Transcript Highlights:

• , House Bill 4018 grants a county sheriff the exclusive right, when activated by the sheriff, to regulate
• House Bill 4018 grants a county sheriff the exclusive right, when activated by the sheriff, to regulate
• Posse members are highly trained, well-regulated volunteers who support critical public safety functions
• To organize, regulate, and deploy posse and reserve members under formal policy.
• and it is the belief... ...are expected to share data back with the government.

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety approved the March 18, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills, beginning with HB 4018, which would give county sheriffs exclusive authority to regulate posse and reserve organizations acting under the sheriff’s authority and in support of the sheriff’s office. Supporters said it merely clarified existing law and improved accountability for volunteer public safety groups; one member opposed it as concentrating too much authority with too few guardrails. The committee recommended the bill do pass by a 5-1 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then heard HB 2417, which would let certain drivers choose a speed-inhibiting device instead of a license suspension for specified offenses, and HB 2771, which would allow the Department of Corrections to require prisoners to pay reasonable rehabilitation program costs as a condition of community supervision. HB 2417 drew support from a coalition focused on safer roads and second chances, but one member raised concerns about cost, privacy, and enforcement; it passed 6-1. HB 2771 was described as a simple language clarification and passed 5-2. Members also approved HB 2772, which would place a medical indicator on a driver’s license for advanced health care directives such as a living will or DNR so first responders can see it quickly; the sponsor said ADOT helped design the process and that it would not create a burden, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then passed HCR 259, reaffirming support for county sheriffs, by a 4-3 vote; HB 2418, which directs $600,000 in state funds to be distributed evenly among five county sheriff task forces, by a 7-0 vote; and HB 2170, which would bar state contracts with companies domiciled in or controlled by the Chinese government except in limited circumstances, by a 4-3 vote. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand that it regulations. Follow up. There's a lot of chemical regulation bills up there.
• It simply eliminates any regulation.
• It simply eliminates any regulation.
• And yet, on the plastics issue, it's you may regulate; you're not offering any regulation.
• And yet, on the plastics issue, it's you may regulate, you're not offering any regulation.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• One place where I've looked at concrete data in this upzoning discussion is looking at some of what are
• One place where I've looked at concrete data in this upzoning discussion is looking at some of what are
• Data show that single-stair apartment buildings up to a mid-rise level are just as safe as other types
• I don't know, but it would be really good to have some research data on that. Ms. Hamilton.
• I've not seen Idaho-specific poll data.

Committee: House Local Government

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on housing affordability and land-use policy, with presentations from Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center and Chris Cargill and Maddie Clark of the Mountain States Policy Center. Hamilton argued that housing shortages are driven largely by zoning, permit delays, parking mandates, and building-code rules, and cited examples where deregulation increased housing supply and moderated rents. She also discussed accessory dwelling unit reforms, state-local cooperation on zoning, possible building-code changes such as allowing single-stair mid-rise apartments and more units under the residential code, and said limited federal land releases near existing development could help in some cases. Members asked about single-stair buildings, the role of large institutional investors, the shift toward “missing middle” housing, whether zoning is really a problem in Idaho, and whether federal land should be opened for development. Hamilton said investor demand is often attracted by supply constraints and that easing construction is the best long-term way to expand homeownership. She also said recent price increases were driven by both demand shocks since 2020 and long-term supply constraints. Several members expressed concern that the state is moving away from single-family zoning and that many Idaho residents still prefer detached homes. Cargill and Clark presented polling and research from the Mountain States Policy Center showing strong public concern about housing costs: 86% of Idahoans called affordable housing a serious problem, 78% said legislators should act, 87% supported more flexibility for ADUs, and 69% supported automatic permit approval if regulators miss a reasonable deadline. They said respondents were divided on rent control and public housing versus reducing regulations, and argued that education is needed about the downsides of rent control. An Association of Idaho Cities representative noted Idaho already approves more building permits per capita than any other state and cautioned that automatic approvals could raise safety concerns. No votes were taken; the chair said the hearing was informational and adjourned after thanking the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need employer data and we need government-held data to prepare for this moment.
• I will note that that wasn't data you two cited, but if you look at the data... opportunity to inform
• data you two cited, but if you look at the data coming out of their version of the WARN Act on this
• Beyond unlawful data sharing, employment. Data even after being warned.
• I know we're still family somewhere down the line, but I need real, real data—actual data—to help me

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• organization and authorizes the modeling and data organization to file models to be used by insurers
• and authorizes the modeling and data organization to file models to be used by insurers for making rates
• We know how well the government protects its data, and so therefore we want to make sure and prohibit
• biometric data collection.
• We know how well the government protects its data, and so therefore we want to make sure and prohibit

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a rapid review of a very large bill package, with the chair repeatedly asking staff to keep descriptions high level and many bills placed on third-read consent or consent calendars. A major theme was artificial intelligence: bills would require minors to be told when they are interacting with AI, allow AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, create an AI education program, privilege certain AI communications, and require K-12 instruction on ethical and practical AI use. Other education measures addressed school district superintendents, health instruction, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal development standards, and school safety, including a bill allowing concealed firearms on school grounds under specified conditions. Several health and public safety bills were also discussed. These included funding and oversight measures for childhood cancer research, nursing care complaint timelines, firefighter cancer data collection, limits on pharmacy penalties, and a bill making it a felony to administer abortion-inducing drugs without consent. Members also heard bills on overtime wage enforcement, domestic violence evidence standards in parenting cases, probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, and a measure expanding manslaughter liability to online encouragement of teen suicide. One sponsor strongly opposed a provisional medical licensing bill for foreign-trained applicants, while other sponsors emphasized rural health access, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and the need for a dental board member who is an oral surgeon. A large portion of the meeting focused on water, land, energy, and state agency oversight. Bills would streamline or change rules for small modular reactors, new power plants, water supply determinations, groundwater transportation fees, water hauling, and state land disposition. Members also considered measures affecting the State Land Department, including audits, oversight boards, continuation, land-use maps for data centers and energy projects, and rules for mineral leases and solar or wind siting. Other topics included wildlife and ranching, Mexican wolf policy, annexation, housing and development incentives, transportation and towing rules, digital driver licenses, and a proposed four-year moratorium on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility-rate increases, which drew questions about stakeholder input and the impact on enterprise funds and local utilities. No recorded roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or calendar status, with one bill noted as held in rules and another pulled for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We saw, with just the updated data between the data we used in the November forecast and the data we
• So this forecast, we're updating the data for newer data, and that brings down the impact of the state
• And we certainly have the data on how many claims we've paid. Of course, you know.
• And we certainly have the data on how many claims we've paid. Of course, you know.
• Last session, the Legislature changed the data that those adjustments are based on, moving from data

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota has been a leader in regulating social media.
• It's now time to regulate and enforce.
• It's now time to regulate and enforce.
• It's now time to regulate and enforce.
• It's very difficult to pass meaningful regulation of technology companies.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, well, it's like why do we have regulations? Why do we have regulations at that point?
• Yeah, well, it's like why do we have regulations? Why do we have regulations at that point?
• There's no regulation of cost.
• c> that</c><00:37:07.400><c> cost</c> Who regulates right now that cost Who regulates right now that
• </c> there is nothing regulating cost. there is nothing regulating cost.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> necessity of consolidation, but data necessity of consolidation, but data proves<00:34:23.839><c
• I appreciate its focus on trying to find the information so that we can regulate it.
• I appreciate its focus on trying to find the information so that we can regulate it.
• I appreciate its focus on trying to find the information so that we can regulate it.
• </c> information so that we can regulate it. information so that we can regulate it.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, maybe some data would help.
• They already possess the property data.
• They already possess the property data.
• They already possess the property data.
• In addition, including the most recent FAIR Plan premium data and data files would improve insurers'

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and whatever the new regulations are, then that's what we'll follow.
• I need the data to make the decision.
• In addition to the law, Senator, we have regulations—regulations that we’re required to follow.
• And the regulations at that time... ...regulations that we were required to follow, and the regulations
• A manager bases decisions on data points.

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are collecting all relevant data to assist you in policy decisions and to regulate the market.
• A lot of data.
• Just data center load, right? Yeah, so that 83 gigawatts is for data centers.
• are collecting all relevant data to assist you in policy decisions and to regulate the market.
• A lot of data.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the product of our data team on the back.
• There are some data around this.
• Data Center Industry, representing the leading data center owners and operators.
• A $40 billion data center uses less water than a hotel.
• We generally don't regulate the best operations.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• commercially available Earth observation data could support NASA's scientific missions.
• commercially available Earth observation data could support NASA's scientific missions.
• That data translates directly into better decision-making on the ground.
• That data translates directly into better decision-making on the ground.
• THAT DATA TRANSLATES DIRECTLY INTO BETTER DECISION MAKING ON THE GROUND.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Especially with these regulations, like Mr. Spreck was mentioning there too.
• Especially with these regulations, like Mr. Spreck was mentioning there too.
• Especially with these regulations, like Mr. Spreck was mentioning there too.
• </c> regulations at this time. regulations at this time.
• We test all of our federal regulation.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 40, authored by Representative Burkel, was heard and laid over. The bill would remove the statutory requirement that farmed deer/elk facilities maintain a physical barrier preventing contact with wild deer, and it would also strike language allowing revocation of registration and seizure/destruction of animals for fencing or escape violations. Burkel argued the current law is unfair to deer farmers, treats them differently than other livestock producers, and amounts to a regulatory taking of a legal agricultural enterprise. Supporters from the Minnesota Elk Breeders Association and Minnesota Deer Farmers Association said the 2023 secondary-fence requirement is expensive, difficult to implement on long-established properties, and has pushed some breeders out of the industry. They described costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, said the DNR’s guidance is case-by-case and unclear, and argued that the penalty structure is too harsh for what they view as minor or unavoidable escape incidents. One testifier said the industry is being driven out of business and that the state should help pay for the fencing if it remains required. The DNR opposed the bill. Its enforcement representative said the physical-contact barrier is intended to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease transmission and that removing penalties would leave little incentive for compliance. He said the agency continues to work with the roughly 10 noncompliant whitetail farms and that the DNR provides case-by-case review because farm topography varies. In committee questions, members discussed whether wild deer commonly travel along fence lines, whether ear-tagged deer have been found, and whether there is a standard approved fence design; the DNR said there is no single standard fence, only suggestions and review. Representative Burkel closed by reiterating his support for the bill and the committee then laid it over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because, according to your rules and regulations, they're not. OK?
• Patient safety and responsible regulation.
• Title 63 and metric data access. I am concerned about Title 63 as.
• You know, and the legislators that want to regulate this more.
• Once we have that data from OBN, we're getting it. I think weekly now.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we set additional regulations for the federal grant program? Can we set additional regulations?
• I think that will comply with that regulation, right?
• The data is bleak: 37% of college students struggle with depression.
• And based upon that, they should have the data already collected.
• Our families, board, educators, and community study data.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and first heard AB 302, which would prohibit schools from requiring students to use addictive social media feeds as a condition of participating in extracurricular activities and would require schools to offer a non-social-media way to communicate with students and families. The author and a student witness argued the bill protects minors from being forced onto addictive platforms, while senators asked how coaches and clubs would communicate; the author said email, built-in messaging, and other direct methods would still be allowed. The bill was held on call for absent members. The committee then took up AB 2504, creating a pilot program to train creative-industry workers for AI-related changes through partnerships among community colleges, employers, unions, and tech companies. Supporters from WME and the Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said the program would help workers adapt to rapid industry change, while senators discussed the pilot’s size, geographic diversity, and sunset date. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 1534 followed, adding state guardrails for federal Workforce Pell short-term training programs, including limits on tuition, restrictions on certain financing products, and transparency rules for partnerships with unaccredited entities. Support came from TICAS, EdTrust-West, and the Campaign for College Opportunity; senators questioned the scope of state authority and why private institutions were not clearly included, and the author said the broader approval framework was being handled in trailer bill language. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. The committee also heard AB 1381, a gut-and-amend proposal to strengthen screening for school teachers with histories of egregious misconduct while balancing due process and privacy concerns. Supporters and opponents both emphasized student safety and the need for reliable information-sharing, and members noted the bill was similar to a previously held measure; the author said amendments were still being worked out. The bill passed to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee. AB 2202, which would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to coordinate statewide efforts, drew broad support from school board and education groups but also concern that it could duplicate existing work and add bureaucracy; after extended debate about whether the commission would identify causes or solutions, it passed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Finally, AB 1547, requiring a UC feasibility study for a branch medical school in Kern County, drew local support but opposition from a senator who argued the Legislature cannot direct UC’s internal operations under the state Constitution; the chair said the Legislature can make recommendations and the bill remained under discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• To control personal data or to seek alternative health care.
• These regulations would simply Thank you.
• The rates are the underlying regulation.
• DPH already regulates a lot in this area.
• The data from the interviews and surveys collected so far underscores the need The data from the interviews

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the data from the study, it's increased activity and reintegration.
• The data... ...their symptoms. Sometimes they can even go into full remission.
• Everybody's looking at Arizona to see what our data is going to show.
• weigh into that data collection.
• The data is amazing.

Summary: The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Access to Breakthrough Mental Health Therapies held an informational hearing focused on psychedelic-assisted treatments for PTSD, depression, addiction, and related conditions, especially for veterans, first responders, and firefighters. The chair framed the issue as a response to long-standing barriers created by Schedule I restrictions and stigma, emphasizing that the committee was looking at supervised clinical use rather than take-home drugs. Members discussed the growing number of state psychedelic policy proposals, the federal breakthrough therapy pathway, and the idea of Arizona preparing for FDA approval and possibly sending correspondence to federal officials in support of expanded access and Right to Try implementation. Witnesses included retired Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Alan Mullen, who described participating in an ibogaine study for PTSD/TBI and said the treatment, combined with preparation and integration support, helped him confront trauma and showed promise under strict medical monitoring. Dr. Sue Sisley of Scottsdale Research Institute testified that her team is conducting FDA-controlled psychedelic trials, including psilocybin research funded by Arizona, and argued that these therapies can produce major symptom relief with limited doses when delivered in controlled settings. She also urged the legislature to help remove barriers to research and access, including support for Right to Try and possible federal action to allow controlled-substance access. Dan Freiberg of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona said firefighters face chronic mental health exposure and often lack effective options beyond traditional therapy or, in some cases, ketamine, and he supported any safe, effective treatment that could help members return to work and reduce suicide risk. Dr. Chung Trin, a mental health physician and trial investigator, explained the FDA breakthrough designation process, said several psychedelic treatments are in late-stage review, and stressed the need for Arizona to build clinical infrastructure so patients can access approved therapies quickly and safely once federal approval occurs. Committee members asked about safety, addiction potential, suicide risk, costs, patents, and whether natural versus synthetic versions of compounds like psilocybin would be available; the hearing ended with general support for continued research, possible legislative correspondence to federal officials, and no formal vote or bill action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> asked some questions about data asked some questions about data concerning<00:20:47.440><c> uh</
• Um federally regulated in this.
• </c> uh information and data to the board. uh information and data to the board.
• ,</c> the conditions of registry data, the conditions of registry data, disclosure,<01:34:06.480><c>
• </c> registry data for research purposes. registry data for research purposes.

Keywords: 927, senate, all