Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, they are, uh, companies are allowed to deduct employee compensation, but they are statutorily capped
• So employees that are making above that, they are not allowed to.
• So I think it's a way that the legislature has, uh, limited, uh, the, how, how much compensation, employee
• Well, you can include any employees that are being paid under 400, 450,000 or less would be included
• Including there is $1 billion for an additional one-time legacy payment from the employees' retirement

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• The program also helps businesses and employers recruit, retain, and accommodate employees with disabilities
• accommodate</c> employers recruit retain and accommodate employers recruit retain and accommodate employees
• c> with</c><00:13:05.399><c> disabilities</c><00:13:06.399><c> uh</c><00:13:06.480><c> their</c> employees
• with disabilities uh their employees with disabilities uh their customers<00:13:07.079><c> are</c><00
• Within OVR there were certain employees, staff within OVR, that were given raises.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:13 SB 15 Discussion 00:45 SB 15 Vote 08:40 SB 103 Discussion 11:12 SB 103 Vote 29:49, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Committee for Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor heard two bills. Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, was presented with testimony from Major League Baseball in support of exempting minor league baseball players from Kentucky wage-and-hour treatment. Witnesses said the bill would preserve the negotiated collective bargaining structure for players, avoid impractical time-tracking requirements, and keep Kentucky aligned with other states. Senators discussed minor league salary levels, the importance of baseball to Kentucky communities, and the bill’s relationship to minimum wage law. The committee then took a roll call vote and passed the bill with unanimous support from members present. The committee next heard Senate Bill 103 from Sen. Danny Carroll, which would require the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to adopt regulations under Chapter 13A, limit reciprocal agreements with other states until in-state provider contracts are exhausted, establish procedures for service fee memos before a new fiscal year, and require an annual report with operating and financial information. Testimony from community rehabilitation providers and disability advocates emphasized that the bill would increase transparency, protect local providers, and improve services for people with disabilities seeking competitive employment. They said Kentucky has a large disability population, that many working-age individuals with disabilities are not employed, and that better oversight could help address workforce shortages and reduce reliance on public assistance. Senators asked about the disability population, age ranges served, funding, and recent changes to provider rates and selection processes. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 103 unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• In total, we have 884 employees and...
• In total, we have 884 employees in the VR program: 153 at headquarters and 731 in the seven area offices
• We assist businesses in hiring and supporting employees with... ...business community.
• Our commission staff is approximately 36 full-time employees.
• I am one of 69 employees that support the board office.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have 120 employees.
• I used to be a FEMA employee, and I'm very familiar with this.
• One is employee reporting systems.
• That's a median employee. That means half of employees get paid more than that. And so here we...
• Employees get paid more than that.

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not state employees that we're talking about.
• These are not state employees that we're talking about.
• These are not state employees that we're talking about.
• These are not state employees that we're talking about.
• For private employees. For private employees. Mr.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would just say that in Arizona law, all school employees are mandated reporters.
• policy, requires the school district superintendent to provide written notification to parents, employees
• Employees and law enforcement officers of any incident involving life-threatening violence as outlined
• policy that meets the prescribed requirements, or if the governing board or any school district employee
• very clear, and we're responsible for ensuring that public policy is executed, and we only have one employee

Bills: HB2093 , HB2370 , HB2376 , HB2380 , HB2381 , HB2383 , HB2423 , HB2481 , HB2621 , HB2895 , HB4005 , HB4043 , HB4109

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: mental health, school curriculum, education policy, instruction requirements, statute repeal, charter schools, education, weapons detection, public safety, school administration, school districts, real estate transactions, school property, bond issuance, land use approval, capital improvements, school governance, board meetings, education funding, parental notification

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill contains penalties that would make public employees forfeit their Arizona State Retirement
• Roosevelt opposed unions for public employees, stating that strikes and collective bargaining in the
• He stated, 'A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent
• While supporting private sector unions, he believed public employees had a specific obligation to the
• He said that elected officials should not negotiate against public employees.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the livelihoods of our employees. Um, and uh, we've got a year to fight.
• These are the livelihoods of<00:36:51.599><c> our</c><00:36:51.839><c> employees.
• Um, and uh, we've got of our employees.
• We only had five employees working at that spot.
• And that is through camera systems and fencing, new employees, new warehouse employees to adhere to the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ARMED FORCES ELIGIBLE FOR PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING AND VETERANS BECOMING SUPPLY CHAIN EMPLOYEES AND
• The bill requires the creation of a veteran-to-supply-chain-employee action plan, which will identify
• ADDITIONALLY AND IMPORTANTLY, THIS MODERNIZES CRITICAL SYSTEMS TO MAKE FEDERAL BUILDINGS SAFER FOR EMPLOYEES
• And Virginia, which has the second-highest number of Federal employees, and because of the cuts to the
• And Virginia, which has the second-highest number of Federal employees, And because of the cuts to the

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, September 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the training system for state employees also vital.
• go forward with that I think all those things are important I think the training system for state employees
• , their employees after they leave us, are with being able to work with all walks of life and all students
• But they speak to just how great our technical college and our employees, their employees after they
• And research shows us that individuals with disabilities as employees are oftentimes they have less absence

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session and received an overview of the Higher Education Appropriations budget from staff director Tim Elwell. He explained the committee’s broad jurisdiction over universities, state colleges, district workforce programs, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, student financial aid, private colleges, and the Board of Governors, and reviewed key budget concepts such as local funds, funds per FTE, performance funding, and the distinction between the total appropriation and the recurring base budget. He noted that higher education is funded largely through state and local sources, with substantial flexibility compared with other state budgets, and that the base budget is heavily weighted toward lump-sum allocations to the public systems. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of South Florida’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida), led by retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie and USF representative Mark Walsh. They described Cyber Florida as a statewide cybersecurity platform created by the Legislature in 2014 to support education, research, workforce development, public policy, and community engagement. McKenzie emphasized the growing cyber threat environment, Florida’s leadership role, and several funded initiatives, including K-12 outreach, workforce training, a cyber range for county governments, critical infrastructure assessments, grant development, and public conferences and outreach. Members asked about public cyber awareness, the lack of a national cyber defense strategy, school district participation in Cyber Launch, and which counties are most at risk; McKenzie said smaller counties with limited cybersecurity staffing are generally more vulnerable and offered to provide follow-up information. Finally, the committee heard from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Drew Andrews, along with program and parent representatives from participating institutions. Andrews explained the center’s role in coordinating Florida’s postsecondary comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities, supporting program development, distributing grants and scholarships, and monitoring outcomes. He reported that the state now has 33 approved programs at 35 institutions, including universities, state colleges, and technical colleges, and that scholarship and grant funding has grown significantly. He said student retention is about 88 percent, many graduates are employed, and median hourly earnings have increased over time. A representative from Southeastern University described how the center’s support helped build and sustain SEU Link, including a new third-year employment-focused option for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't have employees who have copious amounts of extra time on their hands, do you, Mr. Kelly?
• You don't have employees who have copious amounts of extra time on their hands, do you, Mr. Kelly?
• You don't have employees who have copious amounts of extra time on their hands, do you, Mr. Kelly?
• </c><01:11:35.679><c> amounts</c><01:11:35.840><c> of</c> employees who have copious amounts of employees
• to do something that they're employees to do something that they're not<01:15:39.679><c> actually</c

Bills: HF3919 , HF3467 , HF3741

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, veterans affairs, food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, state resources, reporting requirements, agency initiatives, veterans, educational assistance, tuition waiver, spouses, children, military service, benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:55:31.040><c> School</c> ability to keep good employees.
• School ability to keep good employees.
• And that's not something that I would choose to do to an employee or a program.
• And that's not something that I would choose to do to an employee or a program.
• And that's not something that I would choose to do to an employee or a program.

Bills: HB0147 , HB0127

Committee: Senate Revenue

Keywords: property tax, homeowner exemption, Wyoming, voter initiative, tax legislation, HB0127, recreation mill levy, recreational facilities, public recreation, mill levy, local tax, county commissioners, school district levy, voter approval, ballot measure, general election, tax referendum, special purpose tax, Wyoming taxation, W.S. 18-9-201

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, instructing all employees on program fraud because we're at the Department of Revenue really good
• on program instructing all employees on program fraud<01:09:16.440><c> because</c><01:09:17.319><c>
• looking at where that all employees looking at where that could<01:09:27.120><c> be.
• And so, what we will do, and this is one example actually affected a revenue employee, is that it was
• have either brought by those employees have either brought in<01:12:56.760><c> or</c><01:12:56.920><

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• 20:38.159><c> eligible</c> Bill 2263, authorizing an eligible Bill 2263, authorizing an eligible employee
• to take family leave for employee to take family leave for qualifying<00:20:40.799><c> military</c><
• , and ensures that Hawaii's employees, and ensures that Hawaii's military<00:22:12.960><c> families</
• So what we have to do is release the employees that we have at Starbase for one day and then rehire them
• </c><00:26:12.320><c> that</c> have to um uh release the employees that have to um uh release the employees

Bills: HB676

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: HB676, Hawaii correctional facilities, youth correctional facilities, adult correctional facilities, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Youth Services, inmate phone calls, prison phone calls, jail phone calls, free prison calls, free communication services, incarcerated persons, prison reform, reentry, family visitation, recidivism, video visitation, electronic messaging, commissions, ancillary fees

Summary: The committee heard three public safety bills. HB 2235 would appropriate $1.3 million for the Military Affairs and Community Relations Office to strengthen coordination on military and defense issues. Supporters, including the Hawaii National Guard and DBEDT’s military relations office, said the office helps Hawaiʻi understand federal contracting, USA Jobs, and military-related economic impacts. One member questioned why the state should fund a DoD-related office while Hawaiʻi remains under-reimbursed on impact aid; supporters responded that the office serves Hawaiʻi communities and helps prepare residents for federal jobs. The chair said she intended to recommend the bill pass with a HD1, a blank appropriation to be filled in the committee report, technical amendments, a defective effective date, and updated office title language. HB 2263 would expand Hawaiʻi family leave law to cover qualifying military exigencies. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii National Guard supported the measure, saying military families often face short-notice deployments, relocations, briefings, and urgent family arrangements that require time away from work, and that aligning state law with federal standards would provide clarity and consistency. The chair said she would recommend passage with a HD1, a defective effective date, and technical amendments. HB 2291 would clarify that certain National Guard Youth and Educational Programs employees are excluded from collective bargaining, rename the program, and codify its Hawaiian name. The Hawaii National Guard said it was a housekeeping bill with no appropriation, but requested an amendment to align the bill with updated authorities and program references; the chair asked for proposed language before the later decision-making. She said she would recommend passage with a defective date and the requested amendment if provided, and then recessed the hearing until 11:30 a.m. for decision-making on all three bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the employees of the agency are NDSU employees.
• We're not NDSU employees. We are governed by a board of directors.
• It says about 240 employees. We're actually at about 270 employees right now.
• The employees at the EERC—nobody at the EERC teaches as a part of their regular duties.
• We are parents, employees, and active members of our communities.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to our next testifier, we have the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in
• </c> businesses afloat and keep our employees businesses afloat and keep our employees employed<01:15
• I paid my employees, and I could only pay one month's rent. We saw nobody for 15 months.
• I paid my employees, and I could only pay one month's rent. Cross Four Bars.
• or whoever we have that that employee or whoever we have working<01:26:41.080><c> on</c><01:26:41.239

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• No one knows this better than the state employees who were impacted by the bombing on April 19, 1995.
• There were 8 employees in there that day. One survived. These didn't.
• than 27 years that dual reporting of sex, child sexual abuse in a school setting, or with a school employee
• , and a teacher or any Other school employee has been in the statute that long.
• We're saying that every school employee, having reason to believe or receiving an allegation or disclosure

Bills: HR1046 , SB1733 , SB1439

Keywords: Oklahoma City, terrorism, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, memorial, remembrance, first responders, community support, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, fossil fuels, liability protection, climate change, energy independence, oil and gas, 914

Transcript Highlights:

• It also removes a prohibition that cabinet employees cannot serve as CASA volunteers.
• But it also does limit that prohibition to Department of Community Based Services employees.
• 10.560><c> prohibition</c><00:06:10.960><c> that</c><00:06:11.280><c> cabinet</c><00:06:11.759><c> employees
• </c> a prohibition that cabinet employees a prohibition that cabinet employees cannot<00:06:13.039><c

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• original intent behind Senate Bill 1292 was that there were many of us that saw the Attorney General's employees
• the violations section has been modified with language to include looking at violations by store employee
• around termination or suspension that I just spoke of states that if an owner's store manager or employee
• On page 176, section 075 talks about the authority conferred on employees and enforcement.
• to page 176 so on page 176 so on page 176 is section 075 talks about the authority conferable on employees

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And a lot of those complex incident management teams are staffed with a lot of federal employees.
• And a lot of those complex incident management teams are staffed with a lot of federal employees.
• And a lot of those complex incident management teams are staffed with a lot of federal employees.
• And a lot of those complex incident management teams are staffed with a lot of federal employees.
• And a lot of those complex incident management teams are staffed with a lot of federal employees.

Summary: The committee began with a brief introduction of a new Senate page, Antoine Taylor, who spoke about his interest in the legislative process, his plans to serve a mission in Paris, and his future goal of studying business at BYU-Idaho. Members then took up several routine items, including confirmation of gubernatorial appointee James Keating to the Parks and Recreation Board and approval of multiple sets of committee minutes, all of which passed without opposition. The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Quality on the groundwater quality rule under zero-based regulation. Jerry Henry explained that the rule updates and streamlines groundwater standards, including adopting current drinking water standards by reference and adding or revising standards for arsenic, uranium, lead, and PFAS. Because of ongoing federal litigation over PFAS standards, the committee approved the rule docket with exceptions, rejecting the sections that incorporated the unresolved federal standards. The committee also heard from gubernatorial appointee Michael Leiden, whose confirmation was held for a later meeting after members asked about his extensive oil and gas background in Alaska. House Bill 587, which would provide continuous spending authority for revenues in the Idaho Rangeland Improvement Act account, was then debated. The sponsor said the bill was needed so funds from grants and federal partners could be spent without delay, citing lost funding in the past. Several senators expressed concern about giving up legislative appropriation control, but the bill passed the committee on a 6-2 vote. The meeting concluded with the Idaho Department of Lands annual update from Director Dustin Miller, who reviewed timber, fire, and stewardship operations, described record revenue and aggressive fire suppression efforts, and warned that proposed budget holdbacks could reduce staffing, slow treatment projects, and increase fire risk and costs. He also discussed House Bill 511, which would raise the cap on the structure surcharge for improved private forest parcels to support wildfire preparedness and suppression.