Transcript Highlights:

• OBH has collaborated with LSU using Louisiana-specific population coverage and national utilization data
• Based on this collaboration, LSU projects that 1.77 million people in Louisiana are in private insurance

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with amendments to also include the Agribusiness Development Corporation in the requirements and collaboration
• with amendments to also include the Agribusiness Development Corporation in the requirements and collaboration

Bills: SB2088 , SB2925 , SB3263 , SB2047 , SB2087 , SB2100 , SB2268 , SB2353 , SB2781 , SB2902

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: coconut trees, tax credit, natural management, Hawaii, agriculture, biosecurity, environment, coconut rhinoceros beetle, student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, pharmacy benefit managers, maximum allowable cost, drug pricing

Summary: The joint committee on Ways and Means and Consumer Protection met for decision-making only on two agendas and took action on a large number of Senate bills, with no oral testimony heard. On the 1016 agenda, the committee recommended passage of measures including SB 2088, SB 2925, SB 2781, and several others, and passed a number of bills with amendments. Notable amendments included SB 3263, which adopted AG amendments related to the name, image, and likeness endowment trust fund; SB 2047 on pharmacy benefit managers, which incorporated Hawaii Pharmacist Association changes; SB 2087 on health insurance, which added Insurance Division clarifications; SB 2100 on pesticides, which added a blank appropriation; SB 2353 on outdoor signage, which removed provisions related to the Wiki special district; and SB 2902 on renewable energy, which clarified certification standards for portable solar devices and exempted them from certain disclosure requirements. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though a few members noted reservations on selected bills. The committee also deferred one bill on the agenda, SB 3327. The committee then moved to the 1015 agenda and acted on additional measures. SB 2003 was passed with amendments tied to Act 255, including a repeal trigger if deadlines are missed; SB 2497 on utility-related transparency drew the most discussion, with one member warning about litigation and costs while another argued it was simply about electricity-rate transparency, and it ultimately passed with PUC-related amendments and an exemption for utility cooperatives. Other measures were passed unamended or with technical or fiscal amendments, including bills affecting land planning, tax credits, conveyance tax language, shoreline maintenance, and community improvement projects. Several bills had appropriations blanked or effective dates deferred to 2050, and many were adopted with members noting reservations rather than opposition. On the 1017 agenda, the committee continued approving measures, including SB 709 on crisis intervention officers and assisted community treatment, SB 2153 on defining bona fide farmer/agriculture activity, SB 2694 on water rate adjustments, SB 3025 on income eligibility limits, and SB 3085 on the Hawaii film studio, which included a five-year repeal provision if the studio has not relocated. The committee also passed numerous other bills unamended or with technical amendments, often deferring effective dates or blanking appropriations. Across both agendas, the committee’s actions were largely consistent: bills were advanced with amendments tailored to agency requests, technical corrections, or fiscal adjustments, and votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous with occasional reservations recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• closely with State Historic Preservation Office staff on a day-to-day basis, our success depends on collaboration
• closely with State Historic Preservation Office staff on a day-to-day basis, our success depends on collaboration

Bills: HB2167 , HB2168 , HB2169 , HB2171 , HB2790 , HB2905 , HCM2005

Committee: House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Keywords: attorney general, nuisance action, consumer fraud, damages, civil penalty, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks, residential district

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think the collaboration and the different views and perspectives from all these people makes
• When DMV changed their system, this functionality was removed, and ISP and DMV collaborated on a new

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee began its first meeting of the session by introducing two pages, Emmy Roberts of Lewiston and Cooper Smith of Nampa, who each described their backgrounds and interest in serving. The committee then considered two gubernatorial appointments to the Commission on Pardons and Parole: reappointment candidate Scott Smith and new appointee Dylan Hobson. Both testified about their public service backgrounds and approach to parole decisions, emphasizing public safety, individualized review, rehabilitation, and the importance of prison programming and supervision. Members asked about parole factors, the rider program for sex offenders, the role of politics, workload, and whether the system is working well. The committee did not vote on the appointments at this meeting, noting that votes would be taken at a later meeting. The committee then took up several Idaho State Police rule dockets. Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley presented rule cleanups for civil asset forfeiture, the Idaho Public Safety and Security Information System (ISLITS), state criminal history records, and the sex offender registry. He repeatedly stated the changes were non-substantive, mostly simplifying language, deleting duplication, or updating the sex offender registry rule to match a new photo-transfer process after DMV system changes. The committee approved each of those rule dockets after brief discussion and no public comment. The final and most extensive item was the pending Idaho Rules of Administrative Procedure update presented by Chief Administrative Law Judge Brian Nichols. He explained the changes were driven by recent statutory modernization, field testing of the 2024 rules, and a new rule addressing artificial intelligence in administrative contested cases. Nichols said the AI provisions are aimed at transparency, disclosure, and safeguards against misuse, while preserving access for self-represented parties; he also said ALJs themselves are barred from using AI in deciding cases. Members questioned whether avatars should be allowed to present testimony or argument, and some expressed concern about abuse, but the committee ultimately approved the pending rule docket, with one senator stating he would have preferred a stricter prohibition on avatars. The meeting ended after all rule dockets were approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think the collaboration and the different views and perspectives from all these people makes
• When DMV changed their system, this functionality was removed, and ISP and DMV collaborated on a new

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• registry unit with eight full-time positions to enhance oversight, strengthen local law enforcement collaboration
• registry unit with eight full-time positions to enhance oversight, strengthen local law enforcement collaboration

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 public safety budget, which totals about $8.2 billion within a $117.4 billion overall state budget. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget outlined funding and reductions across the public safety silo, including the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, FDLE, Legal Affairs, the courts, and related entities. Agency heads then presented their requests, with FDLE seeking funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert system upgrades, alcohol testing equipment, officer mental health, criminal alien detection, and statutory staffing needs; DJJ requesting money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential contract rate increases, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requesting major funding for correctional officer pay increases, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications and security technology, offender information system modernization, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members discussed staffing shortages, prison conditions, immigration enforcement, public records burdens, mental health and substance use treatment, and the need for continued investment in corrections. A member of the public also testified about poor conditions in some prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and maintenance issues. The committee then considered and passed CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would clarify that a person may not resist a law enforcement officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties and would increase penalties in cases involving violence against officers. The bill sponsor described the case of Officer Jason Rayner and said the measure was intended to prevent defendants from using claims about unlawful detention or arrest to justify violence. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after support was noted from several law enforcement and municipal groups. Next, the committee passed CS/SB 54, which addresses use of substances affecting cognitive function. An amendment narrowed the medical-records language to records relevant to investigations of violent offenders and clarified privacy protections. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from survivors and advocates emphasized the danger victims face when trying to leave abusive situations. Finally, the committee passed CS/SB 298, the public-records companion bill, which extends confidentiality protections for participants in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating violence victims as well. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• This also extends to cross-agency collaboration, as very few clients come to us with only one need.
• alluded to earlier, I'm really excited when I was at HHS, I sort of pushed through a website, a collaborative

Bills: SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nolan Wilson, Tallahassee Veteran Legal Collaborative, waving in support. Thank you, sir.
• Dan Hendrickson, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee met to consider three bills. HB 199, relating to Veterans Court, was presented as a repeat measure aligning Veterans Court procedures with mental health and drug court laws and allowing post-adjudicatory referrals. A technical amendment was adopted, numerous witnesses waived in support, and the bill passed unanimously 17-0. The committee then took up HB 45, which would add public swimming pools and public bathing places to existing sex offender residency, work, volunteer, and visitation restrictions. The sponsor argued it would protect children and apply only to specified sex offenses. Several members and public witnesses raised concerns that the bill’s definitions were overly broad, could effectively ban registrants from much of Florida, and could increase homelessness and make offenders harder to track. An amendment narrowing the bill’s scope and definitions was adopted after debate, and the bill passed 11-5 as amended. Finally, HB 17, the Jason Rayner Act, was heard to clarify that force may not be used to resist an arrest by an officer acting in the performance of official duties, retain good-faith language, add manslaughter to offenses requiring a life sentence when reclassified, and increase the severity level for battery on a law enforcement officer. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen protections for officers; opponents argued it could sweep in accidental or less culpable conduct, while supporters said existing law already covered serious cases. A clarifying amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 16-0 as amended. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• government, fire scientists, builders, planners, insurance experts, and emergency responders, to collaborate
• government, fire scientists, builders, planners, insurance experts, and emergency responders, to collaborate

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine procedural motions. Members then moved through a long agenda of Senate and Assembly bills, including several concurrence votes on budget trailer bills and policy measures. Early actions included defeating a motion to send AB 1207 to the inactive file, then passing SB 855 on armory property transfers, SB 57 on data centers and ratepayer impacts, and SB 614 on carbon capture pipeline transport, with SB 614 transmitted immediately to the Senate. The house also approved AB 144 and AB 149, the health and resources budget trailer bills, and later took up a large concurrence file with many mostly bipartisan measures. Among the major policy items, the Assembly concurred in AB 7 on consideration of descendants of enslaved people in higher education admissions, AB 1400 on community college nursing/bachelor’s degree pilots, AB 56 on social media warning labels for children, AB 253 on housing plan-check timelines, AB 265 on disaster recovery support for small businesses, AB 301 on housing reconstruction timelines after fires, AB 325 on antitrust and pricing algorithms, AB 478 on emergency planning for pets, AB 670 on renter stability, AB 841 on the State Fire Marshal, AB 979 on AI cybersecurity, AB 1007 on faster housing permitting, AB 1032 on mental health care for wildfire victims, AB 1181 on firefighter cancer protections, and AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals. Several bills drew brief opposition or questions, including AB 149, where Assembly Member Dixon criticized omnibus budget drafting and fee increases, and AB 1264, where members discussed agriculture concerns and school nutrition. Most measures passed with strong margins, many unanimously. Later in the day, the Assembly also considered a separate set of Senate bills, including SB 760 on behest reporting for charitable appeals, SB 271 on student parents’ access to child care and financial aid services, SB 613 on methane emissions from imported fossil fuels, SB 744 on postsecondary accreditation, SB 461 on a facility transfer for police services in Imperial, SB 487 on compensation for injured firefighters and peace officers, SB 635 on street vendor protections, SB 641 on licensing relief after disasters, SB 720 on red-light camera programs, SB 763 on Cartwright Act penalties, and SB 274 on limits for automated license plate reader data retention. SB 274 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing privacy, civil liberties, and misuse of data, and opponents arguing the bill would hamper law enforcement and crime-solving tools. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote shown for SB 274 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other one final question and it has to do how do you work in collaboration and partnership with the
• Representative Matthews, we are aware of the funding to Albuquerque, but I can't speak to what collaboration

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We really want this to be a collaborative, productive place, and so as much as we can work together and
• We want to make sure we're working again as collaboratively as possible.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it's a First Amendment issue, and in practicality I think we see that in Wyoming, and that people
• </c><00:46:45.119><c> I</c> amendment issue and in practicality I amendment issue and in practicality
• Is it by practice?
• </c><01:07:53.520><c> Is</c><01:07:53.680><c> it</c><01:07:53.839><c> by</c><01:07:54.079><c> practice
• </c> our state coalitions, we collaborate our state coalitions, we collaborate with<02:02:04.400><c>

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when the building was originally conceived and whether it was just a place to go and begin target practice
• you know place to go and and and begin you know just<04:18:59.640><c> target</c><04:19:00.119><c> practice
• And was it just a place to go and begin target practice or something?”
• process would reduce waste, lower energy consumption, and align with environmentally responsible practices
• when you use new digital practices when you use new digital Solutions<05:43:08.200><c> the</c><05:43

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining how agencies assess facility needs, rank projects, and submit requests to the governor’s office. DAS described its Plant and Property division, which maintains 96 state buildings, and Public Works, which develops detailed cost estimates for selected projects. Officials said the governor’s office has traditionally narrowed requests into priority tiers, but this year all projects were estimated, creating more work and less detail. They also emphasized that the capital budget book functions as legislative intent and can be binding on how approved funds are used. On the substance of the request, DAS highlighted several priorities: continued funding for the state ERP system upgrade to the cloud, with about $5 million requested for sustainability and related Treasury functions; emergency fund and annex renovation work; a sprinkler replacement at DMV; and elevator repairs at the main building. Karen Rocky also identified maintenance projects that rose in priority after a facility condition assessment, including HVAC work for Portsmouth Circuit Court and Coos County Courthouse, boilers and controls for Carroll County and Lebanon Circuit Court, brick repointing at the main building and annex, window replacement at Spalding, and Brown building elevator replacement. Officials noted that the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and no projects for the Bureau of Court Facilities. The committee also discussed lapses and reprogramming of prior appropriations. DAS said the first eight projects approved in 2023 remain under construction and should be extended, while many 2021 projects are delayed because of ARPA-related workload and broader construction backlogs. Members reviewed a 2019 project list and agreed to lapse project number 49, the Spalding roof project, with about $81,000 remaining. DAS also said some small 2019 balances, including courthouse generators, a boiler, cooling and controls, roof and exterior repairs, and the State House Annex elevator, could be redirected through Capital Budget Overview toward the Hillsboro County South Cell Block project. The hearing ended with questions about project schedules, ARPA deadlines, and the division of authority between DoIT and DAS for the ERP system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Spatton, requires the Department of Veterans Services to establish and maintain, in consultation and collaboration

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on March 5 and moved a series of bills, with brief discussion on most measures and several members noting support for the proposals. Bills advanced included loan forgiveness and reimbursement for attorneys serving Indigenous clients (S161A), a study of lithium-ion battery fires and prevention (S257), annual housing and zoning reporting to the Department of State (F919A), a temporary state pesticide commission (S1368), an emergency repair pilot program for hazardous building code violations (S1838), a searchable veterans resources database (S2070), Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution (S2587), expanded fraud and tax-fraud provisions (S32), a NYSERDA rebate program for lithium-ion batteries for mobility devices (S3560), directing certain fines and penalties to a conservation enforcement account (S4033B), Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day (S4152A), expansion of Fresh Connect to supermarkets and grocery stores (S4162), restrictions on executive-branch contracting during a hiring freeze (S473), real-property transfer documentation and forgery-related protections (S5177), changes to retirement beneficiary options after a beneficiary’s family offense conviction (S6750), and a deposit placement program for public monies (S8357). Several bills were described as addressing fraud, housing, veterans’ services, public safety, and commemorations, and members generally spoke in favor of the measures. A few bills drew more specific comments: supporters emphasized the importance of honoring Fred Korematsu and recognizing the injustice of Japanese American detention, and the fraud-related bill was framed as a response to white-collar tax fraud and government losses. The real-property bill was highlighted as a response to mortgage and deed fraud affecting homeowners. On the housing reporting bill, there were three negative votes, and on the pesticide commission bill there were two members without recommendation. The lithium-ion battery rebate bill also drew several negative votes, while most other measures passed with little or no opposition. By the end of the meeting, the committee had completed its agenda and announced it would resume more regular meetings, while noting that the state budget process would continue to affect scheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I appreciate that collaborative effort, Senator Taves and Senator Ruttee.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met on a Friday and first approved minutes from January 21, January 23, and January 26, 2026. The committee then considered several Senate resolutions for printing. RS 33059, a bipartisan resolution condemning political violence and affirming that criticism of government is appropriate but violence has no place in politics, was introduced by Senator Ruttee and Senator Taves and sent to print after supportive comments from committee members. The committee also heard RS 33130 from Senator Harris, which would require state and local governments and certain contractors with more than 150 employees and contracts over $100,000 to use E-Verify to verify employee work eligibility. The proposal included compliance steps and possible contract loss for continued violations, and it was sent to print. Finally, Senator Ward Engelking presented RS 33020, a proposal restricting facial coverings in certain public-law-enforcement contexts, with numerous exceptions for medical, safety, undercover, SWAT, and similar situations. She said the measure was intended to address public safety concerns and requested a hearing; after a brief question about law-enforcement input, the committee voted to send it to print. The meeting ended after the final minutes were approved and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• look at the carrier support and the broker support and the many partners in the community that collaborate

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met with a quorum, took a silent roll, and first approved the January 15, 2026 minutes by motion and voice vote. The committee then heard three gubernatorial reappointments to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board: Hyatt Erstad of Boise, Janice Folkerson, and Cynthia Fairfax of Boise. Each nominee briefly described their background and interest in serving, with Erstad and Folkerson also noting their work on the state high-risk pool and their long involvement in health insurance and health care. Committee members offered strong praise for all three nominees, emphasizing their experience, diligence, and service to Idahoans. During Ms. Folkerson’s and Dr. Fairfax’s appearances, senators discussed the success of Your Health Idaho and asked about how the exchange helps make coverage more affordable; Folkerson credited staff leadership, transparency, carrier and broker support, and the exchange’s mission, while Fairfax noted the exchange’s role in helping people find appropriate, cost-effective coverage. No votes were taken on the appointments at this meeting; the chair said the committee would likely vote on them at the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, and then adjourned after exhausting the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Act, In alignment with the theme of last year's House Bill 14, the Idaho Cleanup Act, the board collaborated

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been very clear that you two worked very well in a collaborative effort and also made it very

Bills: HF2783

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• Our bipartisan bicameral budget working group set aside the politics and we committed to that collaborative
• Our bipartisan bicameral budget working group set aside the politics and we committed to that collaborative
• Our bipartisan bicameral budget working group set aside the politics and we committed to that collaborative
• Our bipartisan bicameral budget working group set aside the politics and we committed to that collaborative
• Our bipartisan bicameral budget working group set aside the politics and we committed to that collaborative

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :46.440><c> meetings</c><01:10:46.880><c> and</c><01:10:47.080><c> you're</c><01:10:47.440><c> collaborating
• </c> your meetings and you're collaborating your meetings and you're collaborating it<01:10:48.239><c
• I mean, an example: H1N1, bird flu—not invasive species—but so DOA, DLNR, and DOH have been collaborating
• c> we</c><01:14:17.280><c> have</c><01:14:17.480><c> agreed</c><01:14:17.840><c> that</c> been collaborating
• we have agreed that been collaborating we have agreed that DOA<01:14:18.520><c> is</c><01:14:18.639>

Keywords: 912, senate, all