Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um adopt a Wildland Urban interface code um adopt a Wildland Urban interface code one<00:19:03.520
• fire code at this point?
• So the portion of the code that we're suggesting adoption of is a wildland urban interface code, and
• the current state fire code to address it adequately?
• </c><00:32:20.720><c> to</c> but on Part Two for the fire code to but on Part Two for the fire code to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures before taking up decision-making. Senate Bill 1381, relating to the Hawaii National Guard, received support from the Department of Defense and other testifiers and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 422, relating to education and high school diplomas for veterans, also drew support from the Department of Education, the Military Affairs Council, and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and was recommended to pass as is. Senate Bill 414, relating to restoring access to disaster-affected areas in Lahaina, was discussed with testimony from HHFDC and others; members agreed to amend the bill to refer to the Department of Transportation as the acquiring agency, and the measure was recommended to pass with amendments. The committee then considered Senate Bill 223, relating to fire prevention. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the bill but recommended changes to make the wildland-urban interface code a matter for the State Fire Council/State Fire Marshal rather than statute, and noted it lacked authority to mandate fuel reduction work on lands outside its control. Members also discussed community fuel reduction funding, with DLNR indicating that $10 million would be an effective amount and describing current funding for equipment, outreach, and positions. The chair proposed amendments to make fuel reduction on non-set-aside lands permissive rather than mandatory, to allow the State Fire Council to amend the state fire code to include easement holders, and to note a defective date and the funding request in the committee report. The bill was recommended to pass with amendments, with one member voting with reservations. In a later decision-making session, the committee considered Senate Bill 1379, relating to emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers, and Senate Bill 371, relating to property damage of critical infrastructure facilities. For SB 1379, the chair proposed an HD1 incorporating the Hawaii Advisory Council on Emergency Management and county emergency management in site-selection criteria, adding geographic resilience considerations, changing the defective date, and noting $10.8 million for site design plus $1.2 million for contract support; the bill passed with amendments, with reservations from some members over county input and funding. For SB 371, the chair amended the bill to remove recklessly/negligently causing damage and require intentional conduct throughout, while leaving other issues for Judiciary review; the bill passed with amendments, with at least one member voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, we passed House Bill 14, and that was the Code Cleanup Act.
• We're not updating code; we're striking through.
• But it says repeals or updates six sections of Idaho Code in Chapter 42.
• This is 30 sections of code.
• That revises Idaho Code Section 38-111.

Summary: The Conservation and Resources Committee approved the January 27, 2026 minutes and then considered several RSs tied to the Idaho Code Cleanup Act. Representative Dustin Manwaring explained that the RSs were recommended by the DOGE task force to repeal outdated or unused code: RS 32887 (Fish and Game, wolf-management transition and hunting fine provisions), RS 32890 (Parks and Recreation, an unused outdoor recreation enhancement/Park and Recreation Fund program), RS 32902 (Water Resources, obsolete compact and trust-account provisions), and RS 32903 (Lands, provisions on floating timber and townsite claims). Each RS was introduced by committee vote. Representative Mark Sauter presented RS 33049, which would expand and update rules for water-skiing activities on public waters, including allowing driver-and-skier-only skiing in limited circumstances with added equipment, age, and time restrictions. A committee member asked whether other user groups such as paddlers or kayakers had been consulted; Sauter said he had not reached out broadly but would be prepared to answer more if the measure received a hearing. The committee voted to introduce RS 33049. The committee then heard House Joint Memorial 9 from Representative Judy Boyle and J.R. Simplot Company representative Elizabeth Kreiner. The memorial asks Congress to reaffirm FLPMA as the governing law for federal land exchanges after a Ninth Circuit decision raised questions about older land-disposal statutes. Kreiner described a decades-long Simplot-BLM exchange that was later challenged in court and said the ruling could affect completed and future exchanges across the West. The committee voted to send H.J.M. 9 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 511, also from Representative Boyle, to raise the cap on the wildland-urban interface fire-protection surcharge from $40 to $100. Boyle and Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said the current cap has not changed since 2009 and no longer covers rising firefighting costs amid growth in the WUI; logging and forest-industry witnesses supported the bill as a modest way to fund fire protection. After testimony, the committee voted to send H.B. 511 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've probably heard of CPT codes, ICD-10, HCPCS codes.
• It included establishment of the procedure codes and diagnosis codes for all services, development of
• national standardized codes.
• codes for those types of programs.
• Well, we crosswalked our department codes to the Florida Medicaid codes.

Summary: The subcommittee heard two Department of Children and Families implementation updates on measures passed in prior sessions. First, DCF reviewed House Bill 633, which increased oversight of behavioral health managing entities through biennial independent audits, standardized claims-based reporting, and new monthly outcome dashboards. The department said it had awarded the inaugural audit to Ernst & Young, found no significant waste, fraud, or abuse, but identified process risks involving financial controls, claims validation, data access, and system access controls. DCF also described its transition to standardized behavioral health coding and said the new public dashboard of 11 measures is posted on its website, though members asked for easier access and for hard copies of the audit report. Members asked about how the department distinguishes Medicaid-covered services from department-funded services, how duplicate payment risks are being addressed, and whether the new reporting and audit requirements would improve oversight without disrupting services. DCF said it is the payer of last resort for uninsured or underinsured individuals, that some overlap with Medicaid is expected because Medicaid does not cover all behavioral health services, and that new claims edits and cross-checks are being built into the system. The department also said it had not found significant negative feedback from providers and that the new requirements are intended to improve transparency and accountability. DCF then updated the committee on Senate Bill 7012, covering human trafficking data collection, domestic violence center certification, limited background-screening exemptions, expanded recruitment for child welfare staff, subcontractor liability protections, a four-year treatment foster care pilot, case management efficiency recommendations, and a statewide study of residential bed capacity for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The department said several items are already complete or underway, including limited exemptions in the screening clearinghouse, while others are in procurement or rulemaking. It identified Circuits 4 and 12 as the treatment foster care pilot sites and said the pilot will launch in January 2026. Members questioned recruitment metrics, pilot timing, and report deadlines; the department said final reports are expected by January and that some dates were flexible because of procurement and implementation timelines. The meeting ended after the presentations and questions, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in order to do that, we have to have a tax code that is sustainable.
• We've been stuck with this tax code for 90 years. The B&O tax is part of that.
• It's something that many of us at this table have worked on trying to address the B&O code.
• The B&O code.
• So this is not something new to the tax code, if you will, for our state.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders announced and defended a new “Millionaire’s Tax” bill, saying it is intended to raise revenue from the highest earners while reducing reliance on sales tax and B&O tax and funding education, health care, community safety, and other state needs. They said the proposal is a starting point and will likely change as they continue talks with the governor, business groups, local governments, and other stakeholders. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate hearing is scheduled first in Ways and Means, with the House expected to follow after the Senate version moves over. The leaders described the bill as narrowly targeted at roughly 30,000 individual payers, with the first $1 million of income taxed at zero and the rate matching the state capital gains tax above that level. They argued the measure is not a broad income tax and rejected claims that it creates a marriage penalty, saying the structure mirrors the capital gains tax and uses Washington’s capital gains definitions. They also said the bill includes credits and deductions to address pass-through businesses, including dollar-for-dollar credits for B&O and public utilities taxes and an election allowing some businesses to pay the tax at the entity level. A major part of the discussion focused on how the bill would use revenue. Leaders said about 5% would go to counties for public defense costs tied to a new Supreme Court mandate, while the rest would support tax relief and new spending. They said the package would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, increase the small business credit, end the B&O surcharge a year early, and exempt some hygiene and grooming products from sales tax, with the tax-relief share estimated in the 20% range. They also said the necessity clause is needed because of structural budget problems and federal policy changes, and they expressed confidence that voters and lawmakers have become more open to taxing high earners, citing the capital gains tax vote and broader public concern about inequality and federal cuts.

Transcript Highlights:

• of naturopaths, and it's in Idaho Code 54-5906.
• And so this piece of code was put in place so that you could get a dual licensure.
• And when this piece of code was passed, the pharmacists of Idaho...
• And when this piece of code was passed, the pharmacists of Idaho, And when this piece of code was passed
• So this is just a very unique piece of code.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcement program to supersede an existing locally established municipal code enforcement program.
• Even allowing code enforcement officers from a different jurisdiction to come in to enforce codes that
• enforcement program to supersede an existing locally established municipal code enforcement program.
• Even allowing code enforcement officers from a different jurisdiction to come in to enforce codes that
• Even allowing code enforcement officers from a different jurisdiction to come in to enforce codes that

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up several bills on the calendar. Measures passed included an Executive Law bill on Calendar 370, a Public Housing Law bill by Senator May, an Executive Law bill by Senator Skoufis, a Penal Law bill by Senator Skoufis, a Civil Rights Law bill by Senator Gounardes, a Social Services Law bill by Senator Addabbo, and a Public Health Law bill by Senator Baskin. One bill on Calendar 600 drew floor remarks from Senator Rhoads, who argued it represented state overreach into local code enforcement and raised home rule and constitutional concerns; despite those objections, the bill passed with a recorded negative vote list. Another bill on Calendar 610 also passed without noted debate, and several measures were adopted by 52-0 style roll calls. The chamber then received amendments to several third-reading bills and convened the Rules Committee, which reported and had accepted a government support bill. The Senate also took up a supplemental appropriations bill, identified as a budget extender, after accepting a message of necessity and appropriation. Senator O’Mara questioned the sponsor about the extender, which added $3.4 billion to prior extensions for a cumulative $7.4 billion, was described as predominantly Medicaid spending with some funds for salaries and services, and would carry the state only until Thursday. O’Mara criticized the lack of progress on the remaining budget bills, the limited transparency around unresolved issues, and the absence of a message of necessity in advance. During the budget discussion, the sponsor said the holdup involved publicly discussed non-budgetary issues, noted that no specific CLCPA language had been presented as a full bill, and said there were no table targets or conference committee schedules yet. After debate closed, the Senate restored the extender to the non-controversial calendar, passed it, and then adjourned until Wednesday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:06:14.880><c> Residents</c><01:06:15.280><c> in</c><01:06:15.520><c> cities</c><01:06:15.760>
• We remain higher than prepandemic levels in many cities. And you know why? Let's talk about why.
• Your<02:43:51.040><c> zip</c><02:43:51.359><c> code</c><02:43:51.600><c> shouldn't</c><02:43:52.000><
• Your zip code shouldn't depend on your healthcare<02:43:53.200><c> outcome.
• I mean, I'm sorry, short-walk cities with transit-oriented housing with Kolkata-style zoning.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want people to fly in here and land in our big cities and look out their window and see the type
• </c><00:42:58.000><c> and</c><00:42:58.240><c> look</c><00:42:58.400><c> out</c> land in our big cities
• and look out land in our big cities and look out their<00:42:58.800><c> window</c><00:42:59.520><c>
• And I want people to fly in here and land in our big cities and look out their window and see the type
• </c> to the city. to the city.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, we passed House Bill 14, and that was the Code Cleanup Act.
• We're not updating code; we're striking through.
• It says repeals or updates six sections of Idaho Code in Chapter 42.
• This is 30 sections of code.
• That revises Idaho Code Section 38-111.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have references in our election code to precincts. They exist.
• We still have references in our election code to precincts. They exist.
• We still have references in our election code to precincts. They exist.
• We still have references in our election code to precincts. They exist.
• Maybe the city uh fathers whatever.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next measure is SP 2347 relating to the residential landlord tenant code.
• SP 2347 relates to the residential landlord tenant code.
• publish an annual report with information on actions taken by the office on potential violations of the code
• publish an annual report with information on actions taken by the office on potential violations of the code
• Um, the state, city, and county of Honolulu and Maui County are currently litigating climate-related

Bills: SB3326 , SB2911

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also some code cleanup language about expired provisions and other changes needed to move that
• into the code.
• And then the rest is code cleanup.
• And it goes to show how old some of our code section is. ...and then the rest is code cleanup.
• And it goes to show how old some of our code section is.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating to medical neglect, amending Section 16-6202, Idaho Code
• an act relating to public assistance, providing legislative intent, amending Section 56-265, Idaho Code
• , relating to apportionment of monies, amending Section 41-4911, Idaho Code, to remove code references
• , repealing Section 41-4925, Idaho Code, relating to the application for trust registration, amending
• Section 41-4925A, Idaho Code, to remove obsolete language, amending Section 41-4930, Idaho Code, to

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the previous day’s journal, and swore in new pages. It then received several messages from the Senate and Governor, including Senate-passed bills being referred to committees and House Bills 514 and 515 being transmitted to the Governor. Committee reports moved a number of bills and memorials to second reading, general orders, or committee referral, including measures on Medicaid managed care review, taxation, public utilities, foster care, and other administrative updates. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 630, concerning aerial shooting of predators such as wolves and coyotes, passed 60-8 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 631, on certificates of free sale for Idaho products, passed 62-7. House Bill 548, requiring reasonable suspicion before stopping and boarding vessels on the water, passed 68-0 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 599, revising the public school digital content and curriculum grant process, passed 68-0 with 2 abstentions. House Bill 731, entering Idaho into a federal tax credit scholarship framework, passed 68-0. House Bill 603, clarifying rules on camping and property handling on state facilities, passed 68-0. House Bills 689 and 690 also passed unanimously with 68 ayes each, and House Bill 698, closing a voting-law loophole related to treason in another state, passed 68-0. The House also passed House Bill 642, creating a catastrophic benefit for public safety officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, with 68 ayes and no opposition; one member declared a conflict because a spouse is a law enforcement officer. House Bill 563, easing CPA licensure pathways and clarifying practice privileges, passed 67-0 with 3 absent and excused. House Bill 623, requiring a 60-second moment of silence at the start of each public school day, drew the most debate over local control, teacher burden, and whether it should be a mandate; it ultimately passed 51-17 with 2 absent and excused. The remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day, a committee letter on agricultural rules was filed, the House noted the death of former Representative Bob Geddes Sr., welcomed professional firefighters in the gallery, and then adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on February 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a code cleanup bill. I'll just explain the process.
• This goes back to House Bill 14 we did last year to clean up outdated or unnecessary or obsolete code
• Same process as last time that this went through: outdated, unnecessary codes.
• Outdated, unnecessary codes.
• Again, code cleanup, Senate Bill 1275. This relates to Percy.

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from February 19 and February 25. It then took up several code-cleanup bills introduced by Rep. Jeff Ehlers: Senate Bills 1273, 1274, and 1275, each described as removing outdated, unnecessary, or duplicative statutory references. There was no testimony on any of those bills, and the committee voted to send all three to the floor with due pass recommendations. Rep. David Leavitt presented Senate Bill 1276, which permanently removes a sunset provision affecting retired employees returning to work in education, with the goal of helping districts address teacher shortages without increasing retirement system costs. Rep. Furman asked about IRS implications, and Leavitt and PERSI Director Mike Hampton said the bill would not affect IRS retirement status rules because existing age and break-in-service requirements remain in place. The committee then voted to send SB 1276 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard House Bill 763 from Rep. Ted Hill, the Foreign Adversary Investment Act, which would prohibit future state public investments in countries of concern and was framed as a strategic response to foreign adversaries such as China and Russia. Members discussed the bill’s references to the federal foreign-adversary list, including whether the language should track the current CFR list and how often compliance should be checked. Hill agreed to an amendment and to move the bill to general orders, and the committee voted to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• This section of code, if you look at existing code on page one, we only had a few sentences guiding virtual
• This section of code, if you look at existing code on page one, we only had a few sentences guiding virtual
• The tapestry has changed and our code has not evolved.
• Again, we're in charter code.
• This very beloved model will be in code. This very beloved model will be in code.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee approved the minutes from February 4 and 5, 2026, then heard RS 3327 on Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA). The sponsor said the proposal would reduce state funding for several areas viewed as scope creep or double funding, including private school, homeschool, and some virtual school enrollments, LaunchPad literacy, urban custom sections, and a limit of three IDLA enrollments per student per year, along with a per-enrollment reduction. Members raised concerns about impacts on rural schools, the three-course cap, and whether the bill would hurt IDLA’s core mission, but the RS was introduced and sent to print. The committee then heard RS 33027, a proposal for a moment of silence in schools. The sponsor said it was intended to improve classroom behavior and could include prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. Members debated whether the silence should be required at the beginning of the school day or left to teacher discretion. Two substitute motions to alter the timing language failed, and the committee then approved the original RS to be printed and introduced. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 588, a virtual education bill for Idaho Home Learning Academy and similar programs. Sponsors and supporters said it would codify standards for virtual schools, require board approval of education service provider contracts, clarify residency and curriculum requirements, require Idaho teaching certificates, and define supplemental learning funds and eligible expenses with local control and State Board guidance. Testimony from virtual school leaders and district superintendents generally supported the bill as improving transparency and accountability, while one former legislator cautioned that it could limit innovation. After discussion, the sponsor asked to hold the bill in committee while a clarifying RS was introduced; the committee agreed to hold HB 588, then introduced RS 33283 and sent it to second reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is actually just outdated code, and it is a DOGE bill.
• This is actually just outdated code, and it is a DOGE bill.
• The first part of code is 23-103, prior offenses and rights not affected.
• And so that, they have not used this section of code for over two decades.
• This part of code has not been used for over 20 years either.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's really all this does: it removes it from code, and that's it.
• They have codified themselves into our code. And so we have no control.
• And so that's why I would like to just remove this part of code.
• That's why I would like to just remove this part of code.
• That's why I would like to just remove this part of code.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 19 and 20. It then heard several RS requests from Rep. Heather Scott aimed at removing Idaho from or repealing participation in various commissions and regional agreements. RS 32866 would eliminate the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs; after questions about whether it would end the agency immediately, the motion to introduce failed on a 7-7 tie. RS 32921 would withdraw Idaho from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Cooperation Agreement; Scott argued it cost about $60,000 annually and advanced policies Idaho does not support, while some members said they wanted more information but supported introducing it. The motion to introduce RS 32921 passed. RS 32922 would remove Idaho from the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force; Scott said it was a taxpayer-funded NGO with little clear benefit, but other members raised concerns about Idaho losing a voice on fisheries, salmon, and water issues. The motion to introduce RS 32922 failed, 7-7, and was returned to the sponsor. The committee then considered RS 32951, brought by Rep. Elaine Price, which would create a House joint resolution asking voters whether to repeal Section 5 of Article 9 of the Idaho Constitution, the Blaine Amendment. Price said recent court decisions show the provision can conflict with the U.S. Constitution and discriminate against Christians, citing a case involving a church and a school facility. Members asked for clarification on the constitutional conflict and examples of unequal treatment, and one member said Idahoans should decide the issue. The motion to introduce RS 32951 passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is it removes a part of code for the treasurer for securities lending.
• part of code.
• RS 32900 is another bill from the DOGE Committee, code cleanup, and it removes three sections of code
• under the liquor... ...and it removes three sections of code under the liquor part of the code.
• I think that my guess is covered in updated code.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Wednesday, February 25. It then introduced several RS measures: RS 33439, a cleanup bill striking duplicative language; RS 3344, which updates the Children’s and Library Protection Act framework by adding a definition of “adolescent minor” and narrowing harmful-material language; RS 33470 C1, which requires sub-district fire commissioners to be electors residing in the sub-district; RS 32895, removing obsolete code on securities lending; and RS 32900, repealing outdated liquor-code provisions, though members raised questions about why some repealed sections were still needed and the sponsor said the liquor division would likely need to return for further explanation. The committee then heard House Bill 650, sponsored by Representative Boyle and Representative Scott, which would place a statement of federalism and state sovereignty into Idaho Code. Supporters said it would reaffirm constitutional limits on federal and state power and help Idaho assert its position in disputes over federal overreach, land, water, and natural resources; the Idaho Farm Bureau testified in support. Opponents argued the bill was unnecessary, potentially unconstitutional, could create litigation costs, and raised concerns about tribal sovereignty and whether the measure created new legal standards beyond existing constitutional law. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to send House Bill 650 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The roll call passed 11-2, with Representatives Church and Haas voting no. The chair closed by praising the committee’s civil and substantive debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant any new privileges and restricts the scope of practice to what is currently legal under Idaho Code
• And so this piece of code was put in place so that you could get a dual licensure.
• And so this piece of code was put in place so that you could get a dual licensure.
• And when this piece of code was passed, the pharmacists of Idaho, And when this piece of code was passed
• So this is just a very unique piece of code.

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1313, presented by Senator Kelly Anthon and his legal intern, Elizabeth Marshall. The bill would allow pharmacists to voluntarily obtain dual licensure as naturopathic doctors under the Idaho Board of Naturopathic Health Care, provided they already hold an active pharmacist license, earn an approved doctoral degree in naturopathy, and meet competency standards. Supporters said the measure would improve access to natural health care, especially in rural areas, and would not expand the legal scope of practice beyond what Idaho law already allows. During questions, Senator Blaylock asked why the bill was needed and raised concerns about the relationship between pharmacy and naturopathic practice, as well as possible malpractice and standard-of-care issues. Marshall and Anthon responded that the bill is narrowly tailored and voluntary, and that dual licensees would remain subject to both the pharmacist licensing framework and the naturopathic board’s regulation. Anthon added that the bill is intended to protect practitioners who want to incorporate naturopathic methods without risking their primary license or insurance coverage, and said pharmacists had previously declined inclusion but now want to be covered. After discussion, Senator Burke moved to send Senate Bill 1313 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, Senator Zierfeld seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition noted. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• have agreed on two changes to Amendment 3 described in the analysis that deals with changes to Water Code
• have agreed on two changes to Amendment 3 described in the analysis that deals with changes to Water Code
• state, including San Francisco, Sebastopol, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and most recently in the city

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all