Video & Transcript : 'outreach' :
Page 53 of 224
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We have a very significant outreach and engagement plan that covers the entire state to let people know
- </c><00:18:46.400><c> and</c> have a very significant outreach and have a very significant outreach and
- Um, and we are also confident that as we continue with our outreach and our engagement plan, more and
- </c><00:26:26.320><c> and</c><00:26:26.640><c> our</c> continue with our outreach and our continue with
- our outreach and our engagement<00:26:27.360><c> plan,</c><00:26:27.840><c> more</c><00:26:28.000><c
Keywords:
virtual power plant, VPP, distributed energy resources, DER, demand response, load management, grid modernization, peak demand, peak shaving, battery storage, energy storage, solar photovoltaic, solar panels, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, heat pumps, aggregator, public utilities commission, PUC, rate recovery
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Feb 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Last, to our understanding, the costs associated with this bill are primarily around the public outreach
- Whole Washington commits to assist you in those public outreach efforts. Thank you. Thank you.
- Members provide crisis services across the state, including mobile crisis outreach, ITA evaluations by
- DCRs, as well as crisis triage Crisis outreach, ITA evaluations by DCRs, as well as crisis triage and
- I'm an outreach specialist, certified peer counselor, clean and sober, and a proud mother.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346.
Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured.
Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Our outreach and instruction librarians provide free, customizable education for ELM and our other digital
- They have an outreach library collection that serves child care and developmental achievement centers
- /c><01:32:16.840><c> they</c><01:32:17.040><c> have</c><01:32:17.480><c> an</c><01:32:17.679><c> Outreach
- </c> up in Fergus Falls they have an Outreach up in Fergus Falls they have an Outreach Library<01:32:
- </c> and they're growing this outreach and they're growing this outreach program<01:32:57.000><c> Cel
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, March 16, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- A proud Davenport native, a player at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Adaptive Sports Center, and a
- A proud Davenport native, a player at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Adaptive Sports Center, and a
- A proud Davenport native, a player at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Adaptive Sports Center, and a
- A proud Davenport native, a player at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Adaptive Sports Center, and a
- </c> behind the Quad City Veterans Outreach behind the Quad City Veterans Outreach Center.<00:27:12.800
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Not in the budget, but we have a bill for an intensive mobile outreach project.
- Program, and that's to expand outreach, education, and one-on-one counseling to Medicare beneficiaries
- </c><02:27:19.520><c> section</c> advocacy education and Outreach section advocacy education and Outreach
- education and 101 counseling to Outreach education and 101 counseling to Medicare Medicare Medicare
- section for the senior Medicare Outreach section for the senior Medicare Patrol<02:27:52.000><c> so<
Summary:
The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years.
For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations.
Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need.
HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- I would like to read a quote from one of the Food Bank's outreach associates... This rule for CFAP.
- I would like to read a quote from one of the Food Bank's outreach associates about their experience guiding
- Mediator Program supports people who are unhoused, justice-impacted, or experiencing crisis through outreach
- Mediator Program supports people who are unhoused, justice impacted, or experiencing crisis through outreach
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Apr 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, Dominguez Hills has successfully re-enrolled hundreds of students through targeted outreach
- And that campus is looking at guaranteed admissions for veterans, doing a lot more military outreach
- campus programs, as well as providing prevention, early intervention, and culturally responsive outreach
- reimbursement right now for administration of CalFresh, and that will impact campuses' ability to do outreach
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines.
CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize.
On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This program helps level the playing field by providing technical assistance, outreach, policy, and ongoing
- playing field by providing technical playing field by providing technical assistance,<00:15:47.920><c> outreach
- ,</c><00:15:48.880><c> policy,</c><00:15:49.519><c> and</c> assistance, outreach, policy, and assistance
- , outreach, policy, and ongoing<00:15:50.320><c> support.
Bills:
SB2064, SB2312, SB2811, SB2662, SB2744, SB2809, SB2862, SB2343, SB2336, SB2075, SB2308, SB2601, SB2397, SB2219, SB2849, SB2449, SB2781
Keywords:
state architect, construction projects, design approvals, building codes, state agency oversight, government contracts, transparency, record retention, public oversight, Hawaii Revised Statutes, building permits, task force, state-owned lands, construction, regulatory process, government accountability, external consultants, procurement reform, cost efficiency, in-house expertise
Summary:
The committee met for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week and took up a series of government operations, procurement, public records, public meetings, and related bills. Several measures were deferred one week to February 12, 2026, including bills on state construction projects, government accountability, gubernatorial appointments, the legislature, public procurement, and a bill on Hawaiian lei sales, largely so the committee could compare similar measures, address concerns, or integrate related reports. The committee also deferred SB 2449 on public meetings for the year, citing concerns that the proposed business-day definition was overly prescriptive and unnecessary.
The committee passed several bills with amendments. These included measures clarifying UIPA applicability to records created or maintained by agencies, with amendments changing “government function” to “agency function” and committee report language noting Attorney General concerns and exempting ERS for now; SB 2811 on state building projects with technical amendments and a delayed effective date; SB 2809 on budget-related reports; SB 2336 on trees, with a Senate draft and removal of “political subdivision”; SB 2308 on small purchase vendor compliance, setting the threshold at $5,000 and adding a delayed effective date; SB 2601 on procurement, reorganizing misdemeanor language and leaving funding/FTE issues to Ways and Means; SB 2219 on a capital visitor center working group; and SB 2849 on public meetings, with technical amendments and a delayed effective date. Bills on neighborhood board concerns and public notice were also adopted, with SB 2929 drawing testimony both for and against.
Testimony was generally supportive on procurement and small business measures, especially SB 2928 establishing permanent small business procurement coordinator positions, which drew strong support from the State Procurement Office, DBEDT, the Chamber of Commerce, DOT, the Ethics Commission, and others. On public notice, the County of Maui supported allowing website posting, while another witness raised concerns about accessibility, centralized notice locations, and impacts on kūpuna and people with disabilities. On search and rescue, the committee heard support for creating a statewide coordination structure, along with discussion of where such an office should reside; the Attorney General raised constitutional and placement concerns, while witnesses suggested law enforcement, DLNR, or DoD as possible homes. The committee also heard support for a bill protecting home addresses of covered public servants and candidates, though the Public First Law Center urged broader coverage and a better fit with existing law.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant Aug 14th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Another area that we've started is community outreach again.
- As I said, we started out as a community outreach place for our citizens, but we just are reinitiating
- So are we outreaching? Are we? Outreaching in Spanish?
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Jul 11th, 2025
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- to hire more staff within my office to do these inspections and to conduct all this education and outreach
- We've had some information and outreach.
- I'm hoping that state government will realize the benefit of supporting this kind of training and outreach
- The workforce, one of the other outreaches that we're doing now, is trying to develop with Workforce
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means Jun 1st, 2025 at 10:00 am
Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- long way toward continuing to advance that and help us stay innovative, help us teach, help us do outreach
- We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences
- We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences
- We have a vision of multiple-use space with lab, classroom, and outreach space, all focused on life sciences
Bills:
SB6, SB62, SB74, SB90, SB104, SB119, SB132, SB133, SB135, SB182, SB185, SB193, SB207, SB217, SB229, SB233, SB260, SB262, SB280, SB281, SB300, SB306, SB378, SB382, SB393, SB403, SB422, SB427, SB431, SB434, SB442, SB452, SB456, SB468, SB472, SB487, SB503, SB6
Keywords:
cloud seeding, Nevada, water conservation, agriculture, Desert Research Institute, victim compensation, hate crimes, property remediation, criminal justice, vulnerable persons, elections, voter registration, mail ballots, candidate eligibility, cybersecurity, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN DEFER, CPN Public Hearings 02-04-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- We're doing a lot of outreach to educate tenants to voice early that there's going to be an issue so
- doing</c><00:15:26.480><c> a</c><00:15:26.600><c> lot</c><00:15:26.720><c> of</c><00:15:26.880><c> Outreach
- </c><00:15:27.399><c> to</c><00:15:27.639><c> educate</c> we're doing a lot of Outreach to educate we're
- doing a lot of Outreach to educate tenants<00:15:29.079><c> to</c><00:15:29.680><c> voice</c><00:15:
Summary:
The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making and hearing sessions on February 4, 2025, covering a range of bills on public funds, cremation contracts, condominium insurance, insurance protections, veterinarians, landlord-tenant issues, agriculture, sex offender licensing restrictions, and service animals. In decision-making, SB 69 on deposits of public funds was passed with a defective effective date, SB 525 on cremation service contracts was deferred for later work on a concurrent resolution, SB 805 on condominium insurance was passed with amendments incorporating Attorney General recommendations, and SB 1141 on insurance protections was passed with amendments expanding the bill to catastrophic disasters and adding insurer response and loss-run reporting requirements. All of those measures were adopted by committee votes, with some members excused.
During the hearing portion, SB 493 on veterinarians drew mixed testimony: state agencies and animal welfare groups supported efforts to create a workforce development fund and scholarship/loan repayment program, while the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association opposed the bill as written, arguing the board lacked capacity to administer the program, suggesting more WICHE funding instead, and objecting to new licensing fees. SB 606 on online business registration received comments from DCCA, SB 822 on landlord-tenant injunctions drew opposition from HPD and comments from the Judiciary, and SB 825 on eviction mediation received broad support from mediation advocates, the Judiciary, and others. Other measures heard included SB 276 on false labeling of Hawaii-grown roasted coffee, SB 1293 on tenant recovery in disaster areas, SB 1369 on solvency reporting for insurers and mutual benefit societies, and SB 1373 on automatic license actions against registered sex offenders, which received support from DCCA and several licensing boards.
The committee also heard SB 1493 on emotional support animals, where the Attorney General raised constitutional and enforcement concerns, while disability advocates and others supported the bill and suggested clearer enforcement and disclosure language. SB 1662 on landlord application fees was also heard with comments from Hawaii Realtors and support testimony from individuals. In the later decision-making session, SB 493 was passed with amendments removing the proposed licensing fees and blanking appropriations, while SB 606 was deferred. SB 822 was passed with amendments adopting Judiciary recommendations, adding a Judiciary-facilitated working group to review the landlord-tenant code, and setting a defective effective date of July 1, 2050.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- I have led research studies that have demonstrated that naloxone distribution, post-overdose outreach
- After all this outreach, we were very gratified to see the results of a Brown University study, which
- Most of my work, I've worked in crisis mental health settings and done street outreach.
- The outreach teams throughout the city have the hardest job, I think, imaginable, trying to get people
- Street outreach teams, that mean they meet the people exactly where they're at.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery held a public hearing on several harm reduction bills, including measures to decriminalize simple possession and paraphernalia, authorize overdose prevention centers, and expand access to naloxone for first responders. Chair Mindy Domb and Senator John Velis opened by describing harm reduction as an evidence-based public health strategy and noting Massachusetts’ recent decline in fatal overdoses. They emphasized that testimony would help shape whether and how the bills advance, and explained the hearing process, including time limits and written testimony.
Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Rep. Kate Donaghue, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Manny Cruz, public health professionals, recovery advocates, and people with lived experience, argued that harm reduction saves lives, reduces stigma, and can connect people to treatment. They supported overdose prevention centers and decriminalization as tools to keep people alive long enough to enter recovery, and several speakers described personal losses to overdose or family experiences with addiction. Some supporters also framed the bills as racial justice measures, arguing that criminal penalties for possession have disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities.
Opponents, including Sen. Nick Collins and several South End residents, argued that overdose prevention centers and decriminalization would worsen public drug use, crime, and neighborhood disorder, especially around Mass and Cass. They said current approaches such as Section 35, diversion, and police leverage into treatment are more effective, and they urged more treatment beds and recovery facilities instead of harm reduction sites. Committee members questioned witnesses about research, local siting, crime data, and the relationship between harm reduction and treatment, and several members said neighborhood impacts must be considered alongside overdose prevention. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing; it continued receiving testimony and announced a later break before resuming on H. 2196 and S. 1393.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
JLCAR Administrative Rules (05/15/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- c><00:48:59.800><c> to</c><00:49:00.400><c> facilities</c><00:49:01.080><c> to</c> team by doing outreach
- to facilities to team by doing outreach to facilities to determine<00:49:01.640><c> if</c><00:49:01.760
- They'll do outreach<00:49:23.080><c> to</c><00:49:23.240><c> homeless</c><00:49:23.560><c> shelters</
- c><00:49:24.000><c> within</c> outreach to homeless shelters within outreach to homeless shelters within
- They'll do outreach to homeless shelters within regions to determine if a person has become homeless
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and consent calendar, then moved through several Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid-related rules. Rule 25-220 from the Department of Energy was postponed until June so stakeholders would have more time to review revised language. Rule 25-240, involving Medicaid income verification and deductible provisions for medically needy applicants, was adopted after staff noted the cited sections had expired but the agency said it had continued operating under federal law and the state plan; the agency also said it had begun rulemaking on the cited provision. Rules 25-265 and 2633 were also adopted, with staff explaining that although parts of the rules had expired, the agency had continued implementing the policies through the Medicaid state plan, billing manuals, and related rules.
The most extended discussion centered on rule 25-304 from the Bureau of Aging and Adult Services, which covers case management services for the CFI program. Staff and the agency explained that the amended conditional approval request clarified how case management agencies indicate staffing capacity, how telehealth decisions are evaluated, and that the department—not the case management agencies—sets the timeline for accepting or denying cases. The agency said the rule is intended to ensure participants are not pushed into telehealth when they do not want it or cannot use it, while leaving technical and clinical telehealth decisions to the provider.
A case management provider testified in opposition to parts of the rule, arguing that the committee should not require agencies to admit unverified patients, that reimbursement-rate issues belong in legislation, that the quality-management section duplicates existing licensure oversight, and that the telehealth language improperly gives case managers authority over how other licensed providers deliver services. Committee members questioned whether the telehealth language was simply allowing case managers to determine whether telehealth fits a person’s care plan, and agency representatives responded that this was the intent. No final vote on rule 25-304 is shown in the transcript excerpt.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, had some outreach from the Minnesota Hospital Association.
- Um<00:59:10.800><c> had</c><00:59:11.040><c> some</c><00:59:11.200><c> outreach</c><00:59:11.640><c>
- from</c><00:59:11.840><c> Minnesota</c> Um had some outreach from Minnesota Um had some outreach from
- the perspective of the PCA and from the recipients of the waste, and it doesn't seem to include outreach
- </c><01:22:02.480><c> to</c> seem to include like doing outreach to seem to include like doing outreach
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Next page is an outreach project.
- </c><00:10:40.080><c> So,</c> Um next page is uh outreach project.
- So, Um next page is uh outreach project.
- Each year we serve thousands of Minnesota students statewide through field trips, outreach, and hands-on
- , and hands-on STEM field trips, outreach, and hands-on STEM learning<00:53:25.680><c> experiences.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/08/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- ours, and it prevents us—if we have to pay it—is going to take away from a lot of our community outreach
- ours, and it prevents us—if we have to pay it—is going to take away from a lot of our community outreach
- ours, and it prevents us—if we have to pay it—is going to take away from a lot of our community outreach
- ours, and it prevents us—if we have to pay it—is going to take away from a lot of our community outreach
- "To pay it is going to take away from a lot of our community outreach activities that we do that benefit
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AGR Public Hearing - Wed Mar 19, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST
Agriculture & Food Systems
Transcript Highlights:
- And then we can do some outreach, and in that time, if there are any other concerns, we can address it
- And then we can do some outreach, and in that time, if there are any other concerns, we can address it
- And then we can do some outreach, and in that time, if there are any other concerns, we can address it
- And then we can do some outreach, and in that time, if there are any other concerns, we can address it
- And then we can do some outreach, and in that time, if there are any other concerns, we can address it
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 1/16/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Administration postsecondary<00:45:17.640><c> access</c><00:45:18.000><c> and</c><00:45:18.400><c> Outreach
- </c><00:45:19.400><c> agency</c> postsecondary access and Outreach agency postsecondary access and Outreach
- They're reporting that they received a grant from the University of Minnesota for community outreach
- University of Minnesota<01:23:08.800><c> for</c><01:23:09.000><c> community</c><01:23:09.360><c> outreach
- </c><01:23:10.120><c> last</c> Minnesota for community outreach last Minnesota for community outreach
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- First, to be taken credibly in our efforts, we needed an unbiased entity to conduct the outreach, collect
- So I think it was important that we relied on an unbiased party to do all of the stakeholder outreach
Summary:
The Senate Agricultural Committee approved the minutes from its February 17 and February 19, 2026 meetings without opposition. The committee then received a presentation from Matt Weaver of the Department of Water Resources and Bryant Keakley of the Langdon Group on a study evaluating a proposed merger of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into the Department of Water Resources. The presenters described a months-long stakeholder process, including interviews, a survey, and a workshop, and said the study recommended the merger proceed with safeguards to preserve the commission’s non-regulatory identity, local relationships, and broader conservation mission.
The recommendations included placing the merged unit within IDWR as a bureau led by a bureau chief selected with commission input, keeping the commission’s board structure and legislative reporting, protecting its budget and branding, and formalizing a partnership framework to avoid enforcement or policy interference. They also said the merger could create administrative efficiencies and some personnel savings, including an estimated immediate savings of about $110,000 from eliminating the administrator position, with additional longer-term savings possible in operations and equipment. Committee members asked about the study’s cost, staffing and supervisory structure, and whether the merger had support; Weaver said the contract cost was about $90,000 total, the House had passed HB 503 67-0, SCR 115 had already been enacted, and most stakeholders supported the proposal, with Idaho Farm Bureau now neutral.
Weaver said the next steps would be to complete the pending legislation, work through the executive agency legislative services process, draft additional statutory changes, and return in 2027 with a combined budget and further legislation. The chair closed the meeting after also giving a brief update on statewide water supply conditions, saying snowpack was around 74% of normal and that many basins were trending below average, though late-season precipitation could still improve conditions.