Transcript Highlights:

• It was kind of a number pulled out of there.
• And so we think the safety of our Department of Correction workers is very, is very The safety of our
• of Corrections.
• That just kind of changes the methodology of how it gets built.
• , but I'm just reading the mission statement of one of these companies here.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened in the afternoon and took up only Senate Bill 2015, the Department of Corrections budget. Representative Steeman explained that the budget reflected major changes from the Senate version because bed contracts with Grand Forks and Burleigh-Morton were still unresolved when the Senate acted. He described rising inmate populations, added county/regional jail payments, deferred maintenance and repair funding, planning money for a new Missouri River Correctional Center, software and equipment upgrades, victims of crime grants, and a one-time diversion/deflection center grant for Fargo funded through the Community Health Trust Fund. He also outlined funding for body cameras, tasers, and protective vests, and a Native American reentry program/report provision, along with a legislative management study on sentencing, corrections, and parole oversight. Members asked about the possibility of private or design-build alternatives for the new Missouri River Correctional Center. After discussion, the committee adopted language directing the steering committee to oversee design and construction and to explore other options. There was also discussion of the importance of maintaining North Dakota’s correctional rehabilitation culture, the cost and availability of out-of-state placements, and the current number of inmates housed in regional, county, and interstate facilities. The committee adopted the amendment to engrossed Senate Bill 2015 and then approved the bill as amended on a 21-0 vote, with two members absent and not voting. Representative Steeman was designated as the carrier. The chair then thanked members for their work and announced the committee would reconvene the next morning to continue with remaining bills and budget work before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Idaho Code operates, including on the part of the county commissioners he has been working with.
• What he's proposed has a lot of internal inconsistencies, and it really guts 133 years of public right-of-way
• Some of them, it's their first time on operations. ...into the farms and give them those hands-on experiences
• Some of them, it's their first time on operation, so it's pretty cool to see.
• 75% of our operating budget comes from the agriculture license plate.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 24 and advanced the gubernatorial appointment of Gaston Patterson to the Aeronautics Advisory Board to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation. It then took up Senate Bill 1340, a traffic safety bill requiring slower traffic to keep right and creating a penalty for impeding traffic in the left lane on controlled-access highways. Senator Harris said the measure was intended to improve traffic flow and reduce dangerous passing situations, and AAA and the Idaho Transportation Department/ISP indicated support while suggesting clarifying amendments. The committee voted to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment. House Bill 532, dealing with uniform identity verification standards for DMV services and consolidating identity requirements into one statute, was presented by ITD and received no opposition. The committee voted to send it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1287, which would revise Idaho public right-of-way law, drew extensive testimony from highway district and county representatives who raised concerns about public hearing requirements, survey costs, dedications, donations, and possible disruption to existing eminent domain and right-of-way processes. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the bill in committee at the call of the chair so amendments could be worked on. Finally, House Bill 663, a cleanup bill moving design authority for the Idaho agricultural license plate to the Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom board and making related language changes, was presented by Senator Nichols and supported by Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom. The committee voted to send House Bill 663 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has been recognized by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons for demonstrating the best operative
• The bill clarifies the difference between a transfer of interest of those with operational control versus
• Driving back and forth most weekends, all seven hours of it, but it was the drive from the Busy Bee at
• One of the nights we debated into the late hours in this chamber way past midnight.
• I understand why we keep operating this mentality of scarcity of human dignity.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities. The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0. Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• operations, and funding of the state's public education system.
• I mean, I kind of know some of the bad... ...of we stop that?
• And many of those ESDs are offering clock hours with OSPI already and working together in this space.
• And many of those ESDs are offering clock hours with OSPI already and working together in this space.
• This bill would add another requirement of 10 hours in literacy.

Bills: HB1796 , SGA9249 , SGA9269 , SGA9244

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: school construction, contract indebtedness, school districts, bonding authority, education funding, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Health and Welfare must verify the report and risk factors within 12 hours.
• The Department of Health and Welfare must verify the report and risk factors within 12 hours.
• The Department of Health and Welfare must verify the report and risk factors within 12 hours and conduct
• Like many of you, I go to work each day with the goal of improving the health, safety, and quality of
• out of it.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• goes to pay and benefits for personnel. 19.1% consists of operating expenditures, the largest single
• Can you talk to why U of I has two of them?
• The credit hour value is a function of statewide or system-wide appropriation, so it makes it difficult
• It's certainly part of the system in terms of how credit hours are weighted, but there's not this explicit
• Two out of two or two out of 20? Two out of three. Okay, thank you.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of it all goes directly to those programs and operates independently from us.
• It is not a bump up of a huge amount to someone in terms of of paying for groceries.
• 11% of veterans, maybe even a lower number of veterans... a lower number of enlisted.
• operations and maintenance is that when you look at some of these old weapon systems.
• So, the new program, Sentinel, is looking at more environmentally friendly types of chemicals. to operate

Transcript Highlights:

• And all of that is kind of anchored into a couple of things: maturity models, again, there's a lot of
• . ...of approximately $12.6 million to fully support the expenses of 9-1-1 operations at the 21 primary
• CIRN, which comprise 12%, covers the operations and administration of the statewide interoperable radio
• But really, 26 FTEs of staff over 24-hour service is like four people a shift.
• There's a lot of operational changes. There's a lot. There's a lot of operational changes.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a result of this plan of operation, we set up a series of standing meetings so that we could-
• It is the backbone of our operations at the DMV. run its course over the 30 years of usage, and it's
• the operating costs of the Amtrak Heartland Flyer Next biennium.
• As the operator, each one of those are small businesses, so each one of those, they also have, as I.
• Basically, so there's this pot of money that DPS operates.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission of the town of Beckett.
• Meridian now moves that the House stand and recess till the hour of 1 p.m.
• Jones of North Reading moves that the House now recess until the hour of 11 a.m. tomorrow.
• The House now recesses until the hour of 11 a.m. tomorrow. Roll calls will begin at 1 p.m.
• The House now stands in recess until the hour of 11 a.m. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House began with ceremonial and procedural business, including adoption of resolutions recognizing the National Asian Pacific American Caucus and several orders extending reporting deadlines for committees, all of which were adopted by suspension of the rules. The House also concurred with a Senate petition concerning accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former Boston firefighter, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The chamber then took up several Ways and Means bills and local matters, including human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, teacher benefits under the Retirement Plus program, and land/easement measures for Westford, Wellesley, and Bourne. Most of these items were advanced to third reading after amendments were adopted. The House also moved through a series of local bills on the calendar, ordering multiple measures to third reading, including bills related to Watertown digital legal notices, Newton alarm divisions, Springfield property tax assessment, Natick’s charter, Beckett conservation commission membership, and Leicester stabilization funds. Later, the House considered and passed two major bills to be engrossed by roll call vote. H. 4361, relative to benefits for teachers, was supported by members who described it as a long-sought fix to Retirement Plus enrollment problems caused by unclear implementation and communication years ago; it passed 158-0. H. 4360, requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers, also drew strong support from members and advocates emphasizing victim identification, hotel and motel staff training, and anti-trafficking enforcement; an amendment updating the training language was adopted, and the bill likewise passed 158-0. The House then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• out across those three different lines because of some of the mechanics of how we track some of those
• amount of money, three weeks is now turned into three hours, and today we will authorize $13.3 billion
• amount of money, three weeks is now turned into three hours, and today we will authorize $13.3 billion
• "This amount of money, three weeks has now turned into three hours, and today we will authorize $13.3
• we've had available for about 15 hours, I was hoping that would be 13 hours to add to that tale of threes

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first received updates from LSO on the latest green sheet, including the revenue impact of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Members then moved through a series of FY 2027 maintenance budgets, beginning with the legislative branch. The committee discussed the statewide 2% reduction layered on top of the governor’s recommendation, benefit-cost adjustments, and how those decisions were being built into the maintenance budgets. The legislative branch budget passed, followed by unanimous-consent adoption of related language. The committee next considered public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government budgets. In each case, analysts explained how rescissions, ongoing base reductions, and statewide adjustments were incorporated. Several members objected to the across-the-board cuts, arguing they would reduce staffing or services in corrections, juvenile corrections, environmental quality, health and welfare, public defender services, crime victims compensation, tax administration, and treatment courts, while supporters said the committee needed a target and would revisit details in enhancement work groups. Most budget motions passed on divided votes and were forwarded with do-pass recommendations. The committee also adopted multiple sections of standard and nonstandard language, including cash transfers, reporting requirements, and agency-specific provisions. In Health and Human Services, members debated language requiring reporting on large acquisitions and transfers, and in Economic Development and General Government they adopted language affecting the State Public Defender, the Department of Insurance, and group insurance premiums. The meeting ended while the committee was still working through a disputed general government language item about funding employee health insurance premiums from reserve accounts, with members debating whether the language should reference specific reserve funds or broader reserve funding and whether the proposal was properly within JFAC’s scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• For every hour they grab for rest this weekend, grant them refreshment of two.
• For every hour they grab for rest this weekend, grant them refreshment of two.
• HB 5092 by Tepper, relating to the operation and dissolution of the Lubbock-Rise-Reed-of-Ease-Eat-Avise
• SB 65 by Zaffirini, relating to the adoption of uniform rules for hours of work for certain county employees
• SB, number 65 by Zafarini, relating to the adoption of uniform rules for hours of work for certain county

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, led the pledges, and approved a series of routine motions, including excusing absent members and granting permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. Members also adopted several memorial and recognition resolutions, including H.R. 1023 honoring Christian Beerbill, H.R. 1033 recognizing International Bereaved Mother’s Day, and H.R. 877 recognizing Urban League Advocates Day. The House also recommitted SB 17 and HB 4211 to committee and postponed SCR 27 and HB 2145 for later consideration. The chamber then took up a long third-reading calendar of bills covering a wide range of topics, including Sunset review measures, health care workforce and pricing, child custody and family law, Medicaid, rural ambulance grants, energy reporting, public information requests, trail development, virtual meeting disruptions, occupational licensing, protective orders, county leave pools, animal cruelty, infrastructure, and higher education. Most bills were explained briefly by their authors and passed with broad support, though several drew notable opposition, including HB 5265, HB 2402, HB 3000, HB 3237, HB 3326, HB 1056, HB 281, HB 3308, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 294, HB 809, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 285, HB 1353, HB 3960, HB 4044, HB 4264, HB 2807, HB 3349, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 1201, and others. Several bills prompted extended debate or amendments. HB 3237, extending public energy-use reporting for state and higher-education buildings, passed after questions about its public-sector-only scope and energy savings. HB 3326, addressing public service loan forgiveness credit for adjunct professors, initially failed on a 69-70 vote but later passed after verification and machine corrections. HB 3211, concerning optometrists in managed care plans, adopted a Buckley amendment before passing. HB 2213 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association board composition adopted a Metcalf amendment requiring certain board members to be Texas residents. HB 412, dealing with harmful materials and sexual performance of a child, generated extensive questioning about its scope, existing legal standards, and effects on educators and medical professionals; the excerpt ends during that debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for those of us parents that are restricting our kids to two hours or less, think of all the children
• that are online eight hours, nine hours, ten hours, or more per day.
• What about moderating the amount of time that kids are online? How about usage during school hours?
• apply, having read a fair amount of paper on this in the last 12 hours, it is more complicated than one
• These large-scale gamefowl operations cost local governments thousands of dollars and their respective

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 2, which would create enhanced civil penalties for large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to address addictive algorithms and harmful content, while opponents warned it was vague, could chill speech, and might be preempted by federal law. Members largely focused on whether the bill changed the standard of care or burden of proof; the bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with some members noting concerns but supporting it to continue the discussion. AB 282, dealing with housing vouchers and source-of-income discrimination, would clarify that housing providers may prioritize applicants who qualify for rental assistance without violating fair housing law. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, and advocacy groups said it would help voucher holders find units and improve use of housing funds. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote, with two no votes. The committee also considered AB 882 on court reporter availability and electronic recording in certain cases when a court reporter is unavailable. Supporters said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage of reporters and would preserve access to accurate records, while opponents argued it was too narrow, raised access-to-justice concerns, and should be broadened. Members from both sides emphasized the importance of court reporters and electronic recording as a backup; the bill passed with an urgency clause and was sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, AB 935 on civil rights data clarity, AB 1414 on tenant choice of internet service provider, and AB 67 on Attorney General enforcement of the Reproductive Privacy Act; each drew support from sponsors and advocacy groups, opposition centered on overbreadth or policy concerns, and each advanced on committee votes, with several members requesting further amendments or clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• You would be funding a portion of six paraprofessionals based on the number of hours the paraprofessional
• and a half instead of being shared is now an hour and a half, an hour and a half, an hour and a half
• c> instead of being shared is now an hour instead of being shared is now an hour and a<01:13:14.320><
• I know it took us like 2 hours to figure all of it out to do dual enrollment.
• <03:30:20.399><c> do</c><03:30:20.640><c> dual</c> hours to figure all of it out to do dual hours to

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of 8:30 having passed, a good thing we didn't decide to start at 8:30 because half the committee
• of practice.
• of rights.
• Those came because of the lack of collaboration.
• of providers around the state and the variety of services each one of us provides is significant and

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But when I got to high school and my mom got a new job working long hours, I got tons of new freedom.
• The long hours allowed me to still get out of school at six, but go to a local pizza shop to have a job
• And obviously, at that level of funding reduction, it would be no longer viable for the school to operate
• of a recent graduate of the same school.
• We are here on behalf of hundreds of thousands of former, current, and hopeful future charter public

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a lengthy hearing on a large slate of bills focused primarily on charter school policy and vocational technical education. Committee members opened with ground rules for testimony, including a two-minute limit, written testimony acceptance, and a live-streamed format. The committee then heard testimony on bills to expand collective bargaining rights in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools, reform charter school funding and reimbursement, allow enrollment preferences for high-need students in charter lotteries, and require BESE to consider district impacts when approving new or expanded charters. Several witnesses, including union leaders, parents, educators, and legislators, argued that charter growth has strained district budgets and that funding formulas should be reworked to better protect public schools; charter advocates and alumni countered that charter schools serve high-need students well and should not be penalized for their success. A major portion of the hearing focused on vocational technical education bills, including proposals to expand access and capacity, create a large grant program, and increase MSBA reimbursement rates for vocational school construction. Supporters described long waitlists, strong labor-market demand, and the higher cost of building and maintaining vocational schools, while municipal officials emphasized the tax burden on local communities. The committee also heard testimony on charter school reimbursement bills that would extend the state’s reimbursement schedule, with witnesses from districts such as Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford describing large net losses to charter tuition and arguing for longer reimbursement periods and structural reform. The committee took no final votes during the hearing. In one instance, the chair said a bill would be held open until a missing senator could testify. Members asked several detailed questions about charter admissions lotteries, special education placements, funding formulas, and the practical effects of proposed charter caps and reimbursement changes. The hearing remained informational, with witnesses and committee members presenting sharply different views on whether the bills would improve equity and opportunity or harm existing public school systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I think that was part of the discussion: it's not that it'll be $8,600, it's just for hours worked
• They are aiming for a million hours of service at the national level.
• They are aiming for a million hours of service at the national level.
• We have about 2,000 volunteers a year that donate almost between 75,000 and 85,000 hours of volunteer
• Today, we have Scott Graff, who does content and operations for Idaho Public Television, and, of course

Summary: The committee first approved the October 21, 2025 minutes and then approved the December 19, 2025 minutes after discussing a disputed reference to a motion involving Jane Pradaki’s contract. Members clarified that the prior arrangement had been a six-month contract and that the new intent was to narrow the work to hourly, as-needed support tied to approved projects. After debate over scope, accountability, and whether the work should be competitively bid, the committee adopted a revised motion retaining Pradaki at $125 per hour, not to exceed $8,600 per month, to help with approved projects by the committee chairs. Members then received a financial update on America 250, including the commemorative fund balance and grant program status. Staff reported 74 grant applications, 41 approved to date, 22 under scoring review, and roughly $148,000 remaining in the Celebration Fund after more than $100,000 had been awarded. The committee later approved a slate of grant disbursements to multiple counties and cities, including Bingham, Bonneville, Kootenai, Latah, Lincoln, Twin Falls, and several municipalities. The bulk of the meeting focused on America 250 programming and outreach. Updates covered the Foundations of Freedom Tour, a proposed July 4 celebration at the Capitol and Andrus Park with a parade, stage performances, food vendors, and a rotunda exhibit featuring the Declaration of Independence; the Liberty Bell’s planned return and possible statewide tour; ambassador and service initiatives; and the Institute for Advancing American Values’ civics curriculum and “Reading the Republic” materials. Additional reports highlighted national America 250 efforts, state museum exhibitions, oral history collection, and Idaho Parks and Recreation’s commemorative events and volunteer programs. The committee also extended $30,000 in spending authority for ambassador programs and scheduled its next meeting for the afternoon of February 5, with members emphasizing the need to finalize event planning soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• So please, on behalf of all the folks who are in need of mental health therapy, I don't know. of all
• These are kind of the basics of fair information practices.
• It was hours and hours and hours of meetings.
• of activation, instead of within 72 hours.
• of Canada.

Summary: The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held public hearings on HB 2564 and HB 2599, then moved into executive session on several bills. HB 2599, which would restrict the use of AI in therapy and psychotherapy services, drew strong support from the prime sponsor, mental health professional groups, a privacy advocate, and an AI ethics researcher, all of whom warned that chatbots can mislead users, encourage delusions or self-harm, and lack licensure, accountability, and confidentiality protections. Several witnesses from health systems and telehealth organizations supported the bill’s intent but asked for narrower definitions and amendments to avoid unintended impacts on clinician-supervised tools, screening questionnaires, scribes, and other legitimate uses of AI. No vote was taken on HB 2599 during the hearing. HB 2564, which would give the Health Benefit Exchange authority to adopt market-factor certification criteria for exchange plans, was presented as a way to address affordability, bare counties, and plan duplication. Supporters included the Exchange, consumer advocates, rural and tribal representatives, navigators, and some individual consumers, who said the bill could improve access, preserve bronze plan availability, and help stabilize the market in counties with too few carriers. Opponents from health plans, Regence, Premier, and insurance producer groups argued the bill would expand exchange authority without clear standards, could reduce competition and carrier participation, and might conflict with existing OIC filing and confidentiality processes; the OIC supported the bill but requested an amendment on rate disclosure timing. The committee then moved to executive session and later reported out HB 1784, HB 2242, HB 2384, and HB 2505 with due pass recommendations, while deferring action on HB 1809 and HB 2261. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for HB 1784 on certified medical assistants by an 18-0 vote, adopted one amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2242 on preventive services and immunization recommendations by an 11-7 vote, and passed a substitute for HB 2384 on actuarial reviews for continuing care retirement communities by a 16-2 vote. It also adopted an amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2505 on limited adult family home licensure exemptions for certain foster family situations by an 18-0 vote. The meeting adjourned after those actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The convention shall be constituted and shall operate as said resolution or act of Congress shall direct
• I move that the House do now adjourn at the hour of 11 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2026.
• The House adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m.
• Do now adjourn at the hour of 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Monday, February night, 2026. Late from 18.
• The House adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m. Monday, February 9th, 2026.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by laying out bills and providing an opportunity to ask questions of the bill on, of, of the bill, uh
• Uh, Mike Moroney, on behalf of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, 600 members, some of the, uh,
• And Irrespective of the cost of that program.
• of study.
• Uh, suggestion on that is we just don't want to see any kind of degradation of, uh, of those kind of

Bills: HB20 , HB120

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations, higher education, LGBTQ studies, DEI studies, program prohibition, educational policy, HB120, Texas, Texas Education Code, public universities, public colleges, queer studies, gay studies, lesbian studies