Transcript Highlights:

• continue to operate and maintain the Cloquet Forestry Center grounds for research, education, and outreach
• Center grounds for<00:17:50.679><c> research</c><00:17:51.440><c> education</c><00:17:52.559><c> Outreach
• </c><00:17:53.919><c> purposes</c> for research education Outreach purposes for research education Outreach
• Almost a year ago today, I testified in this body, and since that time there's been zero outreach on
• Almost a year ago today, I testified in this body, and since that time there's been zero outreach on

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: House Finance Division III convened a work session on the DHHS budget, with the chair noting there would be no votes and that the committee would spend the day hearing from the commissioner’s office. Nathan White, DHHS Chief Financial Officer, opened with the Division of Finance/Office of Business Operations, explaining that the unit supports the department through daily financial management, AP/AR, audit work, expense projections, transfers, and procurement functions such as contracts, amendments, RFPs/RFAs, and grants management. He also described the division’s revenue and reporting work, including federal draws, CMS-64 reporting, and the public assistance cost allocation plan, and said the department had centralized rate-setting work and a small team handling Medicaid rate analysis and nursing facility rebase work. Members asked about vacancies, turnover, and budget changes. White said the division had 18 positions unfunded in the governor’s budget, reducing personal services from about $10.8 million to $9.9 million, and estimated the division’s vacancy rate at about 11 percent, below the department average. He said turnover was relatively low, with one retirement at the manager level and higher turnover mainly at lower AP-level positions. He also explained that some budget lines reflected reallocations rather than new spending, including fringe benefits centralized elsewhere and an EBT card contract moved into this unit because the staff member overseeing it works in Finance. When asked about a rent/lease increase, he said it was due to higher copier leasing costs under a statewide DAS contract. White highlighted several management and technology improvements. He said a business intelligence tool procured in 2022, using Salesforce and Excel-based data, helped DHHS better track federal revenue and maintenance-of-effort spending, reducing FY24 General Fund lapse by about 70 percent and federal/other revenue lapse by 88 percent compared with FY23; he warned that the tool is not funded in the current budget. He also described Lean Six Sigma efforts in the contracts team, training for vendors and nonprofits on procurement and indirect cost rules, and a Finance Academy to standardize policies and procedures. On the contracts side, he said the department uses Smartsheet for project management and DocuSign for electronic signatures, which cut contract execution time dramatically, but noted DocuSign is also not funded in the governor’s budget. The session ended as the committee prepared to move on to the Employee Assistance Program presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• States can also focus on beneficiary communication and outreach either through benefits navigators or
• States can also focus on beneficiary communication and outreach either through benefits navigators or
• </c><00:18:32.559><c> either</c> communication and outreach either communication and outreach either
• Um, but it is, I think it's an opportunity for us, um, outreach to applicable individuals starting on
• Um, but it is, I think it's an opportunity for us, um, outreach to applicable individuals starting on

Bills: HF3439, HF3763

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MNsure, MinnesotaCare, disability determination, expedited eligibility, state medical review team, compassionate allowance, rare disease, home and community-based services, long-term care, managed care, county-based purchasing, eligibility redetermination, periodic data matching, death master file, Social Security Administration, program integrity, income eligibility, asset test

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Some of that, yes, for the bill tracking, but it also goes into outreach materials, developing and
• executing websites, communications plans to be able to not ... >> Outreaching and communicating what
• </c> but it also goes into um outreach but it also goes into um outreach materials, developing<01:25:
• </c><01:25:16.159><c> um</c> &gt;&gt; outreaching and communicating what?
• um &gt;&gt; outreaching and communicating what?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:08:29.440><c> Grazing</c> Research and Outreach Station.
• Grazing Research and Outreach Station.
• 01:20:03.199><c> and</c> Minnesota West Central Research and Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach
• So I really appreciate Outreach Center.
• ><c> two</c> It's a really key part of the research we're doing at the West Central Research and Outreach

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that our agencies work really hard on the education and outreach and want people to do the right
• vital opportunity for opportunity youth across the state, offering paid work experience, school outreach
• paid work the state, offering paid work experience,<00:59:50.000><c> school</c><00:59:50.319><c> outreach
• ,</c><00:59:51.040><c> and</c> experience, school outreach, and experience, school outreach, and hands-on
• um both John and his amount of outreach um both John and his team<01:19:02.000><c> as</c><01:19:02.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• renewable hydrogen ammonia research lead at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach
• renewable hydrogen ammonia research lead at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach
• renewable hydrogen ammonia research lead at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach
• renewable hydrogen ammonia research lead at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach
• mechanical engineering into the applied work that we do in Morris at the West Central Research and Outreach

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, my name is Sydney Hassad, and I'm an outreach coordinator and program facilitator at Change the
• I'm</c><01:19:17.600><c> an</c> name is Sydney hassad and I'm an name is Sydney hassad and I'm an Outreach
• and program Outreach coordinator and program facilitator<01:19:20.159><c> at</c><01:19:20.320><c> change
• of coming down but that's not because of intervention<01:25:20.440><c> and</c><01:25:20.600><c> Outreach
• and Outreach it's because of<01:25:21.600><c> Narcan</c><01:25:22.440><c> you</c><01:25:22.560><c> know

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Outreach I would note that you know um Outreach I would note that you know um the<00:39:18.200><c> the
• to try to advance education or Outreach to try to advance a<00:39:22.800><c> new</c><00:39:23.160><c
• We're really working on education and outreach. We're not out there.
• as there certainly have we our ability in the department to spend a lot of time and resources on outreach
• :21.599><c> on</c> to spend a lot of time in resources on to spend a lot of time in resources on Outreach

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• doesn't necessarily have to do with the committee here, but we talked about it yesterday, was just outreach
• But yes, there's a lot of outreach that we need to do.
• And then Senator Blaylock brought up earlier outreach.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee approved the minutes from its May 28 meeting and received an update from DHW Director Juliet Sharon on the status of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Sharon said the department has posted a public funding-opportunities page with a subscribe feature, is using an expedited committee review process for solicitations and subgrant opportunities, and plans to provide monthly summaries, award information, and federal progress reports. Members asked for clearer access to information on applicants and awards, and Sharon said the department is open to posting more complete listings in SharePoint and to simplifying provider-facing applications. The committee also discussed outreach to rural providers and the need to ensure smaller organizations know about opportunities and can apply within the short timelines. The committee then heard from the Idaho Military Division on its portion of the program. Bureau Chief Wayne Denny said the division is working with DHW on modernizing state communications and emergency systems, including next-generation 911, relocating backup communications infrastructure, coordinating exercises, and supporting rural health extenders such as community health workers and community health EMS providers. Members asked how those roles would function, how counties would participate, and how the work would be sustained after the five-year funding period; Denny said the goal is to demonstrate return on investment so counties and payers can support the services long term. Jennifer White of the State Board of Education described higher education and graduate medical education proposals. She said Idaho’s institutions are coordinating on statewide strategies for rural health workforce training, including mobile simulation, shared clinical infrastructure, learn-in-place programs, and targeted equipment and facilities. She also outlined GME and medical education options, including a strategic rural GME incubator, a rural training site network, and possible support for undergraduate medical education such as expanded seats or the University of Idaho–University of Utah partnership. Members debated sustainability and whether rural health funds should support only GME or broader medical education; some supported using the funds to build Idaho-based training capacity, while others cautioned against creating long-term state obligations without broader legislative approval. No formal votes were taken on those policy questions. In closing, Sharon said the department expects more provider subgrants, ongoing assessments, the first federal reporting deadline at the end of August, and the creation of a governor-appointed rural health transformation task force with legislative and rural representation. The committee tentatively scheduled an additional meeting for August 18 and discussed a later September meeting, likely around September 23-25, to review the federal report and any emerging issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Massachusetts, and I am a long-standing executive director of an outreach center in Massachusetts.
• I’m not asking for an outreach center to be given thousands of dollars so I can provide the services
• Nine outreach centers in the state.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-26 session on recognitions, definitions, and designations related to veterans. Chairs John Velis and Joseph McGonagle opened the hybrid hearing with housekeeping rules and noted the committee’s reporting deadlines. The hearing focused on several bills honoring veterans and military-related service, including H. 3825 to include reserve components in flag half-staff recognition for service members killed in action, S. 2499 to place a State House marker honoring three Medal of Honor recipients from the war on terror, S. 2498 to add Merchant Marine recognition at veterans cemeteries and the State House and create a Massachusetts merchant mariner medal, and H. 2500/S. 2500 to have Massachusetts fly the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and fallen service members. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 3871 and S. 2467, which would update the Commonwealth’s definition of “veteran.” Testimony came from the Office of Veterans Services, veterans organizations, Public Health Service and NOAA representatives, National Guard and Reserve veterans, and Gold Star advocates. Witnesses argued the current state definition is inconsistent with federal law and excludes some service members who should be recognized, especially members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, reservists, and some National Guard members. Supporters said the bills would improve fairness, consistency, and access to benefits and services, while several speakers emphasized that service in uniform should be honored regardless of branch. Some testimony also urged a broader moral recognition of all who raised their right hand, while others focused on aligning state law with federal definitions and closing gaps in eligibility. Committee members asked questions about the practical and fiscal effects of broadening the definition, including how the proposed language would interact with existing federal standards and state benefit programs. Witnesses explained that the bills would remove the current 180-day and 90-day active-service calculations and instead recognize certain active service and six-year reserve or Guard commitments, though some members noted that this could create a broader state standard than the federal one. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee concluded after hearing from the final witness and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• average, and the 45-day window period may bring... ...and the 45-day window period may require greater outreach
• election officials to include information about these voting options in their voter education and outreach
• election officials to include information about these voting options in their voter education and outreach

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• come at huge expense and do not address the measures that could keep people safer: expanding peer outreach
• come at huge expense and do not address the measures that could keep people safer, expanding peer outreach
• programs, evidence-based overdose prevention education, not ...keep people safer: expanding peer outreach

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is really to help bolster our work to outreach to get, to make sure that kin are aware of
• In part, it is outreaching to make sure that families know they can serve as a foster care parent if
• But it's also to do additional outreach and support when we have placed with kin to make sure that kin

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 5, 2026 minutes and then heard a lengthy budget presentation from Department of Health and Welfare Director Sharon and Medicaid Director Sasha O’Connell. The department reviewed a large number of supplemental and line-item requests across Medicaid, child and family services, welfare/self-reliance, and indirect support services, including funding for state hospital Medicaid billing authority, Medicaid caseload and cost growth, rural health transformation staffing and implementation, child care program integrity and capacity, kinship navigation, home visiting, and IT/procurement modernization. The committee also discussed ongoing litigation affecting Medicaid procurement timelines, the move to centralized IT services, and the department’s request for additional procurement staff to help manage complex Medicaid contracts. A major portion of the hearing focused on Medicaid spending growth and the department’s response to the governor’s 4% provider rate reduction. The director said growth is being driven largely by higher utilization and intensity of services in behavioral health and disability/home-and-community-based services, including residential habilitation and residential treatment, and noted the department has identified some provider behavior concerns and referred cases to program integrity. Members asked about safeguards, assessments, and whether the department could absorb the outside contractor used for disability assessments; the director said state staffing would be too costly and the contractor should remain in place. The committee also discussed the department’s request for an additional $22 million in general funds to balance Medicaid, with the director emphasizing that the department had already taken the reductions and rescissions available to it. Other discussion covered child welfare placements, including a request for transfer authority to pay for youth served at Southwest Idaho Treatment Center when no other safe placement exists, and a request to continue paused child care capacity funds while the department completes a 360-degree review of child care providers. In welfare/self-reliance, the department outlined new costs from federal changes to SNAP administration, Medicaid expansion work requirements, and more frequent eligibility redeterminations, along with a reduction in aged, blind, and disabled funding that the department said it has routinely been able to revert. The committee did not take action on the budget items during this hearing and adjourned to the floor after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where all of our community outreach is targeted.
• Chair, Representative. that's where all of our community outreach is targeted at.
• those customers, and then the programs are put together from the utility through a lot of community outreach

Summary: The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee met on February 5 and heard three measures. House Bill 246 would provide state matching funds for local governments already approved for federal flood mitigation assistance to buy out and rehabilitate floodplain properties, especially in Lincoln County, to reduce repetitive flood damage and restore land to a more natural floodplain. Supporters included county officials, emergency management, and a racetrack lobbyist, all emphasizing public safety, reduced disaster costs, and community recovery. Some members raised concerns about pre-flood property valuation and anti-donation issues, but the bill passed on a do-pass motion. House Bill 271 would appropriate funds through the Office of Natural Resources Trustee for natural resource recovery and public land access, including disaster recovery projects and expansion of recreational opportunities. Supporters argued it would help restore watersheds, improve access to public lands, and support hunting, fishing, and local outdoor economies. Several members questioned whether the bill was too open-ended, whether it could affect grazing or other existing rights, and why the trustee’s office was the right vehicle; the sponsor and trustee said the office has a transparent public process and that the bill would not create new eminent domain authority or adverse changes to existing rights. The committee approved the bill 9-1, with one member explaining support but noting lingering concerns. House Bill 254 would allow investor-owned electric utilities to count avoided greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency programs under the utility cost test. The sponsor and utility witnesses said this would help expand programs such as heat pumps, HVAC upgrades, and all-electric development, while opponents worried it could function as a rate increase or “double dipping” because customers already pay fees supporting efficiency programs. The committee passed the bill 7-3. Finally, House Joint Memorial 3 would ask the Environment Department to study PFAS exemptions and report back during the interim as rulemaking on the PFAS Protection Act proceeds. The memorial drew both support and opposition, with critics saying it conflicted with existing statute and was unnecessary, while supporters said it would ensure a thorough review of federal changes and consumer-product exemptions. The memorial passed 8-2, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Others do some outreach into the community in ways of just advertising that they exist.
• Others do some, you know, actually outreach into the community in ways of, you know, just advertising
• I'm also the Executive Director of Simply Hope Family Outreach in Burley.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on possible uses of temporary Millennium Fund dollars for youth- and family-focused prevention programs. Members first approved the prior meeting minutes, then heard from the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, which requested $682,000 for mid-sized grants to community organizations for child abuse prevention, parenting support, family resource centers, and school-based programs. The presenter emphasized the link between adverse childhood experiences and later substance use, and described the fund’s statewide grant-making process and current projects. Committee members asked about grant selection, funding sources, and how families are identified for services. The committee also heard from Children’s Bridge, which requested $3.5 million over four years to build a shared-services infrastructure for child care providers. The proposal focused on helping providers stabilize their businesses through software, coaching, shared purchasing, bookkeeping, and access to benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The presenter argued that child care is part of Idaho’s prevention infrastructure and said the model would transition toward earned income and employer support over time. Members asked about similar programs, infrastructure, and how the model would be sustained after 2029. Idaho Safety Assessment Centers requested $1 million to support 12 youth assessment centers that divert youth from court, ERs, and school discipline into screening, counseling, and family support. The presenter cited individual success stories and said the centers served more than 12,000 youth in a year, with an estimated return of more than $3 in benefits for every dollar invested. The committee also heard from the Idaho Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, which requested $3 million in one-time bridge funding for 10 centers that conduct forensic interviews and coordinate child abuse investigations; members asked about coordination with state agencies and sustainability. Ross Edmunds of the Department of Health and Welfare requested $150,000 for a 10th recovery community center in Kamiah, explaining that the department already oversees nine centers through quarterly payments and reporting requirements. Finally, Representative Jordan Redman proposed a $5 million statewide drug-use awareness campaign using research, surveys, and targeted media buys; he said the campaign would be evaluated through impressions, reach, and frequency. No decisions were made, and the chair said the committee would return later to continue reviewing the requests, noting the fund is one-time money and that the governor’s recommendations and a $25 million request reduce the amount available.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2572 deals with voting access and outreach to tribal nations.
• but I would say we're mostly in favor of the bill, especially the particular parts about tribal outreach
• and I think, in the last day or two, extended an offer to hire someone who is going to be a tribal outreach

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2356 would let a homicide victim’s next of kin seek a court injunction to block examination of law enforcement records in homicide cases; staff explained current Public Records Act rules, the sponsor said the bill was intended to protect families and children after especially graphic cases, and open-government testimony opposed the measure as an unnecessary secrecy expansion. HB 2460 and HJR 4212 would change vacancy-filling rules for partisan offices so an appointee must be from the same party only if the former officeholder had declared a party preference; the sponsor said this would address vacancies involving no-party-preference officials and avoid delays or litigation. HB 2631 would create a pilot to extend the governor’s customer-experience initiative to the Secretary of State, Fish and Wildlife, and the Insurance Commissioner, with deadlines for liaisons, metrics, reports, and service-improvement plans; the sponsor and supporters emphasized better service and accessibility, while agency representatives raised concerns about cost, autonomy, and whether participation should be optional. HB 2574 would streamline procedures when a candidate dies before or after ballots are printed, allowing removal from ballots or noncounting of votes based on a death certificate; the sponsor said it would avoid unnecessary recounts and costs. HB 2572 would require county-tribal election meetings and create an electronic ballot return portal for certain voters, including tribal voters on reservations, military and overseas voters, and voters with disabilities; county auditors and election officials supported the tribal outreach and access goals but stressed the need for security testing and careful implementation of the portal. In executive session, the committee considered five bills and adopted amendments on two of them. For HB 2333, which addresses protections against political violence for elected officials, candidates, election officials, and criminal justice participants, the committee adopted amendment Omley 307 to allow P.O. boxes or ACP addresses in campaign-related filings and contributions, then advanced the substitute bill on a 4-3 vote. HB 2462, concerning authority to counter unpiloted aircraft systems, was advanced 5-2. HB 2419, which expands the address confidentiality program to certain administrative law judges and Office of Administrative Hearings employees, was amended to include the chief administrative law judge and then advanced 5-2. HB 2176, exempting collaborative drug therapy agreement information from the Public Records Act, advanced 4-3 after debate over privacy versus transparency. HB 2491, exempting personal information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for digital experience platform services, also advanced 5-2. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• through a really cool project—taking a human-centered approach to improve our program documents and outreach
• Just to highlight a few of our accomplishments, our team heavily focused on proactive outreach, education
• These are for about half an FTE to run the program, conduct outreach, and do rulemaking.

Bills: HB2330, HB2338

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2229 is reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and we will do some more outreach
• Bill 2-2-29 is reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, and we will do some more outreach
• Do some more outreach on that bill and hope to get to a bigger consensus.

Bills: HB2128, HB2207, HB1701, HB2536, HB2476, HB2294, HB2229

Keywords: alcohol service, sports facilities, amusement venues, recreational activities, patron engagement, alcohol warehousing, regulation, liquor distribution, storage standards, state laws, liquor licenses, multiple premises, alcohol distribution, commercial leasing, regulatory reform, winery, restaurant license, alcohol, spirits, beer

Transcript Highlights:

• populations, actions necessary to establish partnerships with federally recognized Indian tribes, and outreach
• There are education outreach components in the bill, and so we'd like to see those maintained because
• we think that risk communication and that outreach is really, really important.

Bills: HB2267, HB2183, HB2174, HB1529

Keywords: urban forestry, local government, environmental policy, tree management, community planning, heat response, counties, public health, emergency management, climate action, crash prevention, traffic safety, roadside regulations, emergency zones, public safety, state legislation, infrastructure, county resources, road construction, maintenance