Transcript Highlights:

• Through strong academics, we ensure that students can explore college pathways, skilled trades, entrepreneurship

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 940, which revises Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) policy and funding. Sponsors Rep. Doug Pickett and Rep. Sonia Galavis walked through the bill’s intent: to preserve IDLA as a gap-filling resource for Idaho students while narrowing access to areas such as credit recovery, dual credit, rural course offerings, graduation-required courses, and overload courses. They also explained provisions limiting K-5/LaunchPad use, excluding private school reimbursement, addressing custom sections, setting course fees, and tying eligibility to students enrolled in schools that are not entirely virtual. The sponsors said the bill’s fiscal note reflects a roughly $13.4 million reduction driven by multiple policy changes, including private school enrollment, driver’s ed, LaunchPad, online-only enrollment, custom sections, and fee offsets. Testimony was split. School administrators and IDLA supporters, including Andy Grover, Craig Woods, Dr. Jeff Simmons, Dr. Jason Moss, Jeff Gee, Catherine Larson, and Quinn Perry, argued that the amendments would sharply reduce access, especially in rural districts, and would make it harder to staff required and elective courses, recover credits, and offer dual credit or other opportunities. They said the custom-section limits and the “not entirely virtual” language would create administrative burdens and restrict flexibility, and several noted that the program is already being cut significantly. Supporters of the bill as written said it is a workable compromise that addresses concerns about custom sections and funding while preserving IDLA’s core mission. Committee members questioned the sponsors and witnesses about the meaning of “not entirely virtual,” the treatment of schools like GEMP Online, how the fee caps work, and how the fiscal note was calculated. After testimony, Senator Cook moved to send House Bill 940 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. Senators Carlson and Zito opposed the motion, saying the bill should be amended or that the cuts are too severe, while Senator Ward-Engelking supported the motion despite concerns about the reductions, citing even more problematic intent language in the related appropriation bill. The motion passed, and the bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senators Carlson and Zito were recorded as voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• You lose your skill set, you lose your effectiveness, you don't get, it has a long-term cascading effect

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• think this is a really good idea to allow them to practice to their full extent of education and their skill

Summary: Senate Commerce met with a quorum, approved the March 10, 2026 minutes, and recognized page Hayden Carter with remarks from committee members and a presentation of a Capitol flag and certificate. The committee then took up several bills, generally under tight time constraints, with brief sponsor presentations and testimony from supporters and opponents. House Bill 773, a code cleanup bill related to credit unions and corporate credit unions, was presented by Rep. Ayler, received no public testimony, and was sent to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 702, which would alter Uniform Commercial Code provisions on securities ownership and creditor priority, drew extensive debate: sponsors argued it would better protect stock owners in insolvency situations and cited examples such as Lehman Brothers and MF Global, while a Uniform Law Commissioner testified that the bill would make Idaho an outlier and could disrupt the securities system and access to margin accounts and clearing liquidity. After discussion, the committee adopted a substitute motion to hold HB 702 in committee. House Bill 648, an oral anti-cancer medication parity bill, received strong support from sponsors, cancer survivors, and advocacy groups, who said it would prevent patients from facing much higher out-of-pocket costs for oral chemotherapy than for IV treatment. Members noted personal experiences with cancer treatment, and the bill was sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 787, which consolidates the Medical Board of Podiatry under the Board of Medicine, also passed with a do pass recommendation after brief discussion of expected efficiencies. House Bill 790, a voluntary certification bill for interior designers that would allow sign-and-seal authority for limited nonstructural work, drew the most divided testimony: supporters said it would remove barriers and reduce costs, while architects warned it could expand into the practice of architecture and raise public-safety concerns. Despite reservations from some members, the committee voted to send HB 790 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• think this is a really good idea to allow them to practice to their full extent of education and their skill

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This could also be a former service member who's now using those skills that they acquired in the military

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• allow students to travel from around the state, live on the campus, and learn independent living skills

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first considered the Department of Environmental Quality budget. Janet Jessup outlined enhancements for Triumph Mine monitoring and maintenance, a transfer for the Cordilleran Basin Superfund cleanup, and a fund shift to move two positions from federal support to the IPDES Program Fund. Members also discussed language to consolidate air permitting and drinking water permitting fee funds, and a separate cash transfer related to the new solid waste regulatory fund created by House Bill 555. The budget motion and the related language both passed, and the committee issued do-pass recommendations. The committee then took up the Department of Lands budget, focusing on Forest and Range Fire Protection funding. Members debated a one-time General Fund restoration for fire preparedness in FY 2026 and a similar request for FY 2027, with concerns raised about prior reversions and whether dedicated funds could be used instead. Director Dustin Miller explained that the other funds cited were restricted to forest practices enforcement and equipment replacement, and that the preparedness money supports standby crews, including seasonal firefighters in eastern Idaho and other regions. The FY 2026 request passed, the initial FY 2027 request failed, reconsideration was later allowed under parliamentary ruling, and the FY 2027 request then passed. The committee also adopted language limiting General Fund firefighter bonus appropriations to firefighters, after some discussion about whether the wording was too narrow. Next, the committee considered Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. The agency’s request included career ladder adjustments, a van for student transport, staffing for a new 18-bed residential building in Gooding, replacement items, and an endowment fund adjustment. A substitute motion to add the cottage staff funding failed, but the original motion passed, providing funding for the career ladder, replacement items, and the endowment adjustment, with a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the State Department of Education budget was reviewed. The agency requested additional spending authority for school bus camera grants, an extended USDA farm-to-school grant, and ongoing technology grants for the child nutrition program. A substitute motion to increase the farm-to-school authority to cover the anticipated extension failed, but the original motion passed, approving the school bus camera fund increase, the farm-to-school grant authority, and the child nutrition technology funding, with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then announced the next day’s agenda and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully, I was a former cheerleader, so I'm going to channel those skills right now.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 723, which Representative Erickson said was developed in response to a state oversight report on children’s residential care and testimony about abuse and neglect in licensed youth treatment facilities. The bill would codify and strengthen oversight standards, require individualized service planning, create a youth bill of rights for residents and parents, and require critical incident reporting to parents or guardians within one business day. Erickson said the bill largely mirrors existing department rules, was drafted with the Department of Health and Welfare to avoid a fiscal note, and includes enforcement tools such as corrective action plans, sanctions, payment withholding, and law-enforcement referral for crimes. Several senators raised concerns about whether the bill was strong enough, whether unannounced inspections could raise Fourth Amendment issues, whether faith-based facilities would be affected, and whether the department would have too much discretion. Erickson responded that the inspections apply only to licensed facilities, not private homes, and that the bill is intended to improve transparency and oversight without changing existing rights or imposing new costs. Survivors and advocates testified in strong support, describing seclusion, restraints, forced medication, medical neglect, lack of private communication, humiliation, and retaliation in Idaho and out-of-state residential programs. They argued the bill would improve accountability, transparency, and safety for children and families. After testimony, the committee discussed the bill further. Some members said the bill was a meaningful step but wanted stronger consequences, while others noted the seriousness of the abuse described and the need for oversight of Medicaid-funded facilities. Senator Wintrow moved to send H723 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the motion passed by voice vote. The committee then received a presentation from Teligen on its role as Idaho Medicaid’s quality improvement organization. Nancy Johnson explained that Teligen handles prior authorization, quality oversight, fraud and abuse reporting, and a small case management program for complex Medicaid participants. She said the case management team of five Idaho-based nurses reached out to just over 1,000 participants in 2025, fully engaged 160, and reported about $850,000 in cost savings through reduced readmissions and better care coordination. Members asked about contract costs, staffing, the scope of services, and how suspected fraud is reported to the Medicaid program integrity unit. The committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully, I was a former cheerleader, so I'm going to channel those skills right now.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have made long-term care, particularly skilled nursing facility rates, extremely complicated, and

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have made long-term care, particularly skilled nursing facility rates, extremely complicated, and

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on Senate Bill 5998, the proposed operating budget, and received a staff briefing on 39 proposed amendments. The amendments covered a wide range of issues, including technical corrections; truancy intervention funding; public defense and Blake-related vacatur work; family reading, shellfish program review, cultural resource protection, agritourism, transmission planning, paid leave, developmental disabilities services, nursing home rates, TANF workforce services, food bank language, oral health access, behavioral health partnership access, sexual assault nurse examiner training, Department of Corrections security measures, child welfare staffing, pediatric interim care centers, Working Connections Child Care, range rider funding, Chinese American history month materials, Running Start, retiree health subsidies, school bus contractor costs, local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, charter school enrichment, arts grants, and a tribal liaison position. Several amendments were withdrawn before action, including the truancy increase, Blake funding, one DD-related amendment, and others. The committee adopted a number of amendments, including the technical corrections packet, reductions or savings-related corrections, the family reading program, shellfish review funding, the transmission-system implementation funding, the oral health foundation, the partnership access line, health technology assessment funding, the governor errata correction, the sexual assault nurse examiner training contract, the DOC canine scheduling language, the child welfare staffing correction, the people transportation language, the TTK-related amendment, and the tribal liaison funding. It rejected several others, including agritourism, paid leave study language, DD waiver expansion, nursing home add-ons, the PIC program, range rider funding, Chinese American history month materials, Running Start restoration, the LEA restoration amendment, and the arts grant restoration. Some amendments were withdrawn after discussion, including the DD waiver and LEA-related proposals. During debate, supporters of various amendments emphasized service needs for vulnerable populations, including people with developmental disabilities, survivors of sexual assault, Medicaid dental access, behavioral health callers, and students in Running Start and TTK. Opponents repeatedly cited budget constraints, the need for a sustainable operating budget, and the view that some issues were better addressed through collective bargaining or future negotiations. The committee then rolled the adopted amendments into a new substitute Senate Bill 5998 and voted to send it to the Rules Committee with a do-pass recommendation, subject to signatures. Several members stated they would vote no on the budget overall, while others supported it as a difficult but necessary compromise. The meeting adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also models a life skill, which is the ability to sit still and stay quiet, even briefly, which is

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Senator Lenney, well, we have institutions like assisted living, skilled nursing, and all kinds of

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• between industry and the education system to make sure that we're not only helping kids gain those STEM skills

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the agency’s statutory role, funding sources, staffing, and FY27 requests, including an ongoing transfer within the In Demand Careers Fund to increase trustee and benefit payments for Idaho Launch grants, a proposal to consolidate the STEM Action Center into the council, and requests for reappropriation authority for several grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training, semiconductor, and child care grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the proposed STEM merger would transfer remaining dedicated-fund balances to the Workforce Development Training Fund. Members asked about the effect of a $10 million cash transfer on Launch awards, repayment of grants by students who do not meet requirements, and the use of employer training funds; Sechrist said wording such as “up to $10 million” would avoid reducing awards and that the agency is still exploring debt collection options. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, its dedicated funds, and FY27 requests for additional appropriation to spend Social Security reimbursement revenue and for replacement vehicles from the adaptive aids fund. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support clients’ employment and independence, and that the requested increases would help cover needed vehicles and offset other costs. She also said holdbacks would have a modest effect on services, including reduced site restoration funding and some cuts to client services and travel. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described the agency’s preservation mission, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY27 requests, including $450,000 for the second year of moving state records and collections into a new archives addition, plus IT hardware and reappropriation authority. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the collections move, and the agency’s role in America 250 activities. Members asked about archaeological review travel, the agency’s long tenure, and the use of miscellaneous revenue; Gallimore agreed to provide travel records and thanked the committee for its support. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• between industry and the education system to make sure that we're not only helping kids gain those STEM skills

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the council’s statutory role, fund balances, and FY 2027 requests, including an ongoing transfer of $1.15 million within the In Demand Careers Fund to support more Launch grants, a proposed consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council, and reappropriation authority for ARPA and other grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training grants, child care grants, and semiconductor-related grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the STEM education fund would be sunset under the merger. Members asked about the remaining STEM dedicated fund, the timing and impact of a proposed $10 million cash transfer from Launch, repayment of some Launch grants, and how much of the training funding goes to incumbent workers versus new hires. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s dedicated funds and FY 2027 requests for additional appropriation authority tied to Social Security reimbursements and adaptive aids store revenue, plus one-time vehicle replacement funding. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support vocational rehabilitation, independent living services, and surgeries for eligible clients without other coverage. Members asked about discrepancies in fund figures, the growth in the adaptive aids fund balance, and the effect of holdbacks on services; Cunningham said the cuts would modestly reduce client services, travel, and some site restoration support. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described requests for $450,000 to complete the move of state records and collections into the new archives addition, $36,300 for IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for moving costs, along with prior enhancements for Old Pen staffing and archival work. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the move, and the agency’s role in Idaho’s America 250 efforts. Members praised the agency’s work and asked about historic preservation reviews and archaeological surveys; Gallimore said staff consult with federal agencies under the National Historic Preservation Act and agreed to provide travel records for surveys in Bonner County. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have no building skills, but they accept all volunteers, and the opportunity to go in, meet the future

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor items focused largely on housing, public health, and tax-credit awareness. The chamber adopted SR 71, a resolution by Senator Arreguín recognizing the importance of affordable homeownership in California. Supporters from both parties emphasized homeownership as a path to wealth-building, stability, and community strength, highlighted racial disparities in ownership, and praised nonprofit builders such as Habitat for Humanity. After passage, Senator Arreguín introduced Habitat for Humanity advocates in the gallery and noted the role of the CalHome program in funding affordable homeownership projects. The Senate also confirmed Trista Gonzalez as Director of the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Aaron McGuire as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, and Lee Herrick for another term as California Poet Laureate, each by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then adopted SCR 115 by Senator Daly, recognizing February as Heart Health Month and focusing on women’s heart health. Senator Daly shared her own experience with a stroke during a heart procedure and urged women to listen to their bodies and seek care early. Several senators spoke in support, describing silent heart attacks, the need to recognize symptoms in women, and the importance of challenging medical assumptions. The resolution passed unanimously. The Senate also adopted SR 75 by Senator Rubio, designating California Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week. Senators described CalEITC as a key anti-poverty tool and urged greater outreach so eligible families do not miss the credit; that resolution also passed unanimously. Later, the Senate heard a series of adjournment-in-memory tributes, including one for architect Frank Gehry, whose work in Los Angeles and Bilbao was praised for its global influence and civic impact, and one for June Roberti, remembered for her long partnership with former Pro Tem David Roberti and her advocacy and family life. Senator Arreguín also moved to place file item 67 on the inactive file. The session ended with announcements, including a committee meeting notice, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have no building skills, but they accept all volunteers, and the opportunity to meet the future homeowner

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They need there to be funded colleges and universities to train skilled employees.

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal. Messages from the Senate were received, including Senate Joint Memorial 108 and Senate Bills 1227, 1226, and 1225, which were filed for first reading and referred to committees. Standing committee reports also moved House Bill 557 and House Concurrent Resolution 25 to the second reading calendar, and several new House bills were introduced, including measures on civil asset forfeiture reporting, the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund, license plates, and juvenile transition services. The main floor action centered on House Bill 559, a tax conformity bill tied to the federal tax changes described by supporters as providing relief for workers, seniors, and businesses. Supporters argued it would preserve federal tax benefits for Idahoans, including provisions on tips, overtime, standard deductions, and research and experimentation expensing, and said the fiscal note was a reasonable estimate. Opponents argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue at a time of budget shortfalls, warned it could force cuts to services such as education, health care, roads, and public safety, and questioned whether the fiscal note fully captured the bill’s cost. Members also raised questions about business underpayments and the treatment of certain deductions. The House first voted to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of House Bill 559 by a two-thirds vote, then debated the bill at length. After debate closed, the House passed House Bill 559 by a vote of 59-9, approved the title, and transmitted the bill to the Senate. The chamber then held third-reading bills one legislative day and moved to announcements and committee schedule notices before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's like, well, you don't have her paying attention skills. And I'm like, well, what's that?

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Representative Josh Tanner, the House co-chair of JFAC, on state budgeting and education funding. Tanner argued Idaho has a spending problem driven by policy decisions and supplementals, said education funding should be judged by outcomes rather than inputs, and criticized what he described as declining test results, enrollment shifts, and loopholes in the funding formula, including students allegedly being counted for sports participation without attending class. He also questioned heavy technology spending in classrooms and said many programs should be reexamined for return on investment. Members responded by asking for more information from LSO and the Impact Team on how the school funding formula and support units work, and several suggested the committee should better educate itself before making changes. Tanner agreed that the formula is complicated and supported more analysis, audits, and possible sunset provisions or other mechanisms to force policy review. He also said JFAC analysts can help members understand the budget and that the committee should look backward at existing programs, not just forward at new ones. The discussion broadened to whether the state has a spending problem or a revenue problem, with Tanner pointing to growth in supplemental spending, Medicaid, corrections, and uncertainty around federal conformity costs, while noting education had not been targeted for cuts. Members raised concerns about mental health resources, school climate, and the need to listen to local school boards and parents. The meeting ended with the chair saying he would gather the needed materials for the committee’s upcoming discussion with JFAC, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's like, well, you don't have her paying attention skills. And I'm like, well, what's that?

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their loved one is taken care of and make sure that they are well is probably not going to have the skills

Summary: The Early Learning & Human Services Committee held public hearings on several child care and disability-related bills. House Bill 2317 would exempt certain ECAP and Head Start programs from DCYF licensing when they operate part-day or school-day in public school buildings or on public school property. Staff and the prime sponsor said the bill would remove duplicative licensing barriers and help expand preschool seats, especially as Washington prepares to add more ECAP slots. Testifiers from Head Start, school-linked providers, and the Washington Federation of Independent Schools supported the bill, describing licensing delays, added costs, and lost classroom time; no one testified in opposition. The committee also heard House Bill 2099, which would expand ECAP access for military families with incomes up to Working Connections Child Care limits and adjust prioritization for families with deployed or single custodial military parents. The prime sponsor and multiple supporters, including retired military leaders, Head Start/ECAP advocates, ESD staff, and a military-community partnership, said military families face frequent moves, deployment-related strain, and child care shortages that affect readiness and family stability. Testifiers said the bill would help families access care without changing the program’s low-income focus or adding state cost. House Bill 2350 would require DSHS to notify residents, guardians, and family members when a residential habilitation center is found out of compliance with federal CMS requirements, and to provide follow-up notices on correction and enforcement actions. The sponsor said the bill responds to limited communication around recent noncompliance issues at Rainier School and would improve transparency; DSHS had requested a narrow amendment about how notice is provided to residents. Disability rights advocates strongly supported the bill, saying families need timely information to protect loved ones and make informed decisions. Finally, House Bill 2318 would let ECAP and Head Start children count toward the 5% subsidy participation threshold needed for Early Achievers quality improvement awards. Supporters said the current rule can discourage providers from enrolling ECAP children because it risks losing an award, even though ECAP already requires Early Achievers participation. The sponsor and testifiers described the bill as a small fix to reduce a funding disincentive for providers serving high-need children. The committee took no votes and adjourned after closing the hearings on all four bills.