Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the university, I would also like to extend our gratitude to the City of Houston, led by
• To cities, or like the city of Houston, you all don't track that, right? That is correct.
• We have 254 counties. 116 cities—that's 1,470 jurisdictions that we support.
• I think Senator Cole, of course, talked about the number of cities.
• We have seven programs, primarily in education, health care, and city management, and so forth.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Arkansas Code 21-1-402 requires approval by council as well as the governor.
• Arkansas Code 21-1-402 requires approval by council as well as the governor.
• The process for these bonuses and awards is established in Arkansas Code 21-5-227.

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met and considered several administrative personnel and compensation items. Item B approved a temporary extra-help hire at the University of Arkansas Community College Hope-Texarkana, allowing current Representative Dolly Henley to serve as director of Hempstead Hall, with the required council and governor approvals already provided. Item C approved a special compensation award bonus plan for employees at the Department of Shared Administrative Services and DF&A for work on specified projects and performance goals, and Item D approved a Department of Human Services reallocation of positions and related funding, including about $180,000 moved between divisions. The committee also received informational reports under Items E through H, including a provisional position report for higher education, reports on special compensation and recruitment/incentive awards across state agencies, personnel actions taken under previously approved legislative language, and a community correction quarterly caseload report. No questions were raised on the reports. All items were approved without opposition, and the meeting adjourned after no further business was brought before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, and invalidated at the ballot box, uh, the Supreme Court of Hawaii issued an opinion in, uh, City
• Court of Hawaii issued an opinion<01:23:16.719><c> in</c><01:23:17.199><c> uh</c><01:23:17.679><c> city
• </c><01:23:17.920><c> and</c><01:23:18.159><c> county</c><01:23:18.400><c> of</c> opinion in uh city
• and county of opinion in uh city and county of Honolulu<01:23:19.199><c> versus</c><01:23:19.600><c>
• but that hasn't using a particular code but that hasn't been<01:29:27.280><c> sorted</c><01:29:27.600

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint Education and Higher Education committees met on February 10, 2026, first hearing HB 1676, which would create an AI and education task force, require documentation from AI vendors before procurement or use, and appropriate funds. The Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, and University of Hawaii all supported the bill’s intent and described existing AI literacy efforts, teacher training, guidance for students and staff, and privacy/monitoring safeguards. DOE said it had already convened an AI task force, produced a report, trained over 10,000 educators, and embedded AI into computer science and broader curricular guidance. Members questioned DOE about student privacy, harmful content monitoring, personal devices, cell phone policy, teacher training, and whether AI literacy should extend beyond computer science into all subjects and across rural schools. After discussion, the chair announced HB 1676 would be deferred to Friday, February 13, and that a HD1 draft would be prepared. The chair said the committee would revisit the task force composition and procurement standards, with possible elimination of the procurement section, and circulate the revised draft before the next hearing. The committee then recessed and later reconvened for HB 1811, a student loan repayment program for educators. Testimony from the Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HSTA, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus was generally supportive, with HSTA and the Teacher Standards Board emphasizing teacher recruitment and retention, student loan burden, and the need to address the teacher shortage. In decision-making on HB 1811, the committees adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The main amendment collapsed the repayment structure into a single disbursement of up to $25,000 after five years of service, with technical/non-substantive changes and a corrected effective date. Both the Education and Higher Education committees voted unanimously in favor. Later in the meeting, the Education Committee began hearing HB 1561 on student meals, which drew broad support from the Public Charter School Commission, Department of Health, HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and many individuals. Appleseed requested amendments to ensure charter schools are treated the same as other public schools if eligibility expands and to address reimbursement issues for schools already participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision; members discussed those concerns but no action was taken in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then moved on to HB 779, on expanding student meal coverage, where DOE supported the intent but said it could not support the bill in its current form because of fiscal constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• And certainly, we also look to make sure that the kitchen and food code inspections are done properly
• ><00:10:08.399><c> kitchen</c><00:10:08.640><c> and</c><00:10:08.880><c> food</c><00:10:09.120><c> code
• </c> that the kitchen and food code that the kitchen and food code inspections<00:10:10.320><c> are</
• of</c><01:45:13.360><c> Minneapolis</c><01:45:14.320><c> pulled</c><01:45:15.199><c> their</c> the city
• of Minneapolis pulled their the city of Minneapolis pulled their license<01:45:16.560><c> and</c><01

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 54:32.480><c> this</c> We observe, well, wait a minute. this We observe, well, wait a minute. this city
• Um what happened here city.
• code, or you can imagine you had planned to be on vacation and, in fact, you got called back to the
• Now you've done something wrong, and you need help to fix what you've put in the system. vacation code
• or you can imagine you had vacation code or you can imagine you had planned<01:20:30.560><c> to</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• School bookkeeping is totally different than, uh, and function codes and all that stuff.
• than uh bookkeeping is totally different than uh and<00:30:42.240><c> function</c><00:30:42.640><c> codes
• </c> and function codes and all that stuff. and function codes and all that stuff.
• 06:44.720><c> the</c><01:06:44.880><c> relationship</c><01:06:45.280><c> with</c><01:06:45.520><c> city
• </c> disposal. and the relationship with city disposal. and the relationship with city and<01:06:45.920

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on school governance and a proposed shift in responsibilities related to SAU consolidation, with committee members first discussing how school board members and other local officials would be selected for future testimony. The main presentation came from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, whose executive director Brady Belair and several principals argued that mandatory statewide administrative consolidation should be approached cautiously and that any consolidation should be voluntary and locally driven. They said anticipated savings may not materialize, citing possible higher personnel, transportation, and technology costs, and warned that forcing changes could create disruption without improving student outcomes. Principals testified that their jobs are already broad and demanding, centered on instructional leadership, student safety, staff supervision, family communication, and day-to-day crisis response. Kathleen Murphy of Amherst described working 60 to 70 hours a week and said principals spend substantial time coaching teachers, handling student issues, and supporting school climate; she said adding more administrative duties would compromise student learning and teacher growth. Adam Osborne of Bow Memorial School similarly described principals as daily problem-solvers who set school-level direction and create conditions for schools to thrive. The witnesses also emphasized that principals, superintendents, school boards, and business administrators have different training and responsibilities, and that specialized tasks such as special education compliance, FERPA/HIPAA issues, and labor matters require appropriate expertise. Committee members questioned the witnesses about overlap between superintendent and principal duties, the completeness of statutory responsibility lists, and whether some functions such as curriculum, discipline, hiring, and evaluation are shared. The principals acknowledged some overlap and collaboration, but said superintendents typically handle broader system-level, legal, and central-office responsibilities while principals focus on building-level leadership and teacher support. One member raised the earlier expectation that districts might move to a principal-plus-business-manager model, but the witnesses said that model did not develop as expected and that district structures vary widely. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill continues down that path, even though the host city has realized that a minimum wage increase
• Council on Western City Council, proud co-sponsor. Thank you.
• So it doesn't have to do anything with addressing the payroll reporting or that they are coded correctly

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know from a local perspective, in the city of Williston, for our finances, the finance department holds
• I think the prompts were, find all duplicate programs in Century Code across all agencies.
• I can look at Valley City.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.

Transcript Highlights:

• understand what you're really trying to add, because it seems like what you just talked about is already in code
• I'm the deputy director for the Association of Idaho Cities.
• probably the standard of care or they're going to potentially be causing liability upon themselves or the city

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As many people here know, I'm always reluctant to add to the criminal code.
• been the same to make sure that local law enforcement—and it's not just sheriffs—the bill applies to cities
• The cities and counties allocate public safety funds based on their local priorities and based on their

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, beginning with HCR 2059, a resolution reaffirming support for county sheriffs and recognizing their constitutional authority in their jurisdictions. Supporters said it was a tribute to sheriffs’ work, especially in rural areas, while some members objected to language describing sheriffs as having “supreme constitutional authority,” calling it overly broad or tied to fringe legal theories. The resolution received a due-pass recommendation on an 8-3 vote. Members then considered HB 2811, which expands obstructing governmental operations to cover interference with a lawful arrest when violence or force is used. The sponsor said the bill closes a gap and should make such conduct a felony, while an opposing attorney argued existing statutes already cover much of the conduct and that the bill was duplicative and confusing. Despite concerns about the drafting and interaction of subsections, the bill received a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 4129, a proposed DPS-run mental health and wellness program for law enforcement funded with $15 million; the sponsor described it as confidential counseling and support for officers, but several members said it duplicated existing services and was too costly, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the bill before a vote. The committee next took up HB 2270, which would expand protections for county seals and office insignia to include logos and other identifiers, and give sheriffs exclusive rights over posse names and dissolution. Sheriffs and county representatives said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of official names and to avoid litigation after disputes over posse identities; some members raised First Amendment and vagueness concerns about broad language such as “could imply” affiliation. The bill passed 12-1. HB 2416, a $20 million appropriation for border-related law enforcement support, drew strong support from sheriffs and county law enforcement groups who said the funds help with drug interdiction and border-related crime, and strong opposition from speakers who argued the money should go to schools, housing, health care, and other needs; it passed 7-5. Finally, the committee heard HB 4018, a strike-everything amendment clarifying sheriffs’ authority over volunteer posses and reserve organizations. MCSO and county officials said it was meant to clarify existing authority and protect public safety operations, while an opponent warned it could expand posse use into immigration enforcement and increase militarization. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a do-pass recommendation. HB 2253, barring retaliation against employees who testify in law enforcement disciplinary appeal proceedings, also passed after a chairman’s amendment removed one voiding provision. The transcript ends as the committee begins hearing HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund funded by forfeited digital assets and redirected investment deposits.

Transcript Highlights:

• community, in some instances, community and municipal dollars, though not all counties invest or cities
• Low-income people were actually given these color-coded coupons, and they would have to purchase them
• With rural farmland, requiring agricultural impact statements prior to city annexations, urban growth

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• this lifestyle because it is a lifestyle and it fits them because not everybody wants to live in the city
• the small number of students that we have here because they do deserve it regardless of their zip code
• just like to say an echo, they're on the same, um, place you were, even though they were a bigger city

Transcript Highlights:

• And just to point out the importance of our building codes, primarily the plumbing code in this case:
• . code. code.
• Um Um Um the<01:03:46.240><c> plumbing</c><01:03:46.640><c> code</c><01:03:46.960><c> since</c><01:03
• :47.400><c> 2015</c> the plumbing code since 2015 the plumbing code since 2015 has<01:03:49.400><c> already
• , primarily the plumbing code in this case, does serve to protect the health, safety, and welfare of

Bills: SB3326

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm ending Title VI and 21 of the Delaware Code relating to rental cars and peer-to-peer car sharing
• So the simple answer would be just creating a definition in code of low hazard risk. Okay.
• Did you say in code or in regulation? In administrative code. That's what I should say. All right.

Committee: Senate Executive

Summary: The committee met in hybrid format, approved the minutes from June 24 and June 25, 2026, and then heard several bills and a resolution. On House Bill 382 with House Amendment 2, sponsored by Rep. Lynn and Sen. Hocker, the sponsor said the bill makes technical corrections to Delaware’s rental car and peer-to-peer car sharing laws after concerns raised following HB 209, clarifies when loss-of-use damages may be recovered, and preserves recovery for intentional, willful, or criminal conduct. Avis Budget Group and Enterprise Mobility supported the bill, while Allstate Insurance and Toro opposed it, arguing the measure could reintroduce unfair fees and leave too much discretion to rental companies; Sen. Townsend also said he wanted more clarity on how the bill would operate. No vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then considered House Bill 476, a Frederica charter change sponsored by Rep. Postals and Sen. Buckson. The bill would reduce town council meetings from twice monthly to once monthly and make ordinances effective immediately unless otherwise stated. Members asked why the Senate sponsor was absent and noted the bill requires a two-thirds vote, but no public comment was offered and no action was recorded. The committee also heard House Joint Resolution 13, sponsored by Sen. Sturgeon and Rep. Barry, which directs the Department of Labor to study a Delaware health care apprenticeship degree program to help address workforce shortages. The Delaware Health Care Association supported the resolution and urged coordination with existing workforce efforts; no opposition was presented and no vote was recorded. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 458 with House Amendment 1, sponsored by Rep. Lynn and Sen. Pardee, concerning backflow devices in low-hazard buildings. Sen. Pardee said the bill would exempt residences and office-type buildings from costly retrofits, while DHSS said the current regulation does not clearly define low-risk buildings and the bill’s list would not create immediate public health concerns until regulations are updated. The Delaware Association of Realtors supported the bill, saying the regulation is overly broad and expensive, while the Delaware Rural Water Association opposed it, warning that backflow prevention is important to protect aquifers and drinking water. The meeting ended with adjournment after public comment and no recorded votes in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• economic engagement with Taiwan pursuant to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Public Law 96-8, United States Code
• 00:13:38.440><c> 96-8</c><00:13:39.720><c> United</c><00:13:40.000><c> States</c><00:13:40.280><c> Code
• </c><00:13:40.600><c> Title</c> Public Law 96-8 United States Code Title Public Law 96-8 United States
• Code Title 22<00:13:41.360><c> Section</c><00:13:41.760><c> 3301.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions from Executive Order N425 that focus on identifying permitting requirements and building codes
• Identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• In 2011, the International Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers...
• In 2011, the International Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers in all occupancies.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills focused on emergency response, fire safety, and school threat prevention. SB 904 would codify and expand the coordinated permitting and rebuilding response used after major wildfire disasters, with the author saying it would standardize agency coordination without eliminating protections. Climate Action California opposed the bill, raising concerns about streamlining and permitting. SB 1299 would create a clearer statutory framework for State Fire Marshal certification, training, and enforcement for fire sprinkler fitters; supporters, including the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Building Trades, said it would ensure qualified installation of critical life-safety systems, while no opposition was presented. SB 1181 would create a limited pilot allowing schools to communicate with regional threat assessment centers when there is a credible safety concern, with the author and supporters describing it as a privacy-protected way to connect warning signs and prevent violence; committee members generally supported the concept and discussed fusion centers, social media threats, and recent incidents. The committee also took up a consent calendar. After recesses to establish quorum and repeated calls for absent members, the committee voted to move all measures forward. SB 1299 was approved on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. SB 904 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 1181 was approved 9-0 to the Senate Committee on Education. The consent calendar items were also approved 9-0. All measures were left on call briefly for absent members before the final votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions from Executive Order N-425 that focus on identifying permitting requirements and building codes
• Identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• In 2011, the International Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers... 2011, the International
• Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers in all occupancies.

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several bills related to wildfire recovery, fire safety, and school threat response. SB 904 would codify emergency coordination procedures used after the L.A. County and Palisades fires, including identifying permitting and building code requirements that can slow rebuilding after wildfire disasters. The author said it would not eliminate protections but would streamline recovery; Climate Action California opposed the bill, while the chair noted concerns about balancing efficiency with safeguards. The bill was later advanced on a 9-0 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1299, which would create a clearer statutory framework for certifying and training fire sprinkler fitters. Supporters from the Sprinkler Fitters Association and State Pipe Trades Council said the measure would ensure only properly trained and certified workers install sprinkler systems, addressing safety risks and litigation that weakened existing regulations. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 9-0 to the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee. SB 1181 proposed a voluntary pilot allowing schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers in several Central Valley counties, with privacy protections and a reporting requirement before expansion. The author tied the bill to youth violence, social media threats, and the need to connect warning signs before tragedies occur. Senators Rubio and the chair spoke in support, citing fusion center successes in preventing attacks; there was no opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar, and all measures were reported out on unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions from Executive Order N-425 that focus on identifying permitting requirements and building codes
• Identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts.
• In 2011, the International Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers...
• In 2011, the International Residential Code was amended to require sprinklers in all occupancies.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another bill that came from our Code Cleanup DOGE Committee. It repeals Idaho Code 67-452.
• Senate Bill 1396 came from our Code Cleanup DOGE Committee. It repeals Idaho Code 67-452.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced Senate Bill 1396, sponsored by Senator Lakey, which repeals Idaho Code 67-452 and removes Idaho’s obsolete membership in the Pacific Fisheries Task Force. Lakey said Idaho has not participated since 2022 and that the task force is no longer necessary. The committee had no questions and voted unanimously to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 855, presented by Representative Petsky, which changes the residency requirement for purchasing a lifetime hunting or fishing license from six months to five years. Petsky and Idaho Department of Fish and Game representative Ellery Tucker Williams said the bill is intended to close a loophole used by people moving to Idaho briefly to obtain lifetime licenses, then leaving the state while still benefiting from resident-style tag access and lower costs. After questions about how residency is verified and whether other approaches, such as grandfathering or revoking licenses after a move, might be better, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with one member requesting to be recorded as opposed. House Concurrent Resolution 34, sponsored by Senator Harris, was also introduced and advanced. The resolution supports Idaho’s rights under the Bear River Compact, calls for studies and feasibility work on storage and recharge projects, and directs investment in stream gauging to document water use and support future claims. Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association testified in support, emphasizing the need for better information and planning for the Bear River Basin. The committee asked about potential costs, and Arrington said the resolution concerns study work first, with project funding to be addressed later. The committee then voted to send the resolution to the floor with a due pass recommendation and approved the February 25 minutes before concluding with remarks to a departing page and a final statement that the committee’s work for the year was essentially finished.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there’s bound and there’s moving parts from a map to the code sections to all of that.
• > a</c><00:05:26.720><c> map</c><00:05:27.039><c> to</c><00:05:27.360><c> the</c><00:05:27.600><c> code
• </c> moving parts from a map to the code moving parts from a map to the code sections<00:05:28.400><c

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division A

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 17 February, 2026; 10:45 AM, 925, all