Transcript Highlights:

• And then we're also, the rules reduce screening home, home screening criteria from 23 to 13 items and
• Uh, one of our roles is to do provider enrollment screenings.
• So we are, uh, asking for additional funding for more folks to do screenings.
• One, it tells us um they can quickly assess, is this the right job for me? Do I want to do this?
• The supervisor can quickly assess, is this person equipped to do this job in the long term?

Transcript Highlights:

• Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky, and I'm the director of the lung cancer screening program
• Doug, as I mentioned, I'm the director of our lung cancer screening program at St.
• Doug, as I mentioned, I'm the director of our lung cancer screening program at St.
• As I mentioned, I'm the director of our lung cancer screening program at St.
• As I mentioned, I'm the director of our lung cancer screening program at St.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:01 Roll Call 00:16 HB 211 Discussion 02:55 HB 211 Vote 16:30 HB 160 Discussion 18:50 HB 160 Vote 52:06 Adjournment 57:35, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met for its first meeting of the year, established a quorum, and heard two bills. House Bill 211, sponsored by Representative Chris Lewis, would create a definition for cigar bars and allow indoor cigar smoking in qualifying establishments if they meet criteria such as deriving at least 15% of gross income from cigar-related sales, restricting entry to those 21 and older, prohibiting cigarettes and vaping, and requiring a smoke-free area for deliveries. Lewis and Louisville Metro Council member Anthony Pantini described the bill as a small-business and tourism measure modeled on Tennessee law, while the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a St. Elizabeth physician opposed it, arguing it would undermine local smoke-free ordinances and expose patrons and workers to harmful secondhand smoke. Several members raised local-control concerns, and Lewis said he was open to local governments making decisions on less restrictive approaches. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then approved HB 211 on a roll call vote, with multiple members voting yes and several no votes, sending the bill forward as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 160 from Representative Susan Whitten, with Logan Haynes of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute. They said Kentucky faces a housing shortage of roughly 200,000 units and that starter homes are increasingly unaffordable, making manufactured housing an important part of the solution. Whitten said the bill would treat manufactured housing more like site-built housing while still allowing local governments to enforce cosmetic standards such as roof pitch, exterior facade, and foundation material, and she emphasized that HOA, deed, and historical preservation restrictions would remain in place. Haynes argued that modern manufactured homes are federally and state inspected, more energy efficient, faster to build, and more affordable than site-built homes, and he said the bill would not open the door to older-style mobile homes or single-wides except in limited narrow-lot situations. Representatives from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties expressed concerns about the bill’s current language, saying land-use decisions should remain local and warning that the definition of qualified manufactured home and the bill’s treatment of local standards could have unintended consequences. They said they appreciated Whitten’s willingness to work with them and indicated they hoped to continue negotiating amendments as the bill moved forward. No vote on HB 160 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But back to the assessment.
• In an assessment, you know, there's certain things that we're required to ask.
• Why can't we just have that on an assessment when someone goes into corrections?
• way in order to assess whether an individual is using substances.
• Those are up on the screen.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> illness until we do the assessments. illness until we do the assessments.
• The key for us is going to be to do accurate assessments when they first come in, and the linkages to
• The key for us is going to be to do accurate assessments when they first come in, and the linkages to
• , it's the commission's question, well, why haven't they been screened?
• </c> screened? Like what is the hold up? screened? Like what is the hold up?

Bills: HB389, HB1166, HB1510, HB1541, HB1605, HB1661, HB1663, HB1678, HB1769, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1840, HB1853, HB1860, HB1891, HB1952, HB1960, HB1969, HB1970, HB1972, HB1976, HB2050, HB2094, HB2104, HB2158, HB2165, HB2171, HB2208, HB2246, HB2271, HB2300, HB2310, HB2315, HB2319, HB2338, HB2339, HB2343, HB2443, HB2498, HB2551, HB2599, HB2606, SB17, SB83, SB99, SB148, SB411, SB709, SB847, SB874, SB888, SB1032, SB1166, SB2001, SB2014, SB2031, SB2041, SB2050, SB2057, SB2061, SB2074, SB2075, SB2089, SB2095, SB2101, SB2102, SB2108, SB2109, SB2110, SB2125, SB2135, SB2138, SB2140, SB2146, SB2151, SB2152, SB2175, SB2203, SB2239, SB2246, SB2247, SB2253, SB2261, SB2268, SB2271, SB2272, SB2320, SB2340, SB2347, SB2353, SB2363, SB2367, SB2372, SB2376, SB2386

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it on everybody's screen? It is not? Okay, let me try this. Okay, let me try this again.
• Let me go ahead and advance to the next screen here. For those of you that aren't...
• We stayed next to her until the DCR arrived to do her assessment. We move on.
• We stayed next to her until the DCR arrived to do her assessment. We move on.
• A sister program to that is our mobile crisis assessment and triage team.

Summary: The Community Safety Committee held an interim work session on crisis response, with members and witnesses discussing how Washington can better integrate 911, 988, mobile crisis, co-response, and alternative response models for behavioral health crises in public spaces. Travis Parker opened with an overview of the Sequential Intercept Model and the crisis care continuum, emphasizing early intervention, 988 access, regional coordination, navigators and peer support, and the need for sustainable braided funding. Several Washington witnesses then described current programs and system gaps, including the growth of co-response teams, the importance of integrating 911 and 988 rather than treating them as competing systems, and the need to reduce unnecessary emergency room use and improve first responder wellness and training. City, fire, and crisis-system representatives described local challenges and reforms. Kim Hendrickson of Poulsbo said most crisis calls still come through 911 and urged better coordination among field-based teams, more behavioral health training for fire/EMS, and more alternatives to ER transport. Laura Pippen, a designated crisis responder, described a strained involuntary treatment system, fewer DCRs statewide, difficulty getting law enforcement support for transports, and limited facility capacity, especially for substance use disorder. Jennifer Stuber and South County Fire’s Keith Sharp highlighted workforce training, a crisis responder certificate program, and first responder wellness efforts. Research witnesses Evan Lauder and James Pine said the evidence is still developing but generally supports on-scene resolution, reduced ED transport and detention in some models, and the importance of clear dispatch protocols, coordination, and ongoing evaluation. Dispatch and program operators then gave examples of how systems are working in practice. Katie Myers of Washington APCO/NENA said 911 remains essential, but needs evidence-based triage protocols, liability protections, and additional funding if it is expected to take on more crisis-response responsibilities. Whatcom County described embedding a “community connector” in the 911 center to coordinate alternative response, while ValleyCom reported that its 988 diversion pilot transferred 2,165 calls with 98% resolved through 988/211 without returning to 911. National examples included Denver’s STAR program, Albuquerque’s Community Safety Department, and Atlanta’s PAD initiative, each showing different ways to route low-acuity or behavioral-health-related calls away from police and toward clinicians, peers, or civilian responders. The session ended with Washington examples continuing, including Whatcom County’s alternative response team, underscoring the committee’s interest in refining and expanding integrated crisis response systems in the next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> suicide and crisis lifelines, screening, suicide and crisis lifelines, screening, assessment,<00
• </c><00:58:53.920><c> and</c> outpatient primary care screening and outpatient primary care screening
• </c> crisis teams, primary care, screening crisis teams, primary care, screening and<00:59:14.799><c>
• ><c> monitoring</c> Primary care screening and monitoring Primary care screening and monitoring occurs
• </c><01:10:11.120><c> uh</c> somebody got a depression screening uh somebody got a depression screening

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:01 Department for Public Health Budget Request 00:01:46 Department for Community Based Services Budget Request 00:31:58 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) 00:57:13, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes, then heard a lengthy presentation from the Department for Public Health on Kentucky’s rural health transformation plan and related budget questions. Commissioner John Langfeld said the state received a $212.9 million federal award, one of the larger awards nationally, and outlined five focus areas: maternal and infant health, integrated EMS/trauma response, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, and chronic disease prevention with an emphasis on obesity and diabetes. He stressed that the effort is intended to be integrated, data-driven, and sustainable, and that the federal funds cannot be used for new construction, clinician salaries, research and development, EHR replacement, or to pay for currently billable services. He also said the program carries accountability requirements and that funds can be clawed back if milestones are not met. Members pressed for clarification on duplication with other budget requests, sustainability after the five-year funding period, and how success would be measured. Langfeld said he was not aware of any duplicate funding with the department’s additional budget requests and said the rural health funds were separate from those requests. He also said the program will be tracked through specific metrics and timelines, using both execution measures and outcome measures such as readmissions, with more rapid-cycle feedback to allow course correction. Representative Fleming raised concerns about possible overlap with navigator funding and asked for more detail on the budget breakdown; Langfeld said a detailed line-item budget had been prepared but was still awaiting final CMS approval before release, and that he would explore sharing more information once restrictions were lifted. The committee then heard from the Kentucky State Public Health Laboratory about a request for a new central lab expansion. The presenter described the current 35-year-old facility as outdated and constrained by aging infrastructure, obsolete equipment, deferred maintenance, and inadequate space, and said the lab performs critical work with no in-state alternative for many services, including newborn screening, select-agent and biosafety level 3 testing, animal necropsy for rabies, genetic sequencing, environmental and food safety testing, and response to emerging infectious diseases. The project is already in design phase C, expected to finish in mid-April, with construction funding sought at roughly $276 million on top of about $35 million already approved for design. Members asked about long-term operating costs, backup arrangements, and whether the current facility would remain in use; the presenter said the current lab would continue to be used by the department while other divisions move into vacated space, and that the lab has mutual-aid agreements with the Southeast Consortium and universities for contingency support. Finally, the Department for Community Based Services began its budget presentation on SNAP and relative caregiver issues. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and budget director Misty Sammons identified the governor’s recommended budget items tied to new federal requirements under HR1, including changes affecting payment error rates. The discussion was just beginning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The discussion continued on how state-mandated benefit costs are assessed.
• When Commerce gets a bill for evaluation, the first step is a feasibility assessment.
• </c> really do is a feasibility assess really do is a feasibility assess assment<00:10:00.000><c> so<
• </c><00:10:40.600><c> and</c> and then um a defil assessment and and then um a defil assessment and calculation
• There's not enough detail in the benchmark plan to be able to sort of make that assessment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment clarifies that the background The amendment clarifies that the background screening of
• The original bill required providers to successfully complete a level 2 background screening.
• It will require providers to successfully complete a level 2 background screening.
• Take up tab 35, CS for SB 1546 on background screening of athletic coaches by Senator Grall.
• CS for SB 1640 on public records, lethality assessment form.

Summary: The Rules Committee took up a large agenda of bills, with many measures reported favorably after brief explanations, amendments, and testimony. Early bills included CS/SB 658 on lien waivers and releases, which was amended to preserve enforceability despite form differences and then passed; CS/CS/SB 736 on brownfields redevelopment, which drew support from business and redevelopment interests and passed; and CS/SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, which was amended to bar certain building or fire code provisions affecting fuel-source choices and then passed despite opposition from environmental advocates. The committee also advanced CS/CS/SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, where manufacturers, dealer representatives, and industry groups warned the bill could undermine dealer networks and existing repair programs, while supporters argued it would improve consumer access and help farmers and equipment owners. The bill still passed. Other measures reported favorably included CS/SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of property-damage crashes, CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign-country controlling interests in health care licensing, CS/SB 772 on school access to glucagon for diabetes emergencies, CS/SB 1400 on removal of nonconsensual altered sexual depictions, and CS/SB 1696 on transportation network company impersonation and transit funding. A major portion of the meeting focused on affordable housing. CS/SB 1730, a follow-up to the Live Local Act, made several changes to zoning, height, density, parking, moratorium, and enforcement provisions, with members raising concerns about parking reductions, attorney’s fees, local control, and impacts in the Keys and other sensitive areas. Supporters said the bill closes loopholes and improves workforce housing implementation, while some witnesses urged additional exemptions for areas of critical state concern. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. Later, the committee considered several bills from Senator Leak, including CS/SB 576 on service of process, CS/SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments, and CS/SB 1164 on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices. CS/SB 606 drew substantial debate over whether hotels and extended-stay properties should be able to remove nonpaying guests without treating them like residential tenants; the sponsor said the bill clarifies transient occupancy and removes mandatory arrest provisions, and it passed. CS/SB 1164, which allows email notice delivery by agreement, passed despite concerns from tenant advocates that the bill should include clearer consent and safeguards. The committee also approved CS/SB 1374 on school district reporting of educator arrests and misconduct, CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation sales, and began hearing CS/SB 1690 on surrendered infants, which would authorize infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, with supportive testimony from proponents describing crisis situations and the need for anonymous surrender options.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:52.480><c> into</c> requirements for newborn screening into requirements for newborn screening
• ><00:31:37.320><c> was</c> under the hospital assessment, which was under the hospital assessment, which
• This removes the preschool assessment from being part of the kindergarten entry assessment under the
• ,</c><00:43:29.840><c> um</c> um about this preschool assessment, um um about this preschool assessment
• ,</c><01:11:53.120><c> you've</c> you've seen the green screens, you've you've seen the green screens

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 234 by Assembly Member Anderson requires Medicaid coverage for screening for certain forms
• the competency of applicants for a license to teach through alternative assessment methods.
• the competency of prospective teachers by using alternative assessment methods.
• administered to pupils to assess reading proficiency and to bill...
• Assembly Bill 234, introduced by Assembly Member Anderson, requires Medicaid coverage for screening for

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So those are our initial assessment workers.
• workers that would do the initial family assessments.
• So initial assessments are to be completed within 30 days. That's our time frame.
• So then they're pushing through the initial assessments pretty quickly to make that determination of
• , do placement screens, inter-exit screens, all kinds of things that go along with the casework.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered and advanced several bills. House Bill 4995, concerning video cameras in special education classrooms, was explained as requiring parents to be notified of recording interruptions, providing written notice of the law to parents and school employees, shortening the required random review of recordings from every 90 days to every 30 days, and clarifying that school boards must still conduct independent investigations even if DHS or prosecutors do not act. The committee adopted the motion to report the bill to the full Senate. House Bill 5214, dealing with drug testing in child abuse and neglect cases, would allow courts to order testing of parents in certain cases, require laboratory confirmation of positives, and require DHS to notify the court and other parties; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, then reported the bill as amended and adopted a title amendment. The committee also advanced House Bill 4025 and House Bill 5441, both restructuring state personnel systems. HB 4025 would exempt employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from classified civil service and grievance procedures beginning July 1, 2026, while preserving status for some current employees and allowing exemptions to comply with federal requirements; the committee adopted a piecemeal amendment and reported it as amended. HB 5441 would eliminate separate civil service systems for Transportation, Revenue, and the Bureau for Social Services and move classifications and compensation structures to the Division of Personnel, with testimony from the governor’s counsel emphasizing faster hiring and more flexibility; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill as amended. House Bill 4602, a child welfare pilot program creating a private community-based system for post-removal services, drew testimony from DHS about concerns over costs, continuity, oversight, and child well-being outcomes, while supporters argued it could reduce caseloads and improve flexibility. The chair amended the bill to remove one of the two pilot regions, leaving only the Berkeley/Jefferson County pilot, and the committee then reported the bill as amended despite opposition from the senator from Marion. House Bill 4106, removing the provisional concealed handgun license requirement for ages 18 to 21, heard testimony from a pediatrician opposing the change and from a gun rights advocate supporting it; an amendment requiring firearms training for under-21 carriers failed by a 1-14 roll call, and the committee then reported the bill as amended. Finally, House Bill 4198, after a subcommittee rewrite, was advanced with a strike-and-insert amendment that refined E-Verify requirements for public and private employers, added exemptions for certain small or new employers and sole proprietors, clarified recordkeeping and notice requirements, and adjusted penalties and enforcement procedures. After a motion for the previous question, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 4198 as amended. House Bill 5319 was removed from the agenda, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will start with the words on the screen there, kind of the purpose and need of this project, and it's
• We will be updating our estimate through what we call a cost risk assessment process this summer.
• To date, 20 other states offer touchless mobile IDs that can be used during the TSA screening process
• Twenty other states offer touchless mobile IDs that can be used during the TSA screening process and
• And then it allows districts to impose a property tax up to $75 per $1,000 assessed.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on two major corridor projects before moving to public hearing and executive session. In the Yakima area, WSDOT, Yakima County, and Ecology described the Interstate 82/east-west connector work as a coordinated effort to add capacity, improve interchanges, and address the Boise Cascade mill site contamination that sits in the project footprint. County and Ecology witnesses said the county is ready to remove wood waste and contaminated material, but the project is stalled pending a draft work plan and a de minimis consent decree; several senators pressed for faster action and clearer direction from Ecology. The committee then heard an update on the SR 3 Belfair freight corridor, where WSDOT said environmental review is complete and the next major step is an access hearing this summer, followed by right-of-way acquisition and construction likely in late 2027 or early 2028. Local and tribal partners emphasized the project’s importance for freight mobility, housing growth, emergency access, and regional economic development. The public hearing was on engrossed substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill that largely tracks provisions from prior legislation but also adds or changes several tax and account provisions. Staff explained that the bill clarifies fuel tax and peer-to-peer tax distributions, treats trade-in value differently for recreational vessel and luxury vehicle taxes, provides a six-month motor home exemption and penalty waiver for the luxury vehicle tax, allows lease payments to be made over time, exempts tribal members and nonresidents, creates a Preserve Washington account, changes some transfer timing, and repeals the luxury aircraft tax. Testimony was mixed: aviation groups supported repealing the luxury aircraft tax; trucking and some citizens opposed fuel tax and diesel tax increases; Sound Transit, transit advocates, labor, and ferry interests asked for amendments such as 75-year bonding authority, mobile driver’s licenses, ferry funding, and bike education funding. Alaska Airlines and Delta also supported adding mobile ID language. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills, including SHB 1823, SHB 2114, E2SHB 2251, SHB 2323, SHB 2410, EHB 2588, 2SHB 1923, and HB 2495, all with due pass recommendations after adopting amendments where applicable. The committee adopted a striking amendment to E2SHB 2251 adjusting Climate Commitment Act account distributions and a striking amendment to EHB 2588 limiting the ferry district changes to Whatcom County and removing the voter-approval tax provision. It also adopted an amendment to 2SHB 1923 that added further conditions for passenger-only ferry districts, including whale-protection and fare-related provisions. Senator King voted no on E2SHB 2251, objecting that the bill reduced the transportation share of Climate Commitment Act revenues. The chair announced one more executive action meeting would be held Wednesday morning, with amendment requests due the prior day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as we roll out and implement, we will screen them for exemptions, and these numbers may change
• Then screen thoroughly for exemptions, and we have built that into the recertification process when there
• Right, so we have a methodology established via what we call the triennial assessment.
• We have a methodology established via what we call the triennial assessment, where we look at this every
• Up to an additional four hours to conduct the multi-layered screening process per CDSS's guidance that

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii, and they put out uh here in Hawaii, and they put out uh environmental<00:35:14.000><c> assessment
• </c><00:35:14.640><c> of</c><00:35:14.760><c> their</c> environmental assessment of their environmental
• assessment of their intention<00:35:15.400><c> to</c><00:35:15.720><c> assist</c><00:35:16.160><c> us
• If we’re looking at this statute on the screen right now, is this an accurate statement? No.

Bills: HB389, HB1166, HB1510, HB1541, HB1605, HB1661, HB1663, HB1678, HB1769, HB1785, HB1801, HB1802, HB1815, HB1824, HB1838, HB1840, HB1853, HB1860, HB1891, HB1952, HB1960, HB1969, HB1970, HB1972, HB1976, HB2050, HB2094, HB2104, HB2158, HB2165, HB2171, HB2208, HB2246, HB2271, HB2300, HB2310, HB2315, HB2319, HB2338, HB2339, HB2343, HB2443, HB2498, HB2551, HB2599, HB2606, SB17, SB83, SB99, SB148, SB411, SB709, SB847, SB874, SB888, SB1032, SB1166, SB2001, SB2014, SB2031, SB2041, SB2050, SB2057, SB2061, SB2074, SB2075, SB2089, SB2095, SB2101, SB2102, SB2108, SB2109, SB2110, SB2125, SB2135, SB2138, SB2140, SB2146, SB2151, SB2152, SB2175, SB2203, SB2239, SB2246, SB2247, SB2253, SB2261, SB2268, SB2271, SB2272, SB2320, SB2340, SB2347, SB2353, SB2363, SB2367, SB2372, SB2376, SB2386

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• These providers will then assess the complaints.
• This will generate valuable data for the Legislature and residents to assess the program's improvements
• Assessments, assess their impacts in our communities, and issue public reports.
• SB 623 also expands background checks and requires annual re-screening for drivers.
• SB 623 also expands background checks and requires annual re-screening for drivers.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Banberg concerns withdrawals and surface water assessments on surface water
• House bill by Representative Banberg provides relative to withdrawals the surface water assessments on
• Senate Bill 84, by Senator Myers, Title 22, requires insurance coverage for prostate cancer screening
• for men over the age of 40 and prohibits out-of-pocket expenses for screening services.
• I believe the screen says the 31st, but that's Monday the 30th. Without objection.

Bills: HR46, HR47, HR48, HR49, HR50, HR51, HR52, HR53, HR54, HR55, HR56, HR57, HCR31, HB20, HB21, HB166, HB494, HB710, HB795, HB985, HB986, HB987, HB988, HB989, HB990, HB991, HB992, HB993, HB994, HB995, HB996, HB997, HB998, HR42, HR43, HR44, HR45, HCR22, HCR23, HCR24, HCR25, HCR26, HCR27, HCR28, HCR29, HCR30, SCR13, HB894, HB983, HB984, SB19, SB23, SB26, SB30, SB39, SB45, SB46, SB50, SB51, SB55, SB69, SB71, SB73, SB84, SB85, SB89, SB96, SB98, SB101, SB110, SB148, SB150, SB160, SB164, SB303, SB340, HB28, HB36, HB50, HB52, HB56, HB62, HB68, HB92, HB110, HB117, HB119, HB124, HB140, HB147, HB160, HB171, HB174, HB182, HB193, HB196, HB198, HB203, HB228, HB234, HB237, HB260, HB268, HB271, HB285, HB289, HB316, HB351, HB393, HB400, HB413, HB446, HB469, HB486, HB534, HB551, HB552, HB574, HB576, HB634, HB649, HB677, HB735, HB739, HB779, HB784, HB796, HB807, HB842, HB850, HB919, HB474, HB487, HB503, HB606, HB633, HB707, HB720, HB728, HB733, HB846, HB852, HB856, HB868, HB875, HB129, HB130, HB287, HB489, HB545, HB553, HB555, HB570, HB854, HB952, HB221, HB148, HB331, HB149, HB901

Keywords: HR 46, House Resolution 46, water well drillers, water wells, well drilling, driller licensure, licensing requirements, Department of Conservation and Energy, R.S. 38:3098.1, LAC 46.LXXXIX.507, professional references, two years drilling experience, workforce development, barriers to entry, water infrastructure, natural resources, groundwater, public health, state water resources, occupational licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• You all have the presentation in front of you, or we can put it on the screen.
• We've got the hard copy, but we have it coming up on the screen as well for people.
• We've got the hard copy, but we have it coming up on the screen as well for people.
• Over the last 13 open enrollment periods, we have saved Idahoans $44 million through lower assessment
• Our assessment fee for plan year 2025 is $11.75 per member per month for health insurance and 75 cents

Summary: Senate Commerce first took up three gubernatorial appointments and sent all three to the Senate floor with recommendations for confirmation: Salvador Cruz as director of the Department of Finance, Nora Carpenter to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, and Gregory Donica to the same board. Each motion passed without opposition. The committee then received an annual update from Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho. He reported record enrollment activity, including more than 139,000 selections in open enrollment 2025 and over 144,000 in open enrollment 2026, with most enrollees receiving tax credits and many working with agents or brokers. Kelly said the exchange remains financially self-sustaining, has low operating costs, and achieved strong customer satisfaction scores. Members asked about rising premiums, the shift toward bronze plans, and enrollment timing; Kelly and later Insurance Director Dean Cameron said Idaho premiums remain among the lowest nationally, helped by the 1332 reinsurance waiver, though affordability concerns are increasing. The committee also reviewed and approved one Department of Commerce pending rule docket and several Department of Insurance rule dockets under zero-based regulation. The Commerce rulemaking was described as a non-substantive cleanup that removed obsolete language, aligned definitions, and adjusted some grant limits, including the Idaho GEM grant program. Insurance rule changes similarly focused on simplifying, clarifying, and removing duplicative statutory language across self-funded plans, long-term care insurance, small employer and individual health insurance, coordination of benefits, short-term health insurance, and managing general agents. The most notable policy-related change was the short-term health insurance docket, which was approved with an effective date upon adjournment to avoid a gap after a temporary rule expires; all dockets were approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• You all have the presentation in front of you, or we can put it on the screen.
• We've got the hard copy, but we have it coming up on the screen as well for people.
• We've got the hard copy, but we have it coming up on the screen as well for people.
• Over the last 13 open enrollment periods, we have saved Idahoans $44 million through lower assessment
• Our assessment fee for plan year 2025 is $11.75 per member per month for health insurance and 75 cents

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: Senate Commerce met with a quorum and first took up three gubernatorial appointments. The committee voted to send Salvador Cruz’s appointment as director of the Department of Finance, Nora Carpenter’s appointment to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, and Gregory Donica’s reappointment to the same board to the Senate floor with recommendations that each be confirmed. The committee then heard an annual update from Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho. Kelly reported record enrollment, low operating costs, no state funding, and strong customer satisfaction, while noting that affordability remains a concern and that more enrollees are shifting to bronze plans. Senators asked about enrollment timing, premium costs, and Idaho’s standing compared with other states; Kelly and later Insurance Director Dean Cameron said Idaho’s premiums remain among the lowest nationally, helped by the 1332 reinsurance waiver and a robust marketplace with eight medical carriers. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to approving a series of pending administrative rule dockets, mostly from the Department of Commerce and Department of Insurance. The rules were described as housekeeping or clarification changes under zero-based regulation, including updates to grant program rules, self-funded health plan rules, long-term care insurance standards, small employer and individual health insurance rules, coordination of benefits, short-term limited-duration insurance, and managing general agents. Several changes removed duplicative statutory language, repealed references to obsolete programs, and in one case adjusted short-term insurance rules to align with recent federal guidance; the committee approved each docket, including one short-term insurance rule with an effective date upon adjournment to avoid a regulatory gap.

Transcript Highlights:

• the state employee health plan, the legislation aims to remove financial barriers to essential screenings
• I happen to have one on dense breasts that I hope for screening and continuing care.
• But we have to realize that the how important it is to really do that early screening and then have that
• healthcare perspective from somebody that is in the business of healthcare, that when you have a screenings
• They'll be accountable for it and you'll be assessments and they'll be evaluations.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Toledo maintains creation of the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act to improve screening for and
• So that is a big, big plus for this law going assess the dog right away.
• But if you're going to reduce the number of hours, you're going it's going to assess it.
• Clearinghouse system and level 2 background screening requirements.
• dystrophy to the panel, things that we screen for in newborns.

Keywords: 999, senate, all