Transcript Highlights:

• Can you tell us what the other states are that allow this? Sure.
• State your name for the committee for the record.
• Please state your name for the record. Yes, Mr.
• It's not on federal ground or state ground. It's private ground.
• It's not on federal ground or state ground. It's a private ground.

Summary: The committee met without the chairman, with Senator Phil Hart presiding as vice chair, and considered four measures. House Bill 887, by Representative Mark Sauter, would allow water skiing with a driver and skier on open water rather than limiting it to a slalom course, while still requiring a mirror and a 9 a.m. cutoff. Sauter said the bill would align Idaho with several other states and help reduce congestion on the water. The committee took no public testimony and sent the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation on a voice vote. House Bill 895, by Representative Britt Raybould, would restrict new data centers beginning construction after July 1, 2026 from using water for cooling as a consumptive use unless supplied by an existing water district under contract. Raybould described the bill as a response to growing water and energy concerns, explaining the difference between evaporative, hybrid, and closed-loop cooling systems and noting the large water use of some facilities. The Idaho Conservation League testified in support, saying the bill was a proactive step to protect water resources. The committee advanced the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 939, by Representative James Petsky, codifies Fish and Game’s proposed hunting technology rules on thermal night vision, transmitting trail cameras, and drones, while adding exemptions for hunting wolves, mountain lions, and other predatory wildlife, agriculture uses, retrieving wounded animals, and monitoring property or traps. Petsky said the measure was a compromise supported by agriculture groups, Idaho sportsmen, and Idaho Wildlife Federation, though he acknowledged possible enforcement challenges and future revisions. Fish and Game and the Idaho Conservation League both testified, with the latter supporting the process but warning about enforceability and the need for continued consensus-building. The committee sent the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also considered House Joint Memorial 21, which urges action to support reopening a past-producing tungsten mine on private land near Patterson, Idaho, citing the mineral’s importance to national defense and concerns about foreign supply, especially from China. The sponsor said the mine is the only tungsten mine in the United States and that permitting is underway. After brief discussion, the committee approved the memorial and sent it to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you tell us what the other states are that allow this? Sure.
• State your name for the committee for the record.”
• State your name and who you represent.”
• In the United States, we have a number of critical materials and elements.
• It's not on federal ground or state ground. It's private ground.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a small, small state, almost smaller than some big towns in other states. ...another state.
• It's a small, small state, almost smaller than some big towns in other states.
• Code, Code of Federal Rules, or guidance issued by the U.S.
• the United States Code or the Code of Federal Rules or any guidance promulgated by the U.S.
• Code or the Code of Federal Rules or any guidance promulgated by the U.S.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment. The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> affecting the revenues of the state affecting the revenues of the state under<00:02:50.560><c> rule
• </c> The state highway system is 2700 miles. The state highway system is 2700 miles.
• Washington. >> Thank you, Mr.
• So if you're driving out of state.
• So enacting this the Washington.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of code, and those exceptions In this section of code, the new section of code, and those exceptions
• It's a small, small state, almost smaller than some big towns in other states. ...another state.
• Code, Code of Federal Rules, or guidance issued by the U.S.
• terminate upon the adoption of an amendment to the United States Code or the Code of Federal Rules or
• to carry out state law of state to carry out state law by on my end well I mean you did a big what are

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state and cigarette tax. state and cigarette tax.
• They sidestep federal state<01:02:04.920><c> uh</c> state uh state uh federal<01:02:06.040><c> state<
• at the State of the State<02:29:13.240><c> address</c> State address State address earlier<02:29:15.000
• </c><03:52:00.320><c> trade</c> energy rate for energy intensive trade energy rate for energy intensive
• </c> state unaffordable. state unaffordable.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a common-sense, pro-taxpayer bill that conforms Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code and
• That was a prominent theme in Governor Hobbs' State of the State address.
• level, but it costs the state nothing.
• It does not reduce the state income tax. So there's no cost to the state.
• By conforming Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code, we provide immediate relief to seniors, working

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Sandy Crawford, State Senator, District 28.
• Make sure to provide your witness form and state your name.
• States. Iowa is another. And I've got some feelers out there in other states. Okay. Thank you.
• They put the word state before law.
• Thank you. ...data, the Medicare data, the key CPT codes.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am State Representative Dianne Hart.
• , usually during state emergencies, I support the designated state coordinating officer, usually the
• We are forming more new businesses in the state of Florida than any other state over the last several
• We've become a manufacturing state, a top 10 manufacturing state in this country.
• with state funds.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:50.280><c> and</c> regulations with how the state and regulations with how the state and National
• </c><00:12:42.399><c> laws</c> fall this bill simply aligns state laws fall this bill simply aligns state
• </c> two different they're in multiple States two different they're in multiple States so<00:17:52.240
• </c> going to wait um until both States going to wait um until both States change<00:18:01.159><c> um
• </c> looking for a critical number of states looking for a critical number of states to<00:22:19.120>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some states that are looking at different approaches.
• States are decreasing.
• States are decreasing.
• These bills are supported by Governor Armstrong, who mentioned them in his state-of-the-state address
• The state prison is currently overcrowded.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sincerely, Vanna Howard, State Representative, 17th Middlesex.
• Representative Francisco Paulino, and State Representative Estela Reyes.
• Respond to the tax code changes at the federal level.
• After July, making any changes to the state tax... Considerable fiscal shortfall.
• After July, making any changes to the state tax code becomes prohibitively difficult and will be extremely

Summary: The House convened with the Pledge of Allegiance, received and placed on file the resignation letter of Rep. Vanna Howard of Lowell, and adopted several routine committee reports. These included extensions of reporting deadlines for the Healthcare Financing and Public Health committees, concurrence with Senate petitions sent to Housing and Public Safety and Homeland Security, and suspension of Joint Rule 12 for a petition concerning children involved with DCF. The chamber also adopted a resolution commending the Admetek Foundation on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. The main business was House No. 5264, a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $1.8 billion. House leaders described the bill as using Fair Share surtax surplus funds for transportation and education, addressing MBTA reserves, safety and infrastructure, special education circuit breaker costs, early education and childcare, and other deficiencies such as GIC costs, sheriff deficiencies, heating assistance, and World Cup-related expenses. Members also discussed the bill’s tax conformity provisions responding to federal tax changes, with supporters arguing the bill would reduce a projected revenue shortfall and preserve competitiveness while delaying some conformity changes. The House considered several amendments to the supplemental bill. Amendment 43, which would have redirected $100 million of Fair Share funds to a per-capita municipal distribution for roads and schools, drew debate over equity and rural road needs but was rejected on a roll call, 25-128. A consolidated amendment was then adopted on a roll call, 148-0, and the bill itself was passed to be engrossed on a roll call, 150-3. The House also adopted an amendment setting the next day’s meeting time and then adjourned to meet the following day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members and guests, please rise and join me in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of
• Please rise and join me in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• Sincerely, Vanna Howard, State Representative, 17th Middlesex.
• Representative Francisco Paulino, and State Representative Estela Reyes.
• After July, making any changes to the state tax code becomes prohibitively difficult and will be extremely

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The counties of the state will be billed for their care, and... ...or injured, the counties of the state
• And so are there, I guess, other concerns I have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code?
• And so are there, I guess, other concerns I have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code?
• have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code and potential changes or confusion that will
• Other states might do it differently, so you might see it in another state; this one provision might

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee heard House Bill 559, the annual tax conformity bill, from Representative Jeff Ehlers. He said the bill conforms Idaho tax law to federal changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill, with most benefits going to individuals through provisions such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and an enhanced senior deduction, while also addressing corporate research and experimentation deductions and excluding bonus depreciation. He explained the bill’s fiscal note, argued the estimates were reasonable and transparent, and said the bill would help Idahoans keep more of their money while preserving a positive projected ending balance in the budget picture. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the Idaho Society of CPAs, Associated Taxpayers of Idaho, and some committee members, argued that conformity simplifies filing, avoids two sets of books, helps taxpayers receive refunds on time, and primarily benefits middle- and lower-income Idahoans. Opponents, including the League of Women Voters of Idaho, the American Association of University Women of Idaho, the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, and individual citizens, said the bill would reduce state revenue, worsen budget pressures, and likely lead to cuts in education and health care. Several critics also said the fiscal note was incomplete or that the bill’s implementation could create confusion and costs for the Tax Commission and taxpayers. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, implementation costs, and broader budget consequences, especially in light of recent tax cuts and current state shortfalls. Representative Ehlers responded that the Tax Commission could absorb implementation costs, that some provisions were intentionally not included in conformity, and that the bill did not itself dictate budget cuts. After debate, Senator Groh moved to send House Bill 559 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, Senator Adams seconded, and the motion passed. Senators Taylor and Robbie voted no.

Transcript Highlights:

• The counties of the state will be billed for their care, and... ...or injured, the counties of the state
• And so are there, I guess, other concerns I have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code?
• And so are there, I guess, other concerns I have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code?
• have are where this bill doesn't conform with state code and potential changes or confusion that will
• Other states might do it differently, so you might see it on—if you look at another state, this one provision

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To the flag of the United States of America.
• , but also in the southern region of our state.
• So there's zero risk to the state, zero risk to the state, zero risk to the state.
• to us and what the state means to this country.
• to us and what the state means to this country.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill repeals obsolete and outdated sections of the Education Code.
• Again, it is the article of code dealing with county boards of education and states that county boards
• code.
• The amendment further states... ...to the mandatory requirements that are already in state code.
• They will flee the state. They will hide out.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills and one constitutional resolution, with several measures receiving title amendments and some taking effect immediately or on a specified date. Early action included moving House Bill 5438, concerning the foundation allowance for instructional programs, to the foot of third-reading bills. House Bill 5441, reforming the state personnel system, was amended with a Judiciary strike-and-insert technical fix, then passed 28-6 and was set to take effect July 1, 2026. House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance passed unanimously, with a title amendment adopted. House Bill 5484, creating felony offenses related to denying medical treatment to sexual offense victims, also passed unanimously with a title amendment. House Bill 5515 modernizing workers’ compensation statutes passed unanimously with a title amendment, and House Bill 5527 establishing licensure and regulation for wellness reimbursement programs passed unanimously. House Bill 5528, protecting personal residential information of certain public officials, passed unanimously with a title amendment. The most extended debate centered on House Bill 5537, an education-related bill that was amended to add a child-protection provision later referred to as “Rayleigh’s law.” The amendment would bar approval of home instruction requests in certain child abuse or neglect cases until the Department of Human Services confirms the investigation is unfounded, closed, or not substantiated, or until 10 days pass without a response. Senators argued the measure was intended to protect children and not target homeschooling. After a point of order, the chair initially ruled the amended language not germane; that ruling was challenged and ultimately overruled by a 24-7 vote, allowing the amendment to remain. The bill then passed 24-7, and a title amendment was adopted. Other measures passed with little or no opposition. House Bill 5582 removed the sunset on the TANF applicant drug-screening program and passed 28-3 after a technical committee amendment. House Bill 5687 reduced the metallurgical coal severance tax over time and adjusted oil and gas tax allocations, passing 31-3. Several supplemental appropriations also passed and were made effective from passage, including funds for Homeland Security/corrections, the Adjutant General, Health, the State Road Fund, and Tourism/Culture and History. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 42, which would place on the ballot a constitutional amendment increasing the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 and allowing future changes by general law. In second reading, the Senate advanced bills on workforce training reimbursements, aerospace and advanced manufacturing incentives, portable benefit accounts, literacy and science-of-reading training, school aid formula changes, and wedding venue regulation, with amendments adopted on several of them before advancement to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of Ramsey-Washington Recycling and Energy. We appreciate you, Mr.
• </c> Ramsey-Washington Recycling and Energy. Ramsey-Washington Recycling and Energy.
• . state. state.
• </c> state lands. state lands.
• </c> portion of state-owned lands. portion of state-owned lands.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply stated, if we cut school meals, students will go hungry.
• coal. $200 million in non-competitive funding to state agencies through cooperative agreements. 42 states
• Many different crops in the state have had low commodity prices.
• Pretty soon people might not want to leave the state anymore.
• Pretty soon people might not want to leave the state anymore.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then held its Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 16, proclaiming May 4–11, 2025 as Cinco de Mayo Week, after supportive remarks from several caucuses emphasizing Mexican history, women’s contributions, LGBTQ solidarity, Black and Brown unity, and AAPI and Jewish community support. The chamber then recognized 11 Latino Spirit honorees for achievements in human rights, business, arts, public service, community empowerment, health and science, environmental justice, philanthropy, and entertainment. After the ceremony, the Assembly returned to floor business and approved a series of measures. AB 60, banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products, passed 56–3. AJR 6, urging Congress to protect federal school meal and local food funding, drew extensive debate and broad bipartisan support; members cited child hunger, farm economies, and local food systems, and it passed 76–0 with 73 coauthors added. Other measures adopted included AB 679 on state park land acquisitions, AB 681 expanding Dream Loan Program caps for undocumented graduate students, AB 1224 on substitute teacher continuity, AB 831 on gaming technical changes, AB 259 extending Brown Act teleconferencing flexibility, AB 467 extending Los Angeles Neighborhood Council teleconferencing authority, and AB 519 targeting deceptive puppy mill sales. The chamber also passed AB 1522, an urgency Judiciary Committee bill protecting attorneys from politically motivated discipline and creating an expedited licensing path for some former federal attorneys, and AB 263, which extends temporary water flow requirements on the Shasta and Smith Rivers; that bill drew sharp disagreement over water rights, tribal participation, and impacts on farmers, but ultimately passed 51–16. Additional measures approved included AB 428 on pooled insurance for water corporations, AB 492 requiring notice to local jurisdictions when recovery treatment facilities are licensed, and AB 536 preserving colorectal cancer screening coverage. The Assembly also adopted a motion to suspend file notice so Appropriations could hear AB 379 on May 7.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Church, welcome to House State Affairs. Okay.
• I don’t recall the code section.
• I don’t recall the code section.
• We also are under an oath to the Constitution of the United States and the State of Idaho, and this just
• To the Constitution of the United States and the State of Idaho, and this just reaffirms the fact that

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all