on lawsuits involving assessments.
• to pay an assessment or a fee? That number is pretty low.
• And then also to answer to your neighbors, too, who are paying their bills and paying assessments and
• Like the assessed value on the home is $500,000.

Bills: HB406

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all