Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 830 referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.
• Speaker, we are Committee on Health and Welfare report that we've had under this...
• House Bill 830 was referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.
• House Bill 530 by Health and Welfare Committee, relating to insurance.
• And then the other one was on Health and Welfare, was on Medicaid itself.

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and received messages from the governor and Senate. Several committee reports were read, including referrals of newly printed bills and memorials, and the House moved a number of measures to second reading, general orders, or committee calendars. The chamber also advanced multiple bills through first reading and referral, including measures on health insurance prior authorization, budget limits, homestead exemption, Medicaid presumptive eligibility, student enrollment counseling, water districts, and rat control. In Committee of the Whole, members considered House Bill 717 on motor vehicles, Senate Bill 1227 on artificial intelligence in K-12 education, House Bill 668 on child custody interference, House Bill 750 on programmable money, and House Bill 747 on abatement districts. Amendments were adopted to HB 717, HB 1227, HB 668, and HB 750, and the committee reported those bills back without recommendation as amended; HB 530, HB 627, HB 598, and HB 747 were reported as progress. The House adopted the committee report, sending HB 717, HB 668, and HB 750 to engrossing and placing SB 1227 on the first reading calendar. On third reading, House Bill 659 passed 41-27 after extensive debate over requiring local law enforcement agencies to seek ICE 287(g) agreements and whether the bill imposed an unfunded mandate or would improve immigration enforcement and public safety. House Bill 674, dealing with telephone service discontinuance after FCC approval, passed 65-1 with four abstentions. The House also passed HB 566, HB 568, HB 774, SB 1244, and SB 1265, largely as code-cleanup or repeal measures, and held several bills on the calendar until the following Monday. The chamber then began debate on Senate Bill 1331, a 2026 budget rescission bill that would impose across-the-board holdbacks except for certain areas such as K-12, corrections, state police, and Medicaid. Supporters argued it was needed to maintain a structurally balanced budget, preserve fiscal discipline, and set a baseline for later add-backs; opponents said it was an unfunded, blunt cut that would harm vulnerable populations, reduce services, and rely on a process they viewed as constitutionally and practically flawed. Debate continued at length, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This packet includes both the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as well as the State Independent
• Within the Department of Health and Welfare are the following divisions: Youth Safety and Permanency,
• This is related to the Department of Health and Welfare.
• So one of the things that actually is going on is, and Health and Welfare is a different budget than
• Is that all contracts, like everything that Health and Welfare is doing?

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:

• This packet includes both the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as well as the State Independent
• Within the Department of Health and Welfare are the following divisions: Youth Safety and Permanency,
• This is related to the Department of Health and Welfare.
• So one of the things that actually is going on is, and Health and Welfare is a different budget than
• Is that all contracts, like everything that Health and Welfare is doing?

Summary: The committee received an LSO update on the latest green sheet, including the fiscal effects of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Staff then walked through FY 2027 maintenance budgets, explaining how statewide decisions, benefit costs, contract inflation, and cost allocation were built into the numbers. Members also discussed clarifications to the health insurance calculation language and the treatment of certain agency plans, including graduate medical education and the Secretary of State’s cash balance approach. The committee considered and approved maintenance budgets for the legislative branch, public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, the judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government. Several members objected to the across-the-board reductions, arguing they would create long-term costs, harm staffing and services, and shift expenses to other parts of government or to the public. Supporters said the committee needed a target, that the maintenance budgets were structurally balanced, and that further changes could be addressed in the enhancement process. Most budget motions passed on divided votes, and the committee also adopted standard language for each packet. The committee debated several pieces of nonstandard language, including provisions related to budget integrity, reporting requirements for large Health and Welfare acquisitions, a cash transfer for livestock depredation prevention, public defender parking, insurance reimbursement limits, and a proposal to use reserve funds to hold state employee health insurance premiums flat. Some language was adopted by unanimous consent, while the employee premium language prompted extended discussion over which reserve funds could be used and whether the proposal should apply differently to elected officials and other employees. The meeting ended while that issue was still being worked through, with the committee having advanced multiple budget packets and accompanying language to do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 928 will be referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 863 by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating
• But as we went through the years and we gave these rate increases, I would ask Health and Welfare all
• Here, we're putting a piece in place that gets those reports back to Health and Welfare audited.
• One of those was directly on the health welfare issues and went into... ...directly on the health welfare

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the journal, then moved through committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several House bills amended in the Senate were routed back for further action, and a number of new bills were introduced and sent to committee, including measures on kratom, child care, medical education funding, gold and silver investment, campaign finance, stablecoins, and motor vehicle licensing. The chamber also received and processed multiple gubernatorial appointments and enrolled bills. The main floor action focused on a series of appropriation and enhancement bills. Senators debated and passed Senate Bills 1402 through 1409, covering the Department of Juvenile Corrections, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, State Public Defender, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho State Police, and related budget adjustments. Debate centered on whether the enhancement budgets were necessary amid broader rescissions and revenue concerns; supporters emphasized operational needs, replacement items, staffing, and public safety, while some senators objected to new federal funds or to restoring spending after cuts. Most of these bills passed on recorded votes, with a few dissenting votes from senators arguing for deeper reductions. The Senate also passed House Bills 905, 906, 907, 908, 715, 742, and 658. These measures addressed higher education and community college funding, career technical education, military division funding, library board authority in city libraries, electronic vehicle titles, and cemetery district vacancy procedures. Debate on the education bills focused on the impact of budget cuts and whether the one-time restorations were sufficient, while the library bill drew a split between supporters of local elected oversight and opponents who warned against politicizing library decisions. The cemetery district bill was presented as a practical fix for governance failures at Joplin Cemetery and similar districts. In the 10th order, the Senate adopted House Joint Memorials 14, 16, and 13. HJM 14 urged future water storage development, HJM 16 supported seniors and Medicare-related oversight, and HJM 13 asked federal agencies to align waters-of-the-United States policy with the Sackett decision. The Senate then continued with additional third-reading bills, including House Bill 573, as the session moved toward recess and further floor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 928 will be referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 863, by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating
• But as we went through the years and we gave these rate increases, I would ask Health and Welfare all
• We're putting a piece in place that gets those reports back to Health and Welfare audited.
• welfare issues and went into the group to take a look at that, and the gentleman on the second floor

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 494 by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating
• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 531 by the Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating
• House Bill 494 will be referred to the Health and Welfare Committee.
• And House Bill 555 will be referred to the Health and Welfare Committee. Mr. President.
• There are many great projects that we've done in the past on the child welfare system and corrections

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and moved through routine orders and referrals. Senate Resolution 114, concerning review and approval of temporary and pending State Board of Education and Career Technical Education rules, was introduced and sent to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for printing. Committee reports advanced several measures: Senate Bills 1240, 1248, 1249, and 1251 were reported out with recommendations to pass; Senate Bills 1242 and 1243 were also reported out to pass; Senate Bill 1241 was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment; House Joint Memorial 10 was held for one legislative day; and several House bills were received and referred to the appropriate committees. New Senate bills 1269, 1270, and 1271 were introduced and referred for printing, covering cloud seeding, labeling of alternative animal protein products, and rat abatement. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole on Senate Bill 1232, which deals with proceeds derived from criminal notoriety. Senator Nichols presented an amendment clarifying that the chapter applies to proceeds from criminal notoriety regardless of expressive content or medium, and deleting and replacing several definitions; the amendment was adopted after brief discussion. The committee then voted to report the bill back as amended without recommendation, and the Senate adopted that report. Senate Bill 1232 was referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for engrossing, and its amendments were sent there for printing. A special presentation followed from the Idaho State Historical Society in recognition of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, featuring the Declaration of Independence, the Brady Powder Horn, and the Idaho Admission Act. Senators and guests were invited to view the artifacts, and remarks emphasized Idaho’s historical connection to the founding era and statehood. During miscellaneous business, senators announced upcoming research project requests, a church service, and a tribal reception, and the Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Youth, and Families as consistent with, and in compliance with, the state and federal Indian Child Welfare
• Youth, and Families as consistent with, and in compliance with, the state and federal Indian Child Welfare
• these conditions at a shelter care hearing, which, as you know, is the first hearing in these child welfare
• amendment came to us by the tribes, and they just wanted to make sure that state and federal Indian child welfare
• Thank you. ...that state and federal Indian child welfare laws took precedence in looking at all of these

Summary: The House Early Learning & Human Services Committee met in executive session on three bills. House Bill 2200, concerning JLARC review of safety and stability outcomes for DSHS developmental disabilities clients and a DSHS public reporting requirement, was amended with a technical correction (House Amendment 799) and then reported out with a do pass recommendation. Supporters said the substitute shifts from a dashboard to an annual downloadable report, delays the timeline, and asks JLARC to recommend a methodology for future data collection; one member raised concerns about possible stigma and impacts on providers, but the bill passed 9-2. House Bill 2468, which updates DSHS statutory references to reflect agency restructuring and makes related technical changes, was advanced without amendment after the substitute reinstated the Dementia Action Collaborative expiration date and the requirement for two permanent employees to review the no-paid-services caseload. Members described it as a non-substantive cleanup bill to streamline and harmonize agency law. It was reported out unanimously, 11-0. House Bill 2660, authorizing courts to order conditions to keep a child under age five safe in the home after a shelter care hearing, had several proposed amendments withdrawn before action. The remaining amendment, Wickham 848, was adopted; it adds that the conditions must be the least restrictive necessary, reviewed every 30 days, and consistent with state and federal Indian Child Welfare Act requirements. The substitute bill then passed 9-2, with supporters saying it responds to recent critical incidents and opponents noting concerns but acknowledging shared commitment to child safety. The committee then adjourned and noted there would be no meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• for HB 879 by Representatives Rizo and Woodson, young adults who are homeless or were in the child welfare
• us to present PCS for House Bill 879, entitled Young Adults Who Are Homeless or Were in the Child Welfare
• the critical challenges faced by young adults who are homeless or have previously been in the child welfare
• You all, most importantly, we can do what we can to fix the child welfare system in our state.
• Most importantly, we can do what we can to fix the child welfare system in our state.

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum and considered three bills. First, PCS for HB 879 by Representatives Rizo and Woodson would require state colleges and universities to prioritize housing placement for students who are homeless, were in foster care, or are at risk of homelessness, and to give first priority in housing or work-study priority systems to students eligible for child-welfare-related tuition and fee exemptions. Members heard extensive supportive testimony from Florida Youth Shine participants and other advocates describing housing instability after foster care and the importance of campus housing and vouchers for student success. The bill was reported favorably by a 16-0 vote. The committee then heard CS for HB 1113 by Representative Valdes, which would standardize minimum math-content requirements for elementary teacher preparation programs and increase math content in competency-based certification programs. The sponsor cited stagnant Florida math outcomes and a state report finding limited math preparation for elementary teacher candidates. The bill drew support from the Foundation for Florida’s Future and the Florida Chamber of Commerce and was reported favorably by a 15-0 vote. Finally, the committee considered HB 827 by Representative Spencer, directing the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research to conduct a recurring statewide study on the effects of automation and artificial intelligence on Florida’s workforce, including affected industries, at-risk workers, and training needs. Members discussed whether similar data exists in the private sector, the bill’s fiscal impact, and the sponsor’s use of AI tools in preparing remarks. The bill received supportive debate and was reported favorably without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the Committee on Health and Welfare reports that we have had under consideration House Bill
• Ways and Means Committee, regarding judgments and civil actions; House Bill 787, by the Health and Welfare
• House Bill 758 by Health and Welfare Committee regarding daycare licensing.
• House Bill 863 by Health and Welfare Committee regarding Medicaid, Senate Bill 1363 by Finance Committee
• House Health and Welfare Committee will meet Thursday, March 12th, 9:00 a.m., East Wing Room 20, Vander

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate. The Governor reported signing House Bill 624, while the Senate transmitted enrolled Senate Bill 1332 for the Speaker’s signature, sent Senate Bill 1361 to the First Reading Calendar, returned several House bills for enrollment, and reported House Bill 610 had failed in the Senate. Committee reports moved multiple bills forward, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, youth service organizations, agriculture, health and welfare, revenue and taxation, and general government. House Joint Memorial 19, calling for elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, was referred for printing. Several new appropriation and policy bills were introduced and referred, including House Bills 866 through 874 and Senate Bill 1361. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 822, a parental-notification bill concerning minors’ requests related to social or medical transition in schools, child care, and health care settings. Supporters argued it protects parental rights and prevents schools or providers from withholding important information from parents, while opponents said the bill’s definitions were vague, its notification standard was unclear, and the potential penalties—up to $100,000—would chill teachers, coaches, child care workers, and medical providers. Concerns were also raised about committee procedure and the burden on professionals, while supporters responded that the bill only applies when a minor requests help facilitating a transition and that existing processes would prevent the hypothetical problems raised. House Bill 822 passed the House on a 59-9 vote, with two abstentions and two excused, and was sent to the Senate. After passage, the House suspended Rule 27 by a 57-11 vote to prevent a minority report on the bill from being printed in the journal, prompting objections from minority members about procedural fairness. The House then held remaining third-reading bills one legislative day, made announcements, and adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on March 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page four, line four by deleting after the word employee and before the word benefit the word welfare
• On page five, line 16 by deleting after the word employee and before the word benefit the word welfare
• And on page five, line 17 by deleting after the word employee and before the word plan the word welfare
• described what I was trying to do because it's not as what we think in this building as welfare.
• This is just describing someone's actual welfare in their healthcare.

Bills: SB1969 , SB1953 , SB1277 , SB1287 , SB1061 , SB1916 , SB1589 , SB2178 , SB1444 , SB1438 , SB1501 , SB1873 , SB1364

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: massage therapy, licensing, multistate compact, regulation, healthcare, professionals, Employer Health Plan Transparency Act, health insurance, claims data, contract provisions, health care providers, auditable materials, HIPAA compliance, insurance regulation, unemployment benefits, employment security, work search, job search, reemployment, jobless benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 4, line 4, by deleting after the word employee and before the word benefit, the word welfare.
• On page 4, line 4, by deleting after the word employee and before the word benefit, the word welfare.
• On page 5, line 16, by deleting after the word employee and before the word benefit, the word welfare
• described what I was trying to do, because it's not what we think in this building as welfare.
• This is just describing someone's actual welfare in their health care.

Bills: SB1969 , SB1953 , SB1277 , SB1287 , SB1061 , SB1916 , SB1589 , SB2178 , SB1444 , SB1438 , SB1501 , SB1873 , SB1364

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: massage therapy, licensing, multistate compact, regulation, healthcare, professionals, Employer Health Plan Transparency Act, health insurance, claims data, contract provisions, health care providers, auditable materials, HIPAA compliance, insurance regulation, unemployment benefits, employment security, work search, job search, reemployment, jobless benefits

Summary: The Senate Business and Insurance Committee met and first laid over Senate Bills 1969 and 1624 without hearing them. It then considered SB 1953, a health insurance transparency bill requiring third-party administrators to provide employers information on what was spent on employee health benefits; an amendment deleting the word “welfare” was adopted, and the bill passed 7-1. SB 1277, which codifies a three-week work-search requirement for unemployment benefits, passed 8-0. SB 1287, amended to change “may” to “shall,” would bar the Oklahoma Abstractors Board from licensing applicants not legally authorized to work in the U.S.; after questions about the need for the bill and the alleged loophole, it passed 7-2. The committee also passed SB 1061, a cleanup measure on mortgage broker licensing and renewal fees, and SB 1916, which would move the Oklahoma Receivership Office under the Insurance Department and streamline receivership operations. SB 1589, as amended to reference Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorization, would increase penalties for illegal sweepstakes/gambling operations and expand enforcement against entities profiting from illegal gambling; it passed unanimously. SB 2178, a compromise special-event license bill requiring liability insurance coverage, also passed unanimously. Two major insurance reform bills were debated at length and failed. SB 1444 would shift homeowners insurance rate regulation from a use-and-file system to prior filing with authority for the Insurance Commissioner to declare rates excessive; after testimony from a homeowner about a large premium increase and extensive debate over regulation and market effects, it failed 4-5. SB 1438 would require reporting of underwriting gains and profits, cap average profits at 5% over three years, and require rebates or premium credits if profits exceeded that level; supporters argued it would protect consumers, while opponents warned of market disruption and reduced competition. It failed 2-7. The committee then passed SB 1501, clarifying medical marijuana grow reclamation bond requirements, SB 1873, correcting a drafting error in a prior bill and delaying its effective date, and SB 1364, requiring an affidavit of encumbrances before transferring a medical marijuana business license.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we've got members of the Department of Health and Welfare and Medicaid here as well to talk
• The Department of Health and Welfare was talking about one of their options was to end the lease with
• So anyway, back to the Health and Welfare discussions.
• To date, I think where we're at with Health and Welfare is when we were looking at moving their Westgate
• To date, we, I think where we're out with health and welfare is when we were looking at moving their

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations for the Department of Administration and the Permanent Building Fund. For Administration, analysts reviewed the agency’s divisions, staffing, dedicated-fund structure, recent budget growth, and the governor’s and JFAC’s recommended changes. The department requested shifts of utility costs from the general fund to dedicated funds, three new positions and funding for Medicaid procurement and contract management, transfers of some positions between divisions, and one-time IT replacement funding. Members also discussed office-space utilization, vacant buildings and land at Chinden and elsewhere, and the department’s efforts to consolidate space and reduce general fund reliance. Director Bailey said the department has reduced or repurposed positions, closed duplicate printing operations, is exploring digital workflows and AI tools, and is trying to move toward a fully dedicated-fund model. He also explained the decision to remove GLP-1 weight-loss coverage from the state health plan due to rapidly rising costs, while noting diabetes coverage remains in place. Committee members questioned the need for higher-level procurement staff for Medicaid contracts, the role of Deloitte and the Department of Health and Welfare in the process, and the status of the MMIS procurement, which Bailey said is currently stayed by the courts after a legal challenge from the second-place vendor. He said the delay will affect MMIS implementation and, in turn, the timing of the broader managed care rollout. Members also asked about vacant state office space, the possible sale of older buildings, and whether agencies such as ITD and Health and Welfare could be moved into state-owned space to reduce lease costs. Bailey said the department is actively working on those facility-planning questions and that agencies at Chinden are paying rent for occupied space. The committee then reviewed the Permanent Building Fund budget, which finances state construction, repairs, and deferred maintenance through dedicated revenue sources and interest earnings. Analysts highlighted the fund’s multi-year project structure, the large deferred maintenance program funded in prior years, and a proposed one-time transfer of $33.75 million in canceled capital project balances to the general fund. They also described a possible redirection of fiscal year 2027 interest earnings to the general fund and a recommended new capital project for an Idaho National Guard readiness center. Administrator Barard reported that the Division of Public Works is managing 595 active projects, with most FY 2025 projects under construction, in design, or complete, and said the division continues to face labor shortages and rising construction costs. Members asked about canceled projects, including the North Idaho reentry center, the Carnegie Library purchase, the ISU pedestrian crossing, the Idaho State Police Lewiston facility, and other projects; staff said some are unlikely to return soon, while others may come back once land or other prerequisites are secured. The committee concluded the hearing and announced it would meet the next day for the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of the State Public Defender.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd like to welcome everyone to the April 23rd meeting of the House Committee on Health and Welfare.
• It's not a matter of child welfare.
• So we do oppose that being included or lumped in as a matter of child welfare.
• There is also an exemption for the child welfare laws of this state to these provisions.
• Representative Chassion said he would not debate the money and would stick to health and welfare.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 and first disposed of several items without hearing them, including HB 1093 and HB 1145, and voluntarily deferring HB 946. The committee then quickly reported HB 1095 favorably without objection. That bill would require nursing facilities to have fuel or another alternative power generation source to maintain power, and supporters said it preserves existing backup-power safety requirements while giving facilities more flexibility as technology changes. The committee then took up HB 926, which concerns vaccination status and admission to public buildings and seeks to prohibit medical mandates. After adopting an amendment set and additional changes clarifying exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities, medical masks, and child welfare/school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters framed it as a civil-liberties measure limiting vaccine-card requirements for public buildings, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures, school immunization rules, and the ability of health care facilities to protect patients. The bill was reported favorably on an 8-4 vote. HB 1220, a cleanup bill for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was then reported favorably after a technical amendment set. HB 1227, which would require complaints involving medical judgment to be reviewed by a three-physician panel before formal disciplinary action, drew extensive testimony from a physician sponsor, a doctor describing his disciplinary experience, and the board’s executive director, who said the board already uses practicing physicians, nurses, and experts in its process and warned the proposed panel system could be impractical because physicians are difficult to recruit for such reviews. At the sponsor’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 1227 for further work. Finally, the committee reported HB 1217 favorably with amendments to a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill, after supporters said it would expose hidden pricing and rebate practices and opponents argued some provisions were duplicative or unnecessary. HB 1028, setting minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation, was reported favorably and referred to Appropriations after supporters described the need for higher rates and members discussed funding. The committee also reported HB 1185 favorably, with amendments preserving the existing Rural Hospital Preservation Act while extending similar protections to additional rural-lookalike hospitals, and adopted HCR 76 to continue the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force for another year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill No. 1313 by Health and Welfare Committee, an act relating to naturopathic doctor licensing
• Senate Bill 1265 by the Health and Welfare Committee, relating to the Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund
• House Concurrent Resolution 30 by the Health and Welfare Committee, relating to comprehensive Medicaid
• House Joint Memorial 16 by the Health and Welfare Committee, relating to Medicare.
• Senate Bill 1265 by Health and Welfare Committee relating to the Petroleum, Clean Water Trust Fund Act

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:

• You know, Florida is a little unique in the sense of how we're set up for child welfare services.
• This injected another $150 million into the child welfare system, really to help right-size some CBCs
• challenges with these historical funding models, especially with the dynamic nature of the child welfare
• Historically, funding has been in different buckets for the child welfare system.
• away with that for the most part and says we want to utilize the totality of funding for the child welfare

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of 8:30 having arrived, we will call the House Health and Welfare Committee to order.
• Chairman, members of the Health and Welfare Committee.
• , which is really your child welfare and foster care issues.
• That rule made it a decision of Health and Welfare and a program manager.
• I had a traumatic incident happen during a visit at the Department of Health and Welfare.

Summary: The committee approved the March 3 and March 10 minutes, then introduced RS 33592C1, a proposal for a state pilot program to study psychedelic substances for PTSD and traumatic brain injury, with the sponsor saying no state funding was requested. The committee also heard and advanced Senate Bill 1255, which would add tribal health care facilities and tribal police officers to Idaho’s involuntary commitment process so tribal members in mental health crises can be evaluated and held more quickly; tribal representatives and the sponsor said it would improve coordination without changing state funding or the underlying commitment standards. The bill was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1257 on foster care visitation and permanency. The bill would clarify that visitation can include in-person, video, phone, and written contact, limit in-person visitation after substantiated serious physical or sexual abuse unless a court finds it is in the child’s best interest, and allow courts to consider a parent’s likely long-term incarceration when deciding permanency and termination. Department officials, foster parents, adoptees, and child welfare advocates testified that the bill would protect children from re-traumatization and give courts clearer statutory guidance. Some members raised due process and parental-rights concerns, arguing the bill could expand agency power or reduce protections, but after a failed motion to hold the bill in committee, the committee approved it on a roll call vote and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also resumed testimony on House Bill 808, which would expand the Medical Freedom Act. County, hospital, city, business, and public health witnesses opposed the bill, saying it would create conflicts with federal health and accreditation rules, weaken school and child care immunization protections, reduce the usefulness of the IRIS immunization registry, and interfere with employer and public-safety decisions. Supporters argued the bill would strengthen bodily autonomy and parental choice and reduce coercion around vaccines. The sponsor closed by saying the bill was about protecting private medical decisions, but no final action on HB 808 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today I have signed landmark bipartisan welfare reform bill.
• The act honors my basic principles of real welfare reform.
• It requires work of welfare recipients, limits the time they can stay on welfare, and provides support
• to help families move from welfare to work.
• The Congress and I are near agreement on sweeping welfare reform.

Bills: HB2010 , HB2192 , HB2199 , HB2279 , HB2310 , HB2459 , HB2501 , HB2555 , HB2690 , HB2693

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: digital goods, advertising, ownership, license, consumer protection, refund policies, streaming services, minors, content creators, online platforms, compensation, trust accounts, child protection, video content, privacy, employment, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, landlord tenant laws, tenant rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Carlos Marquez, on behalf of the County Welfare Directors Association.
• As a result, their hardest-to-reach segment of their CalWORKs caseload, 45% of welfare-to-work clients
• And in CalWORKs, improved OCAT appraisal timeliness from 11% to 20% with 16 new welfare-to-work staff
• OCAT appraisal timeliness from 11% to 20% with 16 new welfare-to-work staff.
• And then I'll turn it over to my colleague to speak about the child welfare investments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of nine o'clock having arrived, we are called the House Health and Welfare Committee to order
• I'm the Medicaid administrator, also deputy director at the Department of Health and Welfare.
• Department of Health and Welfare.
• been anxiously engaged with the daycare legislation, and there were two things that the Health and Welfare
• But the service is still a business, and even though Health and Welfare likes these changes, I don't

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of nine o'clock having arrived, we'll call the House Health and Welfare Committee to order.
• So, just as background, cottage food operations, as defined by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
• The other thing is that Health and Welfare does not even keep the records.
• The other thing is that the health and welfare does not even keep the records.
• I know I've been digging into a lot of the budgets and had many conversations with Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee convened with a quorum, approved the January 19 and January 20, 2026 minutes, and adjusted its agenda to account for absent members. The committee then introduced several RSs, including RS 3305 on cottage food operations, which would allow certain small-scale entrepreneurs to test refrigerated or frozen foods under a $5,000 threshold without full commercial-kitchen regulation. Members also introduced RS 32945, which would allow directed blood donation, and RS 32947, which would require providers to disclose cash and insurance prices for procedures and let patients choose the cash price while applying it toward deductibles. Committee members raised questions about how the pricing proposal would interact with payer-provider contracts and whether patients would have cash available, but the RS was still introduced. The committee also introduced RS 33015, updating Idaho law on epinephrine delivery systems so school-related self-administration or administration with parental permission would cover both EpiPens and newer single-dose nasal spray options. RS 32948, the oral parity proposal, was introduced after a brief numbering correction; it would address anti-cancer oral medications so patients are not required to pay the full deductible up front for pill forms when comparable IV treatments can be paid over time. Representative Bruce said the goal was to align coverage treatment between oral and intravenous cancer drugs. Finally, the committee heard RS 32915, which would repeal the Yellow Dot Program. Representative Scott said the program, created in 2020, is little used, costs the state money, and is outdated by newer technology and other ways to alert EMS to medical conditions. Members asked about the Senate’s prior inaction and the program’s cost, and the RS was introduced. The chair then shifted to committee business, noting that rules review would begin the next day and likely take several meetings, and asking members to submit budget recommendations by the beginning of the next week. The committee also discussed expectations for members to present RSs once they become bills, and the meeting adjourned without further action.