Transcript Highlights:

• sections 1553 and to the Elections Code.
• Senate Bill 73 builds upon the work of SB 851 by further building on our defenses.
• As we stated, they are coming for us now.
• The stated purpose of SB 73 is to build protection against federal interference in our elections.
• uniform across our state.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A state often would say it's more common than not for the state to align the rates, but certainly there
• We're excited to build a transparent system, build on the on-ramps, the accountability, the regional
• We're excited to build a transparent system, build on the on ramps, the accountability, the regional
• state of California.
• in this state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 67-59, Idaho Code, to revise the provision regarding management of state facilities and to make
• Section 67-59 Idaho Code to revise the provision regarding management of state facilities and to make
• The State of Idaho and the State... Amendment prohibition.
• The State of Idaho and the State of Utah voted unanimously to support the 21st Amendment.
• But the Senate was to be reliant on the state. The legislature represented the state.

Summary: The Idaho House convened with a quorum, approved the House Journal, and received committee reports printing House Bills 593-599 and advancing several bills, including HB 544, HB 540, HB 541, HB 569, SB 1222, and SJM 108. The House also introduced and referred new bills HB 600-605, covering public records, collective bargaining and taxpayer funding of unions, foreign laws, Capitol Mall/camping and state property management, sex offender registration, and tax subtractions for tips and overtime. Several other measures were moved to second reading, and the chamber briefly went at ease while waiting on Appropriations. The main floor debate centered on House Concurrent Resolution 25, a call under Article V for a balanced budget amendment. Supporters argued the federal debt is unsustainable, that Idaho already balances its budget, and that a convention threat is needed to force Congress to act. Opponents warned a constitutional convention could become a runaway process, create opportunities for lobbying and corruption, and even alter the ratification rules; some also argued the real problem is the monetary system and federal spending incentives, not just the absence of a balanced budget amendment. Members cited historical precedent, Article V, and concerns about delegate selection and sideboards throughout the debate. After extensive debate, the House passed HCR 25 by a vote of 36 ayes to 34 nays, with the title approved and the resolution sent to the Senate. The House then held remaining third-reading bills in place until Monday, heard several personal privilege announcements and committee schedule notices, and adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:23.800><c> my</c> part of the United States my part of the United States my grandfather's<
• </c> and Native American families face state and Native American families face state sponsored<01:06:
• </c> hiring and training teachers to building hiring and training teachers to building accessible<01:
• </c><03:26:35.600><c> of</c> Services and research in the state of Services and research in the state
• Every state became a border state, including my home state of Wisconsin.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Requirements are specific to expansion states as a not expansion state.
• The state directed payments have to be linked to states quality strategy.
• payment limit for not expansion states 100% of of for Medicare for expansion states.
• of United States.
• as a not expansion state.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this i-four initiative will build a new interchange with state road 4.29.
• Design build.
• We connected to the state, the state system.
• What that is the various state DMV and this thing states continue to connect to it.
• It's the whole state.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The State of Idaho is putting in the code that there's going to be some liability protection so that
• code.
• State code. Pro Tem, if I could ask one quick...
• rest of state code on petitions.
• The stated purpose of the legislation is to make this section of code consistent with other statutes.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several print hearings and gubernatorial appointments, with most early legislation advancing without opposition. RS 33743, the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act, would require school applicants to disclose past investigations or disciplinary actions and require prior employers to respond; RS 33744 would move certain federally qualified and rural health center scope-of-practice rate changes into code; RS 33721 would extend certain state endowment land commercial leases from 49 to 99 years; and RS 33660 would expand disclosure requirements for paid signature gatherers and paid candidate advocates. All four RS measures were sent to print. The committee also heard from and later resumed testimony on several gubernatorial reappointments, including Jerry Doppie to the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Skip Smeiser to the Lottery Commission, and Nicaela Black Abrams to the Racing Commission; those votes were deferred to a later meeting. House Bill 674, which would remove the Public Utilities Commission’s role in reviewing certain telecommunications service discontinuances and rely on the FCC process instead, drew significant testimony. The sponsor and telecom representatives said it would eliminate a duplicative state process and speed broadband and infrastructure investment while preserving FCC protections. Opponents, including former telecom workers and a trial lawyers representative, warned it could leave rural copper-line customers and emergency users without adequate service or local oversight. After questions about the federal language and whether the bill might invert the current review process, the committee voted to hold HB 674 subject to the call of the chair. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1391, a technical fix preserving lawful entry authority for publicly employed land surveyors, and Senate Bill 1389, which would provide liability protection for churches, grange halls, and other property owners who voluntarily serve as polling places. HB 860, revising the medical parental rights law and related emergency treatment and hotline provisions, received supportive testimony from the Idaho Medical Association, a teen advocate, and the 988 crisis hotline director, and was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. HB 549, which would remove property-owner signatures from petitions to dissolve hospital taxing districts, drew divided testimony: supporters said the current process is unworkable in places like McCall, while the Idaho Hospital Association urged a higher threshold and warned of inconsistency with other district laws. The committee voted to send HB 549 to the 14th order for possible amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• states are those that state and in other states are those that won't<00:27:09.120><c> be</c><00:27:09.360
• We do have a coordinating council that we chair, which brings all the state agencies together that are
• </c> for several states. for several states.
• </c> presence in the state is like. presence in the state is like.
• </c> United States, real property. United States, real property.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , a similar tele-mentoring program in Washington State has engaged 289 providers across 250 zip codes
• Each state gets that equally.
• And then, thirdly, the state did not maybe pursue all of the State policy actions that qualify a state
• state policy actions that qualify a state for additional funding.
• One woman had it in nine states, nine states. In more than one state.

Bills: HB2190 , HB2202 , HB2233 , HB2251 , HB2252 , HB2396 , HB2437 , HB2689 , HB2796

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Keywords: physician assistants, licensure compact, medical services, multistate practice, patient care access, healthcare workforce, military families, adverse actions, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, HB 2233, rural health transformation, rural health transformation program, AHCCCS, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, JLBC

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
• Amending Section 63.30-25 Idaho Code.
• We arguably quarrel here every day when we walk into the building.
• We arguably quarrel here every day when we walk into the building.
• The state system lost the prisoner.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And those audits are done by the state auditor's office. The state auditor's office, that's right.
• Langer continued: “The state constitution provides that every elected public officer of the state, except
• The state constitution provides that every elected public officer of the state, except judges of courts
• wonderful state.
• if the state has complied...

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2508, concerning the Office of Independent Investigations (OII), would expand OII’s jurisdiction over deadly-force and related use-of-force incidents, require broader notification and records access from law enforcement and emergency responders, and exempt certain OII investigative records from public disclosure. Rep. Deborah Entenman and OII staff supported the bill as a way to improve independent, transparent investigations, while committee members raised questions about when cases are considered “closed” and how to protect against repeated or harassing investigations. OII representatives said formal reviews are referred to prosecutors, administrative closures are not, and the bill would clarify existing public records protections. Law enforcement and public-interest witnesses were split, with some supporting the expansion and others objecting to added secrecy provisions and questioning safeguards and oversight. House Bill 2539, as amended by a proposed substitute, would raise the Department of Corrections inmate indigency cap from $25 to $100 so incarcerated people can retain more money for hygiene and basic necessities before deductions are taken. Rep. Chappala Street said the change would help people buy essential items and reduce conflict, while incarcerated witnesses and advocates testified that current deductions leave too little for basic needs and place burdens on families. A committee member questioned whether DOC already provides those items, and Street and supporters responded that provided items are often low quality or insufficient. No vote was taken. House Bill 2490 would expand extraordinary medical placement for incarcerated people with serious, chronic, or terminal conditions, extending the expected life-expectancy threshold from six months to approximately 18 months and adding clearer DOC review criteria and appeal rights. The prime sponsor and supporters argued the bill would improve humane care, reduce costs, and allow more people to receive treatment in the community when they no longer pose a public-safety risk. DOC said the revised language would reduce legal concerns and allow more time to develop safe placement plans, while opponents of the current system said EMP is underused and people die waiting for decisions. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2387, which would tie certain sheriff decertification actions to recall procedures and preserve an elected sheriff’s office unless voters remove them. Supporters, including the sponsor and several sheriffs, said the bill protects voter control and local accountability; opponents, including civil rights and immigrant-rights groups, argued it weakens certification standards, creates unequal accountability for sheriffs, and improperly uses recall-like consequences through statute rather than constitutional process. The chair indicated the committee intended to act on House Bill 2508 the following Monday, February 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, if you took Louisiana's state regulatory code and piled it up, it'd be about the size of 14
• And the result is a dense, costly regulatory code that has accumulated for decades, just gradually building
• But when you and colleagues first started looking at codes in the states, right, this is pre-AI, folks
• state.
• states.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Regulatory Reform met as a study hearing with a quorum present but no plans to take votes. Chair Mark Wright opened by noting a draft resolution on regulatory reform and introducing Patrick McLaughlin of the Hoover Institution and Pacific Legal Foundation, who was invited to discuss his research on state regulatory accumulation and reform. McLaughlin described his method of measuring regulation through counts of binding terms like “shall” and “must,” and said Louisiana ranks among the most regulated states, with about 183,000 restrictions and faster-than-average growth in its regulatory stock. He argued that regulatory accumulation slows GDP growth, raises consumer prices, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and low-income households. McLaughlin pointed to reform models in British Columbia, Idaho, and Virginia, saying those states reduced regulations through centralized oversight, periodic review, simplified benefit-cost analysis, transparency tools, and AI-assisted comparison of rules across states. He said Virginia’s regulatory management office helped cut requirements and guidance, reduce licensing delays, and lower homebuilding costs, while similar reforms in Louisiana could produce significant economic gains. Committee members asked about the reliability of the research, the distinction between necessary and duplicative rules, the role of federal mandates, and how AI could help identify outdated or “gold-plated” regulations. McLaughlin said AI should assist human reviewers, not replace them, and emphasized that agencies need a process for reviewing old rules, not just issuing new ones. Members also discussed Louisiana’s own reform efforts, including LaDOGE, permit streamlining, and prior legislation creating public hearings and committee review of regulations. Chair Wright said he had filed a broader bill this session and was working with the administration on next steps. Representative Walters requested supporting data and examples from other states, and other members asked for practical comparisons, including how regulations affect housing, occupational licensing, and small businesses. The hearing ended without any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you think through your role on the State Bar, Your role on the State Bar—what do you think is
• I guess I should have stated that.
• No, state audit.
• And the state Supreme Court directed the State Bar to return to the traditional in-person format for
• , the State Civil Defense Bar.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules established a quorum and first approved several items without required appearances, including the appointments of Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California, along with references of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard testimony on two State Bar of California appointments requiring appearance: George Cardona, J.D., for Chief Trial Counsel, and Laura Enderton Speed, J.D., for Executive Director. Cardona described his first four years as chief trial counsel, emphasizing reforms after the Girardi matter, including stronger conflict-of-interest and gift rules, tighter trust-account investigations, more data tracking, and efforts to reduce case backlogs and discipline disparities. Senators questioned him about the John Eastman disbarment case, the office’s role and jurisdiction, racial and Latino discipline disparities, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, staffing vacancies, and the use of AI in pleadings and internal work. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 3-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate. Enderton Speed said she sought the executive director role to help restore public trust, strengthen discipline and admissions, and address the February 2025 bar exam problems. Senators asked about the State Bar’s budget deficit, hiring freeze, long-term fiscal stability, the bar exam audit and litigation, safeguards against conflicts and gifts, and the decision to move the February exam largely remote before returning to in-person administration for July. Public witnesses also supported her confirmation, citing leadership, accessibility, and a focus on core functions. The committee voted 5-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The meeting ended with remarks honoring Senator Jones on his final day on the committee and a cake presentation before adjournment to executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:16.640><c> healthcare</c> required for state-based healthcare required for state-based healthcare
• </c> Equity advisor and Leadership Council Equity advisor and Leadership Council which<00:05:09.479><
• </c> thing which I is actually violate state thing which I is actually violate state law<00:48:15.280
• </c><00:52:51.839><c> of</c> across the state of across the state of Minnesota<00:52:54.880><c> thank
• </c><00:57:25.599><c> level</c><00:57:25.839><c> work</c> state agencies and this state level work state

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the parent had only consented to this ICD-10 code, then it becomes an issue if they want to build
• It becomes an issue if they want to build this ICD-10 code even though the care plan that's been consented
• state laws are written where there state state laws are written where there is<00:43:58.079><c> um</
• </c><01:00:23.920><c> I</c> code. Uh thank you for the question. I code.
• This is our state laws. It's state and federal laws.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 34, which would require parental consent for each new service provided to a student through the Medicaid to Schools program and require reports to legislative policy committees. Senator Ruth Ward said the bill was intended to increase transparency, protect parental involvement, and ensure continuity of care, especially for students with disabilities. She also noted a proposed amendment she received shortly before the hearing that would change the bill’s focus from a “new service” to a “new care plan.” Representatives from the New Hampshire Primary Care Association and Amoscake Health testified that they opposed the bill as written but would support it with the amendment. They explained that tying consent to individual diagnosis codes or services could be burdensome, could delay care, and could create compliance problems if a diagnosis changes during a visit. They said the amendment would better align consent with the overall care plan and avoid interrupting treatment mid-appointment. Committee members raised questions about how the bill would interact with IEPs, individualized health plans, homebound services, telehealth, billing, and whether the amendment would still require parental involvement after a care plan changes. The deputy Medicaid director from the Department of Health and Human Services testified that the amendment was more operationally feasible because Medicaid billing involves many ICD-10 codes that can change or overlap, and consent should be tied to the care plan rather than to each code. He said the current law already requires parental consent for participation in the Medicaid to Schools program and annual consent for billing, but the bill would make explicit consent for care-plan changes. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and the committee appeared to continue discussion with DHHS after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• that building more than we see them here in uh in the state than we see them here in uh in the state
• States. States.
• Entering Alabama into the ERIC is currently authorized in state codes. currently authorized in state
• codes. currently authorized in state codes.
• codes and bans it from being used state codes and bans it from being used state codes and bans it from

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My parents came to Washington in search of opportunity, believing this state offered a chance to build
• voters in the state.
• At the state level, the Washington Code of Military Justice establishes similar provisions for the organized
• The bill before you is about aligning our state military code of justice with the federal code, specifically
• The bill before you is about aligning our state military code of justice with the federal code, specifically

Summary: The committee began by suspending the five-day notice rule for Senate Gubernatorial Appointment 9066 and then heard confirmation testimony from Megan Matthews, director of the Washington State Office of Equity. Matthews described the office’s growth, its work with agencies and communities, and efforts on data, contracting, and statewide outreach. Senator Hasegawa raised concerns about the Office of Equity’s relationship to ethnic commissions and whether it should remain internally focused, while other members praised Matthews’ statewide presence. The committee also heard confirmation testimony for Women’s Commission appointees Reedy Miu Kapade and Kiana Daniels, both of whom emphasized their experience serving women and girls and their commitment to the commission’s work; both appointments were noted as coming up for a vote the following week. The committee then heard House Bill 2309, which would prohibit the civil service classification plan from requiring a postgraduate degree as the only way to show qualifications unless required by law. Supporters, including the sponsor, OFM, and public witnesses, said the bill would remove barriers to state employment and broaden applicant pools. House Bill 2249 would add certain Washington Technology Solutions network and security systems employees to civil service coverage; the sponsor said it would resolve a narrow inequity affecting about 20 workers, while WOTEC said it needed flexibility to recruit and retain technical talent and asked to be involved in further changes. Substitute House Bill 2411 would expand shared leave to employees affected by hate crimes or immigration enforcement actions involving themselves or family members; supporters cited a state worker detained at the border and said the bill would help employees through extraordinary hardships, while opponents warned about abuse and objected to extending benefits in immigration-related cases. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1916, dealing with voter registration challenges and list maintenance, drew strong support from voting-rights groups and county election officials who said it would curb mass, bad-faith challenges and protect eligible voters, especially naturalized citizens, students, military members, and voters of color. The Secretary of State’s office and county auditors also raised concerns about ambiguity in parts of the bill, including who may challenge registrations and how deceased voters are removed from the rolls. House Bill 2417 would add a victim’s bill of rights to the Washington Code of Military Justice, aligning state military justice with federal protections; the Military Department and veterans advocates supported it as a consistency and fairness measure. Finally, the committee took executive action on Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541, which changes the membership and selection criteria for the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, and advanced it to the Rules Committee on a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other states, as a response to increasing or addressing the needs in their states, have done so.
• And while this isn't a standard application across all states, each state is looking at the unique needs
• Other states as a response to increasing or addressing the needs in their states have done so.
• And while this isn't a standard application across all states, each state is looking at the unique needs
• Why are we not stating that this is the standard up and down the state? Yeah, yeah.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Celebrate our great state.
• , to revise a code, to revise a code, reference, amending section 67-6533 Idaho Code to revise the reference
• a code reference.
• , and makes a correct code reference in Section 33-1614, Idaho Code.
• Repealing Section 59-391, Idaho Code, relating to the cooperation of the State Insurance Fund.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the March 4, 2026 journal, and received notice of a substitute appointment for Legislative District 32. Much of the day was devoted to Idaho Day ceremonies, including prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, a performance of the national anthem, and remarks honoring Idaho history and former Representative Lyndon Bateman, who was remembered as the founder of Idaho Day and a longtime advocate for cursive, history, and civic education. Guest speakers included historian Justin Vipperman, who spoke about liberty, self-government, and Idaho’s frontier development, and former Attorney General David Leroy, who praised Bateman’s public service and legacy. Members also shared personal tributes before the chamber considered a memorial resolution in Bateman’s honor. The House suspended the rules by a two-thirds vote and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 31, recognizing and commending the lifetime achievements of Lyndon Bateman. The resolution passed 68-0 with two absent and excused, and was sent to the Senate. The chamber also received and referred several Senate messages and committee reports, including bills and resolutions on transportation, agriculture, commerce, state affairs, resources, and other topics. New measures were introduced on issues such as minors and library protections, tax exemptions, stable coins, parental rights and child custody, county fair boards, vehicle license plates, honey industry regulation, and Idaho Digital Learning Academy governance. Several bills and resolutions were placed on the second reading calendar, including measures on elections, environmental quality, hazardous waste, transportation, vehicle titles, industrial hemp, Medicaid managed care, Medicare, and appropriations. House Bill 750 was moved to general orders, and the remaining third-reading bills were held one legislative day. The House also announced committee schedule changes, upcoming events tied to Idaho Day and other advocacy groups, and a reminder about project submissions. The chamber adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, if you took Louisiana's state regulatory code and piled it up, it'd be about the size of 14
• In fact, if you took Louisiana's state regulatory code and piled it up, it'd be about the size of 14
• And the result is a dense, costly regulatory code that has accumulated for decades, just gradually building
• But when you and colleagues first started looking at codes in the states, right, this is pre-AI, folks
• state.

Summary: The Special Committee on Regulatory Reform met to hear from Patrick McLaughlin of the Hoover Institution and Pacific Legal Foundation about regulatory accumulation and reform. Chair Mark Wright explained the meeting was a study hearing only, with no votes planned or quorum for action. McLaughlin described his research measuring regulation by counting binding words such as “shall” and “must,” and said Louisiana ranks among the most regulated states, with about 183,000 restrictions and growth in regulatory stock outpacing the national average. He argued that excessive regulation slows GDP growth, raises consumer prices, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and low-income households. McLaughlin pointed to reform examples in British Columbia, Idaho, and Virginia, where centralized oversight, periodic review, one-in-one-out or similar rules, and simplified benefit-cost analysis were used to reduce regulations without harming safety. He said Virginia’s regulatory modernization effort, including use of AI and a regulatory management office, helped cut requirements and lower homebuilding costs. Committee members asked about how the data were measured, how regulation affects housing, licensing, and population growth, and whether Louisiana could use similar tools. McLaughlin emphasized that AI should assist human reviewers, not replace them, by identifying outdated, duplicative, or overly burdensome rules. Members also discussed Louisiana’s own reform efforts, including LaDOGE, permit streamlining, and prior bills to create public hearings and legislative review of regulations. Wright and others asked about federal mandates, “gold plating” of state rules, and how to identify unnecessary state-level additions. McLaughlin said some state rules are required by federal law, but many others are not, and AI can help distinguish required language from added burdens. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after members expressed interest in following up on McLaughlin’s report and examples from other states.