Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Health also sets and collects fees from program operators and reports to the legislature
• So, a simplified example is: if the first operator spent $2 million and the second operator spent $1
• If the operators spent $1 million, the fee cap equals $100,000 per operator, which is 10% of the lowest
• charge operators year by year.
• of Health.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on January 7, 2026, approved the December minutes, and adopted an amended work plan. Staff proposed moving the drug takeback program sunset review up to 2026 and delaying the thermal energy network pilot review to 2028, which would free capacity for new studies. Members also noted bills that would eliminate two recurring JLARC reports, including one on unemployment insurance training benefits and one on lodging tax revenue reporting. The committee then discussed JLARC’s own performance measures and a pilot approach for evaluating tax preference performance statements in fiscal notes. Staff said JLARC will begin surveying members and the full legislature on satisfaction, track invitations to present to other committees, monitor recommendation resolution rates, staff retention, on-time report delivery, peer review results, and national recognition. For tax preference reviews, staff proposed a standard rubric to assess whether performance metrics match policy goals, are measurable, use reliable data, and allow enough time for evaluation; members generally supported the effort. Staff also outlined planned changes to public records reporting, including allowing agencies to opt out of tracking low-volume metrics, targeted outreach to nonreporting agencies, better data validation, clearer online guidance, and a survey of public records officers. The main audit presentation was a preliminary report on ignition interlock device compliance and monitoring. JLARC found that about 41% of drivers required to install devices had done so, with installation rates rising sharply with income; half of affected drivers earned less than $28,000 a year, and the typical annual device cost was about $2,700. Staff said the state’s financial assistance program has limited reach and lacks clear goals, performance measures, and coordination between the Department of Licensing and State Patrol. They recommended that the agencies formalize their roles and develop a coordinated strategy to improve installation rates. State Patrol and Licensing said they support the findings, described recent outreach pilots, and said they would work on a management plan and possible expansion of outreach efforts. JLARC also presented an expedited preliminary report on the drug take-back program’s fee setting and expenditures. Staff concluded that the current fee design limits the Department of Health’s ability to recover oversight costs and that public reporting of oversight expenditures would improve transparency. They recommended that DOH publicly report its oversight activities and that the legislature amend the fee structure to remove the cap tied to program operator expenditures. DOH agreed the current structure does not fully recover costs and said it would support a statutory change. The committee adjourned after noting its next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• He and his wife Joanna own and operate a diversified farming operation that, in addition to soybeans
• We have different segments of our operations.
• It was an important part of our operation.
• We also talk about animal health issues together, so...
• He has an operation in northern Nevada and California.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: agriculture, avian flu, bipartisan farm bill, economic challenges, poultry, dairy, specialty crops

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial discussions surrounding the challenges faced by the agriculture sector, particularly concerning avian flu and its impact on poultry and dairy producers. Members provided insights into the economic struggles within the industry, emphasizing the need for a new bipartisan farm bill that addresses the diverse needs of specialty crop and livestock producers. Witnesses from various agricultural sectors spoke about their experiences, illustrating the high costs, regulatory burdens, and emerging diseases that threaten their operations. The meeting underscored a commitment to exploring solutions that will help maintain market stability and ensure food security.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Welfare Committee to order at this time. Welcome, committee members.
• to operational licensing code that may impact our member utilities.
• And how have you been operating in a $60,000 deficit? Mr.
• But their fees go toward the board operations.
• , and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee will adjourn.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered a series of administrative rule dockets, mostly from DOPL and related licensing boards. The committee approved rules for the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind, the Rules of Midwifery, the Idaho State Board of Dentistry, and the Idaho Board of Nursing. Those presentations focused largely on zero-based rule rewrites, fee reductions or temporary fee decreases being made permanent, and compliance with House Bill 152’s cash-balance requirements. Testimony generally emphasized stakeholder input, federal or board approval where applicable, and the need to keep fees aligned with board solvency targets. The committee then heard several fee-rule dockets involving boards with low or negative cash balances. The Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals presented a rule package that clarified licensure requirements, removed some outdated provisions, and increased fees to address a negative cash balance; Idaho Rural Water Association testified in support, saying the changes would reduce regulatory burden while acknowledging the need for higher fees. The committee approved the docket by roll call after some opposition. The Occupational Therapy Licensure Board docket, which proposed a short-term fee increase to restore solvency, failed by roll call vote after members raised concerns about the broader structure of board funding and whether consolidation or other reforms should be considered. The committee also heard a lengthy discussion on the State Board of Acupuncture’s proposed fee increase. The board and a supporting practitioner testified that the board was in deficit, that fees had not been raised in many years, and that the increase was needed to maintain licensure and public safety. Some senators questioned whether licensure remained necessary in light of modern consumer review systems and whether the board should be consolidated or eliminated. A motion to reject the docket failed on a tie, and the original motion to hold the docket for further information passed, leaving the acupuncture rules unresolved. After that, the chair announced the committee would adjourn and reschedule remaining matters.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we need is the teams operating, and they did that so teams could operate 24/7 instead of, again
• So what we need is the teams operating, and they did that so teams could operate 24/7 instead of, again
• So what we need is the teams operating, and they did that so teams could operate 24/7 instead of, again
• The goal is to create a mental health response to a mental health crisis.
• The goal is to create a mental health response to a mental health crisis.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For five of those years, I owned and operated my own security company.
• affect public health.
• They're part-time jobs because they don't want to give health care.
• Of the additional cost to their operations.
• This bill will also reduce access to health care.

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2524 would create a State Security Guards Industry Standards Board within L&I to set minimum standards for security guard pay, leave, benefits, and training, funded in part by a $25 transfer from security licensing fees. The bill’s sponsor and labor supporters said it would professionalize the industry, improve safety, and address high turnover and inadequate training. Security workers described unsafe conditions, retaliation, and being expected to handle crises without enough support. Opponents from business and security companies argued the bill duplicates existing licensing and training rules, would raise costs, and gives too much authority to an unelected board; L&I said it had administrative concerns about timing and fee handling. The hearing on HB 2524 was then closed. HB 2513 would change plumbing license suspension rules by keeping the current three-infractions-in-three-years standard for residential work, while creating a five-infractions-in-five-years standard for non-residential plumbing violations. The sponsor and supporters from mechanical contractors and labor said repeat violators undermine safety and fair competition, and that the bill gives L&I a stronger enforcement tool against bad actors in commercial work. Several plumbing contractor groups opposed the bill as written, focusing on a new subsection they said was vague and could create an undefined corrective process or overly broad discretion for L&I; they asked that the subsection be removed or the bill be delayed for more stakeholder work. L&I requested an effective date of January 1, 2027 to allow time for rulemaking. HB 2611 would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours starting January 1, 2028, and would also change paid sick leave accrual from one hour per 40 hours worked to one hour per 32 hours worked. The sponsor and labor supporters said a shorter workweek would improve work-life balance, reduce burnout and turnover, and could increase productivity, citing examples from San Juan County and other places. Business, hospitality, grocery, construction, agriculture, and janitorial representatives opposed the bill, saying it would raise labor costs, reduce hours and flexibility, complicate scheduling, and hurt industries with thin margins or seasonal demands. The committee heard no votes or final action on HB 2611 before closing the hearing and ending business for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Okay. capacity that's operated. Okay. capacity that's operated.
• </c> regulations in the health department. regulations in the health department.
• <00:15:37.519><c> water</c><00:15:37.839><c> people</c> health department and his water people health
• </c> pay operating costs. pay operating costs.
• </c> concerns over current system operations concerns over current system operations or<00:20:22.720>

Committee: Joint Energy

Keywords: Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll take you to student health and counseling.
• If I wanted health benefits, I went to the VA.
• And that system becomes operational.
• They're working with their part of health.
• The Air Force operates this, and last summer, they wanted to optimize the operation of this interim measure

Transcript Highlights:

• by physicians and other health care providers, to Health and Human Services.
• records, to Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 1188 by Kolkhorst, relating to electronic health record requirements, to Health and Human
• of certain health benefit plan information, to Health and Human Services. [00:10:50] Senate Bill 1236
• , to Health and Human Services.

Summary: The Senate met briefly to receive first-reading referrals of a large number of bills, resolutions, and joint resolutions. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public education, health care, criminal justice, business regulation, transportation, water and natural resources, local government, taxation, elections, and public information. Many of the filings were by Senators Hughes, Perry, Alvarado, Creighton, Hancock, Parker, Zaffirini, Blanco, and others, and included proposals on school safety, health records and billing, election procedures, water planning, housing and rent issues, energy and environmental regulation, and criminal penalties. The chamber also read several concurrent and joint resolutions, including measures designating state symbols and local honors, a proposed constitutional amendment related to gaming by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, a proposal concerning special-session subjects, and resolutions on fiscal restraints and retirement obligations. No debate, testimony, or substantive action on the merits of the measures occurred in this portion of the transcript; the items were simply read and referred to committees. At the close of the proceedings, the Senate adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion and announced it would reconvene at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• We reduce the operational costs while at the same time we'd be increasing revenue both for the operator
• </c> slot machines we reduce the operational slot machines we reduce the operational costs<00:47:46.040
• </c><01:45:37.920><c> for</c> approval of a plan of operation for approval of a plan of operation for
• I think it's good for their health, and I think it's good for their mental health. because they just
• good for their mental health think it's good for their mental health so<01:50:21.880><c> adding</c><

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also had added a holistic health and fitness program, and the holistic health and fitness program
• and fitness program and the health and fitness program and the holistic<00:23:49.080><c> health</c><
• </c><00:30:52.399><c> of</c> necessary to support the operations of necessary to support the operations
• um we we do referrals for mental health um we we do operate<01:06:03.319><c> at</c><01:06:03.599><c>
• We have 24-hour operations.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Safety, health, labor, and other standards are left.
• Safety, health, labor, and other standards are left.
• Safety, health, labor, and other standards are left.
• Safety, health, labor, and other standards are left.
• Safety, health, labor, and other standards are left.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine formalities, approved the journal, welcomed a SkillsUSA student delegation, and then moved into budget and policy business. The chamber accepted a Rules Committee report and took up a supplemental budget extender, Senate Print 9963, which would extend state operations through April 22 and authorize $12.7 billion, including about $5.1 billion in new funding for Medicaid, payroll, and school aid. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in the budget, the lack of public detail, and unresolved issues such as CLCPA changes, auto insurance, and SEQR reforms; the sponsor said negotiations were ongoing and that school aid would likely build on the executive budget. The extender passed 57-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 1887, sponsored by Senator Brisport, memorializing the Governor to proclaim April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month. Senators Brisport, Fahy, Salazar, and Gounardes spoke in support, emphasizing Arab Americans’ cultural, civic, and economic contributions in New York and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and opened for co-sponsorship. The chamber next considered several bills on the calendar, including a bill by Senator Cleare to prohibit state-chartered financial institutions from investing in private correctional facilities. Supporters framed it as a moral response to private prisons and rising federal use of detention facilities, while opponents argued it would overregulate state-chartered banks and affect private investment decisions. The bill passed 36-22. The Senate also passed a bill by Senator Krueger raising the nonprofit lobbying disclosure threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, after debate over transparency and whether the change would reduce oversight; it passed 35-23. Finally, the Senate passed Senator May’s bill on advanced transmission technologies and utility planning, after extensive debate over ratepayer costs, battery storage, and data center growth; supporters said it could lower energy costs through more efficient grid use, while opponents said it would raise rates and duplicate existing studies. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• A quick overview of the scale of our like programmatic operations.
• They gather information on these operations.
• They are sophisticated in their operations.
• The request will support 12 positions and operational expenses.
• The board currently operates with an IT budget of only $497,000, which is insufficient to meet its operational

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This prevents them from having flexibility in their operations.
• This presents numerous operational challenges for rural sheriff's, sheriff's departments in responding
• As John mentioned, we operate two hospitals, major hospitals in Houston.
• ESDs operate a governing, uh, under a governing board, which typically oversees their budget.
• Some key points of support, it improves operational efficiency.

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Highway operations, there's $75,990,700 in highway operations.
• Regulators and businesses have a clear framework for lawful operations.
• So this is the Health and Welfare maintenance budget 2.0.
• That's how this program has been operating since the early 90s.
• health transformation to establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> health and Kucky's health outcomes. health and Kucky's health outcomes.
• </c> combination of the American health combination of the American health health<00:02:54.480><c> rankings
• to</c> health, to physical health, to health, to physical health, to employability?
• who are operating.
• who are operating policies for operators who are operating and<02:02:11.440><c> to</c><02:02:11.760>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and housekeeping, including moving standing attendees to an overflow room and asking the audience to avoid interruptions. The task force then heard testimony from Allison Adams of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who presented statewide health trend data showing Kentucky ranked 41st overall and 44th in health outcomes, with especially poor performance on premature death, chronic disease, diabetes, and vaccination rates. She emphasized that Kentucky has the highest rates of residents with multiple chronic conditions, that diabetes remains above the national average, and that childhood immunization rates have worsened. She also highlighted major provider shortages in rural areas, noting that 43 of 120 counties meet shortage criteria and that more than half of primary care providers are concentrated in Fayette and Jefferson counties. Adams urged the task force to focus on prevention, early intervention, access to care, physical activity, and healthier school and community environments, and said the foundation is prepared to share results from its demonstration projects. Task force members asked follow-up questions about the age range for chronic-condition data and whether the diabetes figure reflected type 1 or type 2 diabetes; Adams said the chronic-condition measure spans all ages and that the diabetes figure likely reflects type 2, though she offered to provide the full report. The task force then approved the minutes from the prior meeting. The committee next turned to SNAP benefits and heard from Lisa Dennis, commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, and Roger McCann, director of the Division of Family Support. They explained that SNAP is not only a food assistance program but also a public health and family stability tool, arguing that poor diet contributes to chronic disease and that food insecurity is linked to family stress, child welfare involvement, and neglect-related CPS referrals. They cited research showing that more generous SNAP policies are associated with fewer CPS reports, fewer substantiated reports, and fewer foster care placements, and said SNAP helps reduce risk and promote stability across vulnerable populations including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. They also described SNAP-Ed as the nutrition education component that teaches healthy eating, cooking on a budget, and how to use fresh produce, but warned that recent federal legislation eliminates federal funding for SNAP-Ed beginning in federal fiscal year 2026. McCann outlined the remaining SNAP outreach and employment-and-training components, noting that outreach is typically run by nonprofits with a 50% match and that employment and training funds job-skills programs to help recipients move toward better jobs and self-sufficiency. The discussion emphasized that access to nutritious food, education, and job supports are all part of improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I hope you all know, New Futures is a nonpartisan nonprofit health policy and advocacy organization
• </c> health policy and advocacy organization. health policy and advocacy organization.
• issues in our use and behavioral health issues in our state<00:15:40.240><c> for</c><00:15:40.399><c
• </c><00:17:26.160><c> In</c> the state in order to operate. In the state in order to operate.
• to publicly post documents operators to publicly post documents around<00:17:44.080><c> resident</c>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• critical operational and workforce initiatives across our early education workforce sector.
• critical operational and workforce initiatives across our early education workforce sector.
• . $1 billion in new investment in FY26 for operational improvements and transportation infrastructure
• We fully fund Pappas and Pocasset mental health centers.
• We're utilizing $260 million from the SOA fund, $150 million from the EEC Operational Grant Fund.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted to say thank you health.
• That is to say, the county share stays the same. health fund. uh both the governor had health fund. uh
• </c> kick in and there that um operational kick in and there that um operational funding<00:36:32.880
• Previous versions health hospitals.
• So we are running about a operate.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fairview to form together a new integrated health care system that operates as one unified academic
• that operates as one unified academic health care entity.
• Our state's health systems are facing historical financial and operational challenges, and as a public
• Our state's health systems are facing historical financial and operational challenges, and as a public
• Our state's health systems are facing historical financial and operational challenges, and as a public

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have them, keep going and operating them as you'd like.
• This is a modest bill with outsized health benefits.
• We have operators with one unit, and we have operators like my members that are managing over a thousand
• Evaporative coolers can cause health problems.
• This is a health bill and a housing bill.

Summary: The Housing Committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5496, which would limit certain business and investment entities from buying additional single-family homes after reaching 100 holdings, with exemptions for banks, nonprofits making affordability-related improvements, and some development/foreclosure situations. Senator Alvarado said the bill is intended to curb speculation and help Washington families compete for homes, while opponents argued it would interfere with the market, reduce rental supply, and could affect REITs and retirement investments. Supporters, including Habitat for Humanity, said institutional buying has made homeownership harder and that the bill would create needed guardrails; opponents from the building and rental housing industries said the data did not justify the restriction and asked for clearer exemptions or data on impacts. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6200, which would prohibit landlords under the residential and manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant laws from banning tenants from installing portable cooling devices, subject to safety, code, egress, insurance, and damage-related exceptions. Senator Slatter and supporters framed the bill as a public health response to deadly heat events, especially the 2021 heat dome, and said it would help renters, seniors, and people with disabilities stay safe during extreme heat. Landlord and property management representatives were generally neutral or cautiously supportive, but asked for changes on notice, lease language, insurance, and window-unit safety; one testifier raised concerns about evaporative coolers and potential moisture damage. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5156 on elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings and reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation. It rejected amendments to Senate Bill 5938 on the foreclosure prevention fee, adopted an amendment removing a study requirement, and then reported the bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. It also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 6054 on fire-hardened building materials and reported that bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee reported out Senate Bill 6237B on flood disclosure with a due pass recommendation. After those votes, the committee reopened public hearing on SB 6200 and SB 5496 to hear additional testimony, then adjourned for the day.