Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jay Lee at Lake Washington High School, and I'm speaking in support of House Bill 2521.
• My name is Andre Ferreira, and I am a student at Lake Washington High School speaking on my own behalf
• We're excited to announce that 12 will have a ribbon cutting and a first flight for their Moses Lake
• I'm Deputy Mayor Don Myers from the city of Moses Lake.
• My name is John Holman, Superintendent of the Lake Washington School District.

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Kaweah Lake to ostensibly fight Southern California wildfires.
• Patrice Miller tragically died in '23 north of Lake Tahoe, with the local sheriff noting at the time
• Scott By Live, in South Lake Tahoe, I oppose. Caitlin Birch, opposed.
• Lake Tahoe Basin biologists, I get a phone call in February.
• Clean Water Action, Mono Lake Committee. I mean, we welcome any more comments. Thank you so much.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of water, parks, transportation, species protection, and fisheries bills. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to publish an economic and environmental impact study when emergency water regulations are extended over multiple years; the author and supporters from agricultural and water groups said it would add transparency without limiting emergency authority. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption to let county park agencies open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters emphasizing access to nature and opponents warning about impacts to sensitive habitat, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fines; supporters said it would protect vulnerable communities and wetlands, while farm and water coalition opponents argued it would undermine basin-wide groundwater management and shift burdens to other users. AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, drew broad support and passed unanimously. The committee also heard AB 514, which would encourage local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought and service interruptions; it passed with broad support, though one member cautioned against using scientific research as a loophole. AB 550 would let developers seek incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; environmental groups supported the goal but asked for clearer standards, limits on using research as mitigation, and a fee provision, and the bill passed as amended. AB 697 would authorize an incidental take permit for the State Route 37 interim project in Solano and Marin counties, balancing congestion relief and habitat restoration; supporters stressed long commutes and urgent restoration deadlines, while opponents raised climate, sea-level-rise, and tribal concerns. The bill passed, with some members noting they would continue to work on the measure. Other measures discussed included AB 975, which would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts; county officials described repeated flood damage and long permitting delays, and the bill passed as amended. AB 1056 would phase out transferability of set gillnet permits after 2027, allowing only a final family transfer; supporters framed it as a gradual response to bycatch concerns, while fishing industry opponents said it would unfairly target an existing fishery and set a bad precedent. The committee also took up AB 1146, described by the author as a response to politically motivated water releases; supporters from conservation and water organizations backed the bill. Several bills were voted out to Appropriations, some were left open for later action or add-ons, and the committee repeatedly noted it was working through the agenda without a quorum early in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• it down as a percentage: 40% for water quality grants to local governments, tribal governments, or lake
• These grants to counties and to lake associations after that are extremely popular and very much needed
• to protect lakes around Minnesota from the spread of AIS.
• </c> grants to counties and to Lake grants to counties and to Lake Associations<00:07:01.080><c> after
• around Minnesota from the spread lakes around Minnesota from the spread of<00:07:10.840><c> AIS</c>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• In Lake County, we're a population of about 67,500 people, 68,000, very rural, with a big lake in the
• Big lake in the middle of it. Very hard to get around.
• Like, for example, in Lake County, I don't have the ability to tap into any county general funds.
• Like, for example, in Lake County, I don't have the ability to tap into any county general funds.
• Our center provides service to Marin, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino counties.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on budget proposals and implementation updates. DSH outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget, including funding for patient operating expenses, IST solutions savings, conditional release program costs, LPS bed allocation changes, electrical infrastructure projects at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and expanded dental services at Metropolitan and Patton. DSH also reported that it has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks in the Stiavedi v. Clinton case, with average time to initiate treatment down to about five days and pending placements reduced to roughly 250, while noting that Proposition 36 could increase referrals and SB 1323 may divert some individuals earlier into community-based treatment. Members asked about rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, the timing and structure of capital projects, and whether IST solution funds are being fully used; DSH said the savings reflect slower-than-expected ramp-up of community programs and that the Central California FACT replacement program is still on track for January 2027 activation. The Commission for Behavioral Health described its role under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), including data, evaluation, grantmaking, technical assistance, and transparency work. It highlighted the new statewide Innovation Partnership Fund, a five-year, $20 million-per-year program with small and large grant categories; the first RFA drew strong interest, with more than 400 questions and over 1,000 bidders’ conference participants. The Commission also discussed a proposed extension to spend down about $4.1 million remaining for the Alcove Youth Drop-in Center grants so sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the final evaluation. Members asked about grant duration, whether projects can be renewed, what qualifies as innovation, and whether the fund could support service delivery rather than awareness campaigns or training; the Commission said awards are expected to be three-year contracts and that proposals must be new or meaningfully expanded approaches that support BHSA priority populations. DHCS reviewed major behavioral health changes under CalAIM and BH Connect, including peer support, mobile crisis, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, updated specialty mental health access criteria, and new substance use treatment standards based on ASAM’s fourth edition. DHCS reported strong contingency management results, with more than 13,000 members served and 95% testing negative for stimulant use during treatment, and said 21 Indian health care providers have been approved to offer traditional health care practices. It also described BH Connect initiatives such as the $1.9 billion access reform and outcomes incentive program, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation by four counties, and transitional rent services. On BHSA implementation, DHCS said it is not tracking individual county contract cuts but is monitoring county plans and statewide outcomes, while stakeholders raised concerns about local prevention and service gaps. DHCS also outlined its H.R. 1 implementation strategy, including outreach, streamlined renewals, exemptions for disabled, substance use, and medically frail individuals, and proposed clinic navigator and outreach funding; it said it has not yet produced a focused estimate of H.R. 1 impacts on behavioral health populations. The discussion ended with DHCS noting that B-CHIP bond funding has supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 new or expanded facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Lake County, we're a population of about 67,500 people, 68,000, very rural, big lake in the middle
• Big lake in the middle of it. Very hard to get around.
• In Lake County, 988 calls are routed through a contracted crisis line and Behind it.
• Like, for example, in Lake County, I don't have the ability to tap into any county general funds.
• Like, for example, in Lake County, I don't have the ability to tap into any county general funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And these lakes were really low because of the drought. Absolutely.
• This lake is going to be vitally important to the future of this state.
• To create another lake, does it create an insurance of water? No.
• use, Cooper Lake, which is just upstream from where this is proposed."
• , ski boats, and fishing boats, and they're using those lakes for recreation.

Bills: SB4 , SB23 , SB3 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB34 , SB60 , SB75 , SB706 , SB1814 , SB1220 , SB523 , SB565 , SB1253 , SB840 , SB764 , SB2383 , SB2155 , SB1535 , SB1405 , SB1423 , SB1566 , SB1804 , SB1728 , SB1816 , SB1952 , SB1948 , SB2037 , SB2068 , SB1455 , SB213 , SB243 , SB627 , SB646 , SB670 , SB896 , SB917 , SB1184 , SB971 , SB1255 , SB1261 , SB1283 , SB1358 , SB991 , SB1733 , SB21 , SB231 , SB739 , SB1252 , SB1371 , SB664 , SB40 , SB9 , SJR1 , SB687 , SB1332 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , SB27 , SB207 , SB2938 , SB1901 , SB1227 , SB1248 , SB912 , SB1321 , SB2143 , SB2145 , SB1497 , SB1239 , SB2180 , SB1388 , SB1662 , SB1951 , SB1537 , SB493 , SB378 , SB1020 , SB1018 , SB992 , SB958 , SB920 , SB1350 , SB1762 , SB552 , HCR109 , SB2185 , SB4 , SB23 , SB3 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB34 , SB60 , SB75 , SB706 , SB1814 , SB1220 , SB523 , SB565 , SB1253 , SB840 , SB764 , SB2383 , SB2155 , SB1535 , SB1405 , SB1423 , SB1566 , SB1804 , SB1728 , SB1816 , SB1952 , SB1948 , SB2037 , SB2068 , SB1455 , SB213 , SB243 , SB627 , SB646 , SB670 , SB896 , SB917 , SB1184 , SB971 , SB1255 , SB1261 , SB1283 , SB1358 , SB991 , SB1733 , SB21 , SB231 , SB739 , SB1252 , SB1371 , HB2970 , HB 109 , SB2308

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• and Kaweah Lake to ostensibly fight Southern California wildfires.
• Scott By Live in South Lake Tahoe, I oppose. Caitlin Birch, opposed.
• Lake Tahoe Basin biologists, I get a phone call in February.
• Matthew Baker, Planning Conservation League, and on behalf of CMPS, the Clean Water Action, Mono Lake
• I'm here to offer my support for AB 1319 on behalf of CNPS, Clean Water Action, Mono Lake Committee,

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Summary: The committee heard a series of water, parks, transportation, energy, and fisheries bills, with authors and supporters generally emphasizing targeted exemptions, improved access, or regulatory clarity. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to study and publicly release the economic and environmental impacts of repeated emergency water curtailment regulations; farm, water, and local government groups supported it as a transparency measure. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption so county park agencies can open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters citing outdoor access and opponents warning about impacts to species, riparian areas, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fees; supporters said it protects vulnerable communities and wetlands, while agricultural and water interests argued it undermines basin-wide groundwater management and could worsen SGMA implementation. The committee also heard AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, which drew broad support from disability advocates and committee members and no opposition. Additional measures focused on infrastructure and environmental policy. AB 975 would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts, with county officials describing long delays in repairing flood-damaged crossings and no opposition heard. AB 514 would declare state policy encouraging local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought or service interruptions; it received broad support from water agencies and no opposition. AB 550 would allow incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; supporters said it would prevent regulatory limbo, while environmental groups sought amendments to clarify the permit standard, limit the use of scientific research as mitigation, and add a fee provision. The committee also took up AB 697 on the Highway 37 corridor, authorizing an incidental take permit for the near-term project between Mare Island and Sears Point to advance mobility and habitat restoration. Supporters from local transportation agencies and county officials said the corridor is a major bottleneck and the interim project is needed now, while environmental and tribal opponents argued it would fast-track highway widening, increase emissions, and affect tribal cultural resources. Members discussed tolling limits, equity, and the long delay on the corridor; the bill was moved out on a vote, with some members noting they would continue to monitor it. Finally, AB 1056 would phase out transferable set gill net permits after 2027, allowing only limited family transfers thereafter; supporters framed it as a gradual conservation reform consistent with Fish and Game Commission findings, while fishing groups opposed it as harmful to working fishermen.

Transcript Highlights:

• The DNR is unable to run a lake.
• And for other land lakes.
• </c> the acreage of parcels that abut lakes. the acreage of parcels that abut lakes.
• </c><00:42:35.280><c> In</c> on school trust lands abudding lakes.
• In on school trust lands abudding lakes.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Region, Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake, right?
• </c><01:13:15.520><c> W</c><01:13:15.840><c> Lake</c><01:13:16.000><c> wi</c><01:13:16.480><c> Lake</
• c> industry right the Lakes W Lake wi Lake industry right the Lakes W Lake wi Lake W<01:13:16.840><c>
• Squam</c><01:13:17.159><c> Lake</c><01:13:17.360><c> Squam</c><01:13:17.719><c> Lake</c><01:13:18.000
• ><c> right</c><01:13:18.120><c> they</c><01:13:18.280><c> all</c> W Squam Lake Squam Lake right they

Summary: The Public Higher Education Study Committee held an organizational meeting and received an update from the university and community college systems on implementation of recommendations from the governor’s higher education task force. The systems said the task force report contained about 40 recommendations, and they have focused first on operational items while continuing to work on larger policy issues, including better alignment of public higher education with workforce and economic development needs. The committee also discussed reporting requirements under the amended law and whether quarterly reports are required or whether annual updates are sufficient unless the committee requests more. A major topic was expanding Early College and dual-enrollment opportunities. The chancellors reported strong growth in Early College participation, significant student and family savings, and state scholarship support that they described as producing a strong return on investment. They said the goal is to build clearer pathways so students can earn college credit, reduce debt, and stay in New Hampshire for postsecondary education. They also noted ongoing work to simplify admissions and transfer processes, including about 100 transfer pathways between the systems, direct-admit efforts for community college and university students, and continued development of transfer equivalency tools. Members pressed the systems and the Department of Education on direct outreach to high school students, especially juniors, so students would know they are eligible for direct admission and other opportunities. The main obstacle discussed was access to student contact information, with officials saying the issue may involve contract limits with the College Board and possibly statutory constraints on sharing data. Department of Education staff said they are meeting with the systems and vendors to determine what changes are needed. Committee members urged faster action so students and families can receive letters or other notices about in-state options, affordability programs such as Granite Guarantee, and pathways to community college and university enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vermillion um but kind of a cool um Lake Vermillion um but kind of a cool um Ode<00:47:16.880><c> to
• million Sudan underground mine as Lake million Sudan underground mine State<00:48:29.200><c> Park</c
• And that would be the DNR's plan under our current state park management plan for Lake Vermilion.
• </c> opportunities around all of Lake opportunities around all of Lake Vermillion<00:52:22.200><c> um
• </c><00:52:58.280><c> um</c> State Park and the rest of the lake um State Park and the rest of the lake

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a charter school in Forest Lake.
• </c> have been an educator in Forest Lake have been an educator in Forest Lake Area<01:00:45.680><c>
• I'm Curt Stump, Peekquat Lakes Public Schools superintendent.
• I'm Lakes Public Schools Superintendent.
• Peekquat Lakes Public Schools rebuilt.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe Lake Superior College received an award of $200,000.
• um to support their partnership Lakes um to support their partnership with<00:13:32.399><c> the</c><
• Nation Tribal College to Red Lake Nation Tribal College to support<00:18:39.039><c> their</c><00:18:
• So between Leech Lake and White Earth, either got nothing or a little bit, and I'm just wondering why
• then depending on how many former Lake then depending on how many students<00:23:12.559><c> each</c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Pictured above is the Howard Lake Library, awarded $729,000 for a 7,000-square-foot new building.
• The smallest was $614 in 1996 for White Bear Lake.
• Pictured above is the Howard Lake Library, awarded $729,000 for a 7,000-square-foot new building.
• Pictured above is the Howard Lake Library, awarded $729,000 for a 7,000-square-foot new building.
• </c><01:13:51.360><c> Library</c><01:13:52.000><c> awarded</c> Howard Lake Library awarded Howard Lake

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• problem mandating extra high Lake problem mandating extra high densities<00:05:16.680><c> in</c><00:
• Representative Johnson, I bring in the Lake Elmo example.
• Representative Johnson, I bring in the Lake Elmo example.
• I'm the city manager for the City of Prior Lake.
• So in Prior Lake, 40% of our city hasn't even been built yet.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that there's a project down in Heron Lake in southwestern Minnesota, right on the border with
• </c><00:17:42.880><c> in</c><00:17:43.200><c> Southwestern</c> in on Heron Lake in Southwestern in on
• That's money going to the DNR for the Shallow Lakes Program.
• It does go up through Lake and into Cook County. There may be a little bit of St.
• It's all Lake County, yeah.

Bills: HF1250

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, New Hampshire Lakes is here and they support this.
• You know, we want to keep fertilizers out of our lakes.
• I I heard running into our lakes.
• They contribute to water our lakes.
• We deliver what's called a lake-smart, lake-friendly living program, providing property owners with free

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it just a lake down there? Is it working its way through sand and gravel?
• Is it just a lake down there? Is it working its way through sand and gravel?
• One example is, on the west side of Lake Palestine, there's Lake Tranquility water wells, or Cape Tranquility
• And then we are a partner with the City of Houston in Lake Livingston.
• Even though we've got Cedar Creek Lake, Lake Palestine, Lake Athens, and Ammon, but Amway has pumps as

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee held a hearing on high-capacity groundwater wells proposed in Anderson, Henderson, and Houston counties, with members framing the issue as one of local water supply, fairness, and the need to modernize groundwater law while protecting private property rights. Opening remarks focused on the scale of the proposed Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss projects, the potential export of tens of thousands of acre-feet of groundwater annually, and concerns that the applications lacked sufficient technical detail and could harm nearby landowners, cities, agriculture, and manufacturing. Members also noted the broader context of the recent flooding tragedy in central Texas and the Legislature’s intent to address water-related loss of life in the upcoming special session. Witnesses from the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and the Texas Water Development Board explained the current groundwater management framework. They described groundwater conservation districts as the state’s preferred management method, the role of groundwater management areas and desired future conditions, and how the Water Development Board uses those conditions to calculate modeled available groundwater. They emphasized that districts rely on local data, monitoring wells, and planning processes, but that information is often more limited in areas without a district, where the rule of capture applies. Members pressed witnesses on recharge rates, export permits, subsidence, the effect of pumping on nearby wells, the age and real-time availability of model data, and whether the proposed project would exceed modeled available groundwater in some counties. TCEQ explained its limited oversight role over groundwater conservation districts, including inquiries, compliance actions, and, in extreme cases, dissolution authority. Water Development Board staff also outlined funding programs, saying the New Water Supply for Texas Fund is limited to projects such as brackish desalination, reuse, ASR, and other new-supply projects, and does not fund fresh groundwater exports alone. They said the project at issue had not applied for board funding. A water lawyer then testified on the rule of capture, ownership in place, and district regulation, arguing that districts must use permitting and other tools to manage production within modeled available groundwater and that the Legislature could consider additional authority over groundwater exports under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> types of committees and lakes types of committees and lakes associations<00:44:25.040><c> so</c>
• I know in New Hampshire lakes, not New Hampshire lakes specifically, but a lot of those local lake and
• Hampshire Lakes associations not not New Hampshire Lakes specifically<00:53:17.200><c> but</c><00:53
• </c> free through the New Hampshire lay lakes free through the New Hampshire lay lakes program<00:53:
• </c><01:35:13.639><c> Lake</c> take instance of a uh a lake Lake take instance of a uh a lake Lake Community

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 187, which would allow parents or guardians to seek restraining orders on behalf of a minor child even when the alleged perpetrator is not a family or household member. Tracy Sirles testified that the bill was prompted by her family’s experience after being told by state police to seek a restraining order, only to learn the current law did not allow it because the offender was the child’s best friend’s father. Members agreed the change was straightforward, noted the fiscal note reflected only a small indeterminate cost to the judicial branch, and moved House Bill 187 ought to pass; the motion was approved unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 66, a Right-to-Know bill that removes “citizen” language in favor of “person” in some provisions and allows certain New Hampshire-connected requesters to seek records electronically if the records already exist in that format. Members reviewed concerns about defining “member of the media,” the scope of electronic requests, and a sentence stating appeals would have no filing fee or search charge. After debate, the committee voted to amend the bill by removing that fee-waiver sentence, then recommended House Bill 66 ought to pass as amended. The vote was 6-3. Next, the committee heard from the Environment and Agriculture chair about several solid-waste-related bills being folded into trailer bill language, including House Bill 215 and House Bill 171, with discussion of a possible three-year landfill moratorium and the need to address DEES staffing and funding concerns. DEES later clarified that the revised approach would not require new positions or create a fiscal impact because the new solid waste commission would be self-funded through filing fees. The committee voted unanimously to retain House Bill 215. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 566, which requires landfill permit applications to include a detailed leachate management plan and more information about disposal contracts. The sponsor said the bill was developed with DEES to address leachate problems and improve safety oversight. DEES testified that the bill largely reflects current practice and would have no specific fiscal impact, with existing staff able to absorb any review workload. The committee moved House Bill 566 ought to pass, and the motion was approved unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 624, a grant program for local river management advisory committees, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's this public slalom course on Lake Ponderay, and actually on the river, and since... ...on Lake
• “Dexton Lake? Are you? Please state your name for the record.” “Yes, Mr.
• My name is Dexton Lake. I represent the Idaho Farm Bureau.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with boating and being or or lake with boating and being or or lake activities<00:21:43.520><c>
• </c> if other people have heard from Lakes if other people have heard from Lakes associations<00:30:23.399
• I do not have a lake house.
• But we do have waterfront on Lake Hanasaka. Where's that lake? Um, it's in Molteno.
• </c> but we do have waterfront on Lake but we do have waterfront on Lake hanasaka<00:38:36.560><c> where's

Summary: The committee met to continue work on House Bill 2, with the chair saying the goal was to finish the bill as given by the governor, though additional amendments were expected. Members first discussed the bail section and agreed to hold it for later because a separate House bail bill was expected on Thursday and could have significant county cost impacts. They also generally accepted the proposed reorganization of positions between Fish and Game, DNCR, and the Department of Environmental Services, but noted the need to review effective dates and funding details, including a possible double appropriation of $275,000 for a scientist position already funded in HB 1. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on environmental review and native plant-related sections moving functions from DNCR to DES. Members discussed changing the rulemaking timeline from 180 days to 90 days, and clarifying that “begin” means the public hearing stage. They also reviewed how fee revenue would shift between agencies in HB 1 so the budget impact would be net zero. The committee indicated it would prepare amendments reflecting these changes and revisit them at a later vote. The longest discussion concerned the boathouse provisions. Members debated whether the new definitions and construction standards were appropriate in a budget bill, with one member arguing they should be in a separate bill, while others said the provisions were urgent because of a lawsuit and the lack of clear guardrails. Concerns included the February 20, 2025 effective date, which some thought might be retroactive, the detailed limits on what may be stored in a boathouse, and a fee increase that some felt could discourage homeowners from seeking permits. The committee also questioned whether the fee structure should be tiered for smaller projects and whether permit-by-notification projects should be exempted. No final votes were taken on these sections during the discussion; instead, members agreed to seek legal and policy answers and to return with amendments and public hearing input before voting.