Transcript Highlights:

• County.
• been offering services in 53 counties.
• We've been offering services in 53 counties for two years.
• , and Parents as Teachers, there's three counties.
• And there's a map in here that shows the numbers by county.

Committee: Joint Protection and Victim Services Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• request from the Senate the return of Senate Bill 1456 for the purpose of reconsideration, now authorized
• House Bill 2494, an act on an executive section 118, 12, and 4036, E.O. 3,0, and vice county zoning.
• It allows for private land located in a county with population 400,000 to 599,999 to be the owners of
• For private land located in a county with population 400,000 to 599,999, the owners of these properties
• Next bill, please: House Bill 2696, an act providing for the Arizona Commerce Authority reduced fuel

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The genesis of the idea came from the mayor of Morgantown, which is one of my counties, Butler County
• So that Floyd County next door, Johnson County, or Martin County would then have an opportunity for those
• 58.440><c> Johnson</c><01:13:58.880><c> County,</c> Floyd County next door, Johnson County, Floyd County
• They were able to take 28 distressed counties down to eight counties over about a 10-year period.
• It wasn't just in Boyle County; he was very much active in Mercer County as well.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority that I've got to, I've got to exhaust this community option.
• It could be the latest ones have come from Denton County and and Harris County, and it's all over, Collin
• County.
• So there have been... the local authorities, they've been kept from that service.
• Of Senate Bill 568, authored by my Senator, Paul Bettencourt, who also swore me in.

Bills: SB568 , SCR5 , SB57 , SB1447 , SB27 , SB24

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: special education, funding, individualized education program, visual impairments, accessibility, support services, state education code, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes Section 4, which authorized data-sharing agreements between the Attorney General, Department
• of Health, Insurance Commissioner, and Health Care Authority.
• In the last bill, House Bill 2239 authorizes the creation of family burial grounds on privately owned
• The proposed substitute instead requires cities, towns, and counties to prescribe local procedures to
• These include the requirement to obtain consent from a surviving family member or court authorization

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard and acted on five bills. House Bill 2548, dealing with hospital and provider material change transactions, was presented with a proposed substitute that added disclosure requirements, quarterly AG website notices, filing fees, and nonprofit-related notice provisions while removing several original enforcement sections. Members debated the 25% ownership threshold and concerns about market effects, but the substitute passed 7-6 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2453 would allow board-certified psychiatric pharmacists to sign certain involuntary commitment and treatment-related petitions and opinions. Members said the bill was intended to expand access to treatment while preserving court decision-making authority, and it passed 8-5. House Bill 2640, addressing unauthorized UCC filings, would let the Department of Licensing refuse or terminate filings made to harass or defraud debtors; members described it as a Department of Licensing request bill, and it also passed 8-5. The committee then considered House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways. The proposed substitute created a rebuttable presumption of negligence against drivers, expanded protected areas, excluded motorcycles from the definition, and adjusted damages and education provisions. Members adopted several amendments, including an emergency-vehicle exemption and a reporting clarification, but rejected amendments that would have removed attorney fees, limited joint liability, or replaced the presumption with a direct civil action. The substitute passed 8-5. House Bill 2386, which removes statutory garnishment answer forms and directs the Washington Pattern Forms Committee to develop a form, passed 12-1. Finally, House Bill 2239, authorizing family burial grounds on private land, passed unanimously after a substitute added setbacks from water sources, local remediation procedures, burial reporting requirements, relocation permits, and seller disclosure language.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, the Legislature included proviso in the Appropriations Act, which authorized the Agency for
• With regard to long-term care streamlining, it allows DOEA-authorized and certified staff to complete
• With regard to emergency authority and continuity of care, it authorizes DOEA to provide temporary direct
• With regard to home care for the elderly, it explicitly authorizes food and nutritional supplements as
• This grants authority for an area agency on aging to directly provide core services during a state of

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Border is in Pinellas County and they're seeing the Pinellas County beaches and to order the flooding
• the worst in Pasco County.
• We serve about 33,000 customers or so throughout 4 counties.
• Jackson County, Calhoun, Liberty, National.
• Plus winds in our northeast territory which was asked county.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Board has the authority to complete the audits for the colleges and universities.
• . housing authority, and it does not include the colleges and universities.
• The state board has the authority to complete the audits for the colleges and universities.
• and over these entities, because they still have oversight over the counties.
• And it works the same with the FTP authorizations. And again, this is at the state level.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on Idaho’s medical education workforce plan, developed from House Bill 368. The presenter said the working group unanimously supported a long-term plan to address Idaho’s physician shortage, noting Idaho ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 more doctors to reach the national average. Recommendations included maintaining existing WAMI and other state-supported seats, adding 10 non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, creating a dedicated health education coordinator/director to manage undergraduate and graduate placements and clinical sites, and using one-time Rural Health Transformation funds for larger investments. Members discussed the value of WAMI, the need for more clinical training sites, rural recruitment incentives, the role of nurse practitioners and other providers, and how to measure results. No formal vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then received April Renfro’s update on the statewide single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited for fiscal year 2024, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, especially Medicaid managed care eligibility and provider oversight, delayed health and safety surveys, and reporting problems tied in part to the Luma transition. Other notable findings involved the Child Care and Development Fund, Vocational Rehabilitation, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, and DEQ. Members pressed her on accountability, fraud detection, managed care oversight, Luma-related errors, staffing, and which findings should be prioritized for follow-up. She said her office would provide a top-10 list of priorities to the co-chairs. No vote was taken. After a break, the committee heard a budget presentation from Brooke Dupree on how to read the front-end reports in the legislative budget book. She explained the state’s constitutional structure, the 20 executive departments, and the decision-unit budget model, including the sequence from the current-year appropriation to maintenance, enhancements, and the final fiscal year 2027 original appropriation. She also walked through request-versus-recommendation reports and fund-source comparisons. Members asked a few clarifying questions, including what falls under public school support. The final item began a short presentation from the Impact Review Team on a base budget dashboard tool, described as a different way to view existing budget data.

Transcript Highlights:

• And give clear stated authority of where our licensees.
• Authority and boundaries stop and where a medical professional starts.
• Who authorized them? It wasn't the legislature.
• But under what authority did you take that action?
• Different than issuing those letters to potentially authorize that.

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of Senator Hill and myself, we have with us today the ladies of our Stone County Republican
• </c> the ladies of our Stone County the ladies of our Stone County Republican<00:07:37.919><c> Party,
• And I'm happy to say that once upon a time I was a member of the Montgomery County 4-H.
• Section four is two claims against the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television.
• funds that come from the counties to AOC to pay for court reporters and trial judge support staff.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 24 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I urge that we not repeal it through this bill's time in terms of authority.
• Yeah, I'm not intending to debate the overall authority.
• Yeah, I'm not intending to debate the overall authority.
• Will the state supersede anything with the county and the towns, something like this?
• With the county and towns, something like this, or is this another thing that our townships and counties

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications considered a large agenda focused mainly on energy affordability, the CLCPA, utility rates, and renewable energy siting. Senator Mattera and other Republican members argued that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act has driven up utility bills, harmed reliability, and imposed costs on ratepayers, while Democratic members pushed back that rising costs are also driven by natural gas markets, infrastructure costs, and broader economic factors. Several bills sought to repeal or pause CLCPA-related policies, create a CLCPA task force, impose studies or moratoriums on new energy taxes and fees, and increase transparency around utility surcharges and state energy spending. Supporters framed these measures as ratepayer relief and accountability; opponents said some proposals would undermine clean-energy policy and existing consumer-benefit programs. The committee defeated S.1167, which would have repealed the All Electric Building Act, and S.1173, which would have created a CLCPA task force. It also failed S.5250, a bill to study CLCPA costs and impose a moratorium on new energy taxes, fees, or regulations, and S.7075, which would have prohibited the system benefits charge on utility bills. Several other bills advanced, including S.1236A on virtual access and electronic filing for Public Service Commission proceedings, S.1552 establishing reduced residential rates for low-income electric and natural gas customers, S.2484 directing a study of replacement timeframes for battery storage and renewable facilities, S.2638 on carbon allowance auction proceeds, S.3247 on electric vehicle charging stations, S.3553 requiring utilities to post promotional and educational materials on their websites, S.4571A creating a floating solar incentive education program, S.5518 shifting Public Service Commission funding to legislative appropriation, and S.6412A requiring itemized ratepayer disclosure of surcharges. S.9251, on labor-related legal costs, was referred to the Labor Committee. S.7710, which would have restricted energy storage systems near schools and homes in New York City, failed after concerns and support were debated. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a brief reminder, House Bill 2521 provides the Washington State Patrol with the authority to set the
• Amendment Jeff's 061, sponsored by Representative Burnett, exempts individuals who reside in a county
• Clowland County was at 0.82 per thousand, and statewide they were running about 1.36.
• Clowland County was at 0.82 per thousand, and statewide they were running about 1.36.
• , but just in those east of the Cascade Mountain counties we're running at 0.005 Counties we're running

Bills: HB2159 , HB2251 , HB2521

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: preK, education funding, childcare, youth development, state budget, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh Gary fiser from the Hillsboro County uh Gary fiser from the Hillsboro County we<00:09:10.360>
• Chiefs and County Law Enforcement they Chiefs and County Law Enforcement they told<00:19:45.640><c> us
• Authority for temporary moratoriums under existing statute.
• So this would save the state and the counties money.
• </c> Services the association is authorized Services the association is authorized to<02:00:45.040><c

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Metropolitan Transit, select Greater Minnesota cities and counties
• Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Metropolitan Transit, select Greater Minnesota cities and counties
• Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Metropolitan Transit, select Greater Minnesota cities and counties
• </c><00:09:13.440><c> Ramsey</c><00:09:13.880><c> County</c> hennipen County Ramsey County hennipen County
• </c><00:09:17.800><c> and</c> Minnesota cities and counties and Minnesota cities and counties and individuals

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we passed, I was very proud to be the author of the Democracy for the People Act that we passed in
• Um, and we have added some additional funding to local counties.
• of the Democracy for the People author of the Democracy for the People Act<00:06:40.520><c> that</c>
• You know, our elections are counties.
• have the the sure that um, our counties have the the resources<00:07:18.919><c> they</c><00:07:19.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The greatest percentage of increased growth is in Renville County, while Steele County has the biggest
• The greatest percentage of increased growth is in Renville County, while Steel County has the biggest
• I'm curious because it's my home county, McKenzie County, showed zero percent.
• So we saw school districts such as McKenzie County, their mill... school districts such as McKenzie County
• county level, perhaps increasing state funding to the taxing districts or to counties to cover specific

Summary: The Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee met with a quorum, approved the March 17, 2026 minutes, and heard a lengthy update from Tax Commissioner Brian Croshys on property tax relief programs. He reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting increased relief after House Bill 1158 and House Bill 1176, but also discussing how some households “income adjust out” of eligibility over time. Members asked about indexing income thresholds, expanding eligibility by age alone, simplifying administration, county-level notices, and whether the county and state systems could be streamlined. Croshys said the programs are heavily used, largely administered at the county level, and that the department is still refining compliance and reporting; he also said there were no material findings or overarching concerns in the latest review. The committee agreed more detailed PRC information would likely come back in a September meeting, and the chair announced an afternoon recess for lunch before later reconvening. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase report, the zero-growth report, and a statistical report on property values and tax levies by class. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and identified counties and cities with the largest percentage changes in growth or decline. She also summarized recent trends: agricultural values remain relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed values have risen over the last five years; in 2025, residential property accounted for the largest share of statewide property tax levies, followed by commercial, agriculture, and centrally assessed property. Committee members asked about unusual zero-growth figures, the effect of annexation and land-use changes, and whether the 3% levy cap was forcing political subdivisions to use reserves or defer spending. Myers said many counties complied by using reserves, delaying capital projects, or limiting increases, and that some counties had not used their full cap. The committee then moved to the stripper oil extraction tax exemption. Commissioner Croshys reviewed the state’s oil tax structure and estimated the revenue impact of keeping stripper wells exempt from extraction tax while still paying production tax. He said the exemption saves operators hundreds of millions of dollars over a biennium, while the state still collects production tax on those wells. He also discussed projected impacts if the exemption were changed for future wells and noted that future outcomes depend on oil prices, production declines, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly explained the historical difference between the 35-barrel and 30-barrel thresholds for certain wells, citing differences in completion costs and lateral lengths. The committee then heard from EERC CEO Charles Gorecki, who presented an analysis of oil well life cycles and said most oil is produced before wells reach stripper status, but that refracturing or other reinvestment can significantly extend production and keep wells above the threshold for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city or the county or whoever has to come up with $200,000. Mr.
• Chair, we did talk with the county and they're well aware of what. Mr.
• Chair, we did talk with the county and they're well aware of what we're doing.
• Yeah, I'll give you a little bit more advice: if the county has any interest in making another $5 million
• And essentially, on the administrative side, the executive did not have authority to freeze those funds

Bills: SB190 , HB247 , HB8

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, capital outlay, capital projects, appropriations, reversion, encumbrance, reauthorization, reappropriation, general fund, capital development and reserve fund, tribal infrastructure project fund, Department of Finance and Administration, DFA, state board of finance, severance tax bonds, tax-exempt bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• The field examinations would be done by a state-authorized investigator.
• Conflict prevention was a separate pot of money in the same authorizing legislation.
• The field examinations would be done by a state authorized investigator.
• Conflict prevention was a separate pot of money in the same authorizing legislation.
• So the cattle facilities in affected counties, they have to test regularly.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the January 22, 2026 minutes and then introduced three RSs. Senator Shippey presented RS 33086 on protection of working animals, which would bar local governments and agencies from enacting rules that effectively ban working animals or working animal enterprises; members asked whether rodeo animals and service animals were covered, and the RS was sent to print. Senator Blaylock presented two code-cleanup RSs from the DOGE committee effort, one removing obsolete programs and another deleting references to the Idaho One plan; both were sent to print after brief discussion. The committee then considered several Idaho State Department of Agriculture rule dockets. Lloyd Knight presented a repeal of the Idaho Hop Growers Commission rule because it duplicated statute, and the committee approved it. He also presented temporary and pending rules on grizzly bear and wolf depredation compensation, explaining the rules implement HB 592 and HB 82, establish definitions and a compensation matrix, and set priorities for confirmed, probable, and possible claims, along with conflict-prevention funding; a virtual witness from Living with Wolves supported the rules, and the committee approved both dockets. Dr. Scott Livesley then presented zero-based rewrites of the brucellosis, tuberculosis, and public exchange of livestock rules, emphasizing that the changes were mostly reorganization and clarification with no major regulatory changes. During the animal disease rule presentations, Dr. Livesley gave background on Idaho’s brucellosis and TB surveillance programs, including the designated surveillance area near Yellowstone, mandatory testing and vaccination requirements, and the role of federal and state agencies. Senators asked about federal involvement, vaccination, and emergency entry provisions, and Dr. Livesley explained the limits of wildlife vaccination and the need for ongoing surveillance. For the livestock exchange rule, he described the three public exchange venues and a change allowing end-of-day electronic sale reports instead of individual paper releases. Jeff Abrams of the Idaho Conservation League later testified in support of the depredation framework but urged more funding for conflict minimization and future compensation needs. The committee completed its rule approvals and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . authority. authority.
• </c><00:56:49.200><c> so</c> county county lines right and so county county lines right and so therefore
• counties, such as Coös County and Belknap County, have a kind of community.
• Um Belnap<01:38:58.400><c> County,</c> Belnap County, Belnap County, um um um I<01:39:01.840><c> don't
• </c> see with a county model. see with a county model.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on reviewing and amending draft minutes and then discussing a draft report on SAU consolidation and school administration efficiency. Members first corrected a disputed statement in the minutes about who starts charter schools, and agreed to mark it as disputed. They also noted a donation figure mentioned in the meeting but not reflected in the notes, and then approved the minutes as amended. The committee then reviewed supporting materials, including a Census Bureau education spending table and a 1993 report on eliminating SAUs. The chair argued New Hampshire ranks very high in administrative spending and used that as evidence for reducing administrative costs. Other members pushed back, noting that education costs are largely borne locally and that the committee should stay focused on its charge. Several members also objected to characterizations of SAU boards and to relying heavily on an old report or on the School District Governance Association’s proposal. The draft report itself drew repeated edits. Members objected to language suggesting the testimony from associations was simply that change was not needed, and proposed more neutral wording about concerns over the impacts of changes. There was also disagreement over a proposed model in which a county-level school administrator would be elected; some members said that would be inappropriate and premature, while others argued the committee had not yet fully developed a consolidation model. The discussion ended with a call from some members for more time and for a future joint legislative committee to continue refining any proposal before legislation is introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The top 15 counties on Surprisingly, along the coast and in the larger cities.
• The top 15 counties on the right reflect about 82% of Citizens' total insured value.
• Helene made landfall near Perry, Taylor County, as a Category 4 storm on September 26.
• Taylor County is a cat one on August 5th.
• Helene made landfall near Perry, and Taylor County is a cat four storm on September 26th.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.