Transcript Highlights:

• electric utility to serve as a billing, collection, payment, and managing agent of the Department of Budget
• ><00:09:08.160><c> of</c> managing agent of the Department of managing agent of the Department of budget
• 09:09.079><c> in</c><00:09:09.200><c> the</c><00:09:09.320><c> service</c><00:09:09.600><c> of</c> budget
• and Finance in the service of budget and Finance in the service of Performing<00:09:10.200><c> step-in
• c><00:09:40.079><c> obligations</c> We need to ensure that any obligations that the Department of Budget

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning, we’ll hear from the Department of Taxation, who represent their biennial budget requests
• Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to present our biennial budget through fiscal year 2027.
• </c><00:03:00.000><c> request</c><00:03:00.360><c> for</c><00:03:00.560><c> the</c> Our budget request
• Yeah, we're trying to fill the positions that have budgeted amounts for them.
• Yeah, we're trying to fill the positions that have budgeted amounts for them.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So how do we make sure that we last longer than our five-year period and our budget?
• and our budget We're working directly<00:35:02.480><c> with</c><00:35:03.079><c> um</c><00:35:03.280
• Nothing can happen on this issue until that happens, and so it's in the governor's budget.
• One is to increase funding, and then two is to give budget authority to HDOT to expend those funds.
• </c> funding and then two is to give budget funding and then two is to give budget authority<01:30:25.800

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we see is a line item for this in the budget. I don't know that we have seen.
• has told me, because of the strong work of this committee, that this line Item appears on the house budget

Bills: SB1558 , SB1983 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1426 , SB633

Committee: House Children, Youth and Family Services

Keywords: child care, licensing, definitions, foster care, child welfare, SB1983, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention

Transcript Highlights:

• An example would be sometimes in budgets, we have intent language.
• That's why I gave you the example I did with the budgets, and I could give you other examples, but I'd

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee considered five RS introductions. The first, RS 337233 from Speaker Moyle, would create a mechanism for the Attorney General to enforce compliance with state law by public entities, taxing districts, and other bodies when laws or budget intent language are ignored. Representatives Church and Birch objected that the referral authority was too limited and potentially partisan, arguing it should be broader and more balanced; Moyle said he wanted to keep the process limited to avoid abuse. The committee voted to introduce the RS, with Birch and Church recorded as nays. The committee then introduced RS 33716, also from Moyle, which addresses future data centers and seeks to require non-consumptive water rights because of drought concerns and the water demands of data centers. Birch voiced support and the motion passed without recorded opposition. Next, RS 33728 from Representative Chris Bruce was introduced; Bruce said it was the third data center bill of the year and updates issues involving sales tax exemptions, water use, and electricity use. The motion to introduce it passed. Two memorial-related items from Representative Furness were also introduced. RS 33714 would urge federal action to move forward with permitting for a tungsten mine in Lemhi County, described as the only tungsten mine in the United States; Birch raised a drafting concern about referencing the federal Department of War rather than the Department of Defense, but no amendment was offered and the motion passed. RS 33726 would move the State Historical Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society to the newly combined Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination to improve efficiency; that motion also passed. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• An example would be sometimes in budgets, we have intent language.
• That's why I gave you the example I did with the budgets, and I could give you other examples, but I'd

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then what actually would this bill do to protect the Idaho state budget? Mr. Puglisi.
• And then what actually would this bill do to protect the Idaho state budget? Mr. Puglisi.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee first took up House Bill 759, which had previously been held for a date certain. Representative McCann moved to hold the bill in committee, and the motion carried. No further action was taken on that measure. The committee then heard House Bill 730 from Representative Vander Woude, a SNAP-related bill aimed at tightening eligibility verification and program administration. He said the bill would require the department to use existing databases to check lottery winnings, death records, incarceration data, residency, out-of-state EBT use, asset limits, and lawful presence so ineligible recipients could be removed more quickly. Supportive testimony from Tim Puglisi of FGA Action argued the bill would help Idaho avoid federal penalties tied to SNAP error rates and could reduce administrative costs and caseloads; he cited other states as examples of similar reforms. Questions focused on Idaho’s current error rate, the potential fiscal impact of federal penalties, and the practicality of using the SAVE database. After testimony closed, Representative Kaler moved to send House Bill 730 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion on a roll call vote, 14-2, with Representative Egbert voting no and Representative Tanner voting yes after initially being marked absent. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• conforming and cleanup amendments, requiring reports, establishing state rural universal service fund budget
• conforming and clean up amendments, requiring reports, establishing state, rural universal service fund budget

Bills: HB111 , HB108 , HB145 , HB164 , HB291 , HJR6 , HR1 , HB63 , HB64 , HB165 , HB184 , HB200 , HB4 , HB7 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB88 , HB96 , HB166 , HB285 , HB295 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• conforming and cleanup amendments, requiring reports, establishing state rural universal service fund budget
• conforming and clean up amendments, requiring reports, establishing state, rural universal service fund budget

Bills: HB111 , HB108 , HB145 , HB164 , HB291 , HJR6 , HR1 , HB63 , HB64 , HB165 , HB184 , HB200 , HB4 , HB7 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB88 , HB96 , HB166 , HB285 , HB295 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Summary: The House resumed third reading after a brief evacuation caused by a fire alarm, which members later said was triggered by a faulty sensor in the print shop. The chamber then completed final passage on three bills. House Bill 111 passed 51-3 after debate in which a member from Lee objected that the bill’s language shifted the burden onto landowners and water right owners to prove innocence. House Bill 96, as amended, passed 61-0 after a friendly floor amendment added minority leader appointments to the proposed space commission working group and set the working group to dissolve on December 31, 2026. House Bill 108, as amended, passed 63-1; it made technical changes to soil and water conservation districts, including clarifying district definitions, director appointment procedures, and tax procedures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And his fear was a budget cut.
• You know, the way the federal government is right now, what if we have a budget Cut?

Bills: HB2975 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3728 , HB3902 , HB3977

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Number one, Senator Henson, American Legion, Cook, Pinkney Post 141, budget taxation. >> Be considered
• They are ordered to the capital budget subcommittee, and the desk is clear. Desk is clear.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, February 6, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide an update and to present our 2027 budget
• And then, regarding the FY2027 budget request, we have four items.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are going to have a balanced budget amendment informational hearing this week on the 22nd at 8
• He's going to be there to answer some questions and give some remarks on the balanced budget amendment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• them to slow down based on accidents or weather, and it's something that they can do within their budget
• them to slow down based on accidents or weather, and it's something that they can do within their budget

Bills: HB1053

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: North Dakota highway system, state roads, road mileage cap, transportation code, Department of Transportation, DOT, highway mileage limit, road classification, county roads, township roads, state highway network, Century Code section 24-01-01.2, infrastructure, public roads, transportation policy, 908, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 1298 and first discussed an amendment from Senator Paulson that would add variable electronic speed limit signs to the bill while leaving the 80-mile-an-hour provision unchanged. Members said the signs would be used on interstates I-29 and I-94 in selected problem areas, based on weather or accident conditions, and that the proposal would not require a fiscal note. The discussion then broadened to Senator Rummel’s concerns about related bills, especially 2243, 1250, and 1229. He argued that the House changes were removing municipal authority to double fines, lowering or eliminating points for serious traffic violations, and undoing prior Senate positions. Several members said they were willing to use HB 1298 as the vehicle to restore the earlier fine and point provisions, including the 29 violations previously assigned three points, and to avoid concurring with the House versions. Members did not take final action on the amendments or the bill. Instead, they agreed more work was needed and asked Legislative Council to prepare a combined amendment and options for the next meeting. The committee recessed and scheduled further discussion for the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am challenging our Budget Subcommittee chairs to dive into the budget and find real savings in recurring

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I used to be a county judge, and back when I was a county judge, we started the budget process every
• We do that with our budget process. These employees give so much.

Keywords: Texas state employees, retirees, compensation, House Bill 343, House Bill 247, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Representative John Busey, cost of living, workforce, legislative session

Summary: The committee meeting focused on critical issues facing Texas state employees and retirees, highlighting the need for increased compensation and improved benefits. Senator Sarah Eckhardt and Representative John Busey presented new legislation aimed at addressing these longstanding problems, including proposed House Bills 343 and 247, which seek a $10,000 across-the-board pay increase for state employees. Senator Eckhardt emphasized the growing wage gap between public sector jobs and private sector offerings, which has led to high turnover rates and the loss of institutional knowledge. Public testimonies underscored the urgency of the issue as retirees shared their struggles with stagnant pensions amidst rising living costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:13.640><c> clear,</c><00:09:14.520><c> uh,</c><00:09:14.640><c> your</c><00:09:14.880><c> budgeting
• </c> So, to be clear, uh, your budgeting So, to be clear, uh, your budgeting process<00:09:16.280><c>
• 16.920><c> positions,</c><00:09:17.600><c> and</c><00:09:17.760><c> we</c> So, to be clear, your budgeting
• Platcher is also here to assist, as is our budget director, Sam Brown. legislative auditor has to say
• </c> here to assist as is our budget here to assist as is our budget director,<00:22:41.880><c> Sam</

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In a legislative<00:25:36.240><c> climate</c><00:25:36.800><c> where</c><00:25:37.160><c> budget</c><
• And as we're funding other parts of our budget, we State, be able to make sure that we are meeting the
• And as we're funding other parts of our budget, we Create their own programs.
• And as we're funding other parts of our budget, we Didn't get to say during my bill hearing that we've
• And as we're funding other parts of our budget, we Funding other parts of our budget, we should pay attention

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are facing tight budgets. ...without having the data to back it up.
• We are facing tight budgets, and making data-driven decisions is the smart, responsible way to go as
• From a budget perspective, From a budget perspective, this matters because chronic disease related to
• And I do want to point out that SNAP is supplemental nutrition; it is not their entire nutrition budget
• So the general revenue piece of that that, you know, would affect the state budget is going to be in

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are facing tight budgets.
• Without having the data to back it up, we are facing tight budgets, and making data-driven decisions
• From a budget perspective, this matters because chronic disease related to inadequate nutrition is a
• It is not their entire nutrition budget. It is supplemental nutrition.
• It is not their entire nutrition budget.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2309, Representative Jones’ Oregon Harvesting bill, do pass by a vote of 13 ayes and no nays. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 1881, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance. Representative Bill Allen said the bill is intended to address xylazine’s role in fentanyl-related overdoses, improve tracking and enforcement, and preserve legitimate veterinary use through carve-outs. A veterinarian from the University of Missouri testified in support, emphasizing xylazine’s long-standing and safe veterinary use and the need to protect agricultural practice while targeting illicit diversion. No opposition was presented, and testimony on the bill concluded. The committee then heard House Bill 1855, which would add alpha-gal syndrome to Missouri’s reportable conditions and create a reporting/surveillance framework. Sponsor Representative Matthew Overcast said the bill was revised to shift reporting from providers to private labs, create a standalone non-communicable disease reporting section, and support data collection for prevalence, education, and federal funding opportunities. Supporters included a lobbyist for the AlphaGal Alliance, a University of Missouri dermatologist/researcher, Extension staff, cattle industry representatives, and multiple patients and family members who described severe dietary restrictions, anxiety, school and work impacts, and the need for better public awareness and treatment research. Opponents argued the bill’s language would expand DHSS authority too broadly, especially the provision allowing the department to designate and enforce rules for noncommunicable diseases, and suggested narrowing the bill and adding opt-in protections. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 2355, Representative Holly Jones’ “food as medicine” bill. Jones argued that nutrition should be treated as a public health intervention and described medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition counseling as tools that can improve outcomes and reduce costs. In questions, members raised concerns about how the proposal would interact with existing food assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other federal nutrition benefits, and whether the bill would create a new entitlement or duplicate existing aid. The hearing on HB 2355 was still in progress when the transcript ended.