Transcript Highlights:

• Across the country and here in Idaho, we are seeing a significant growth in paid, non-accredited claim
• Across the country and here in Idaho, we are seeing a significant growth in paid, non-accredited claim
• benefits, protecting veteran personal information, We are seeing a significant growth in paid, non-accredited

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, received substitute-designation correspondence, and heard several announcements and introductions. Committee reports moved multiple measures forward, including Senate Bill 1363 and House Bills 544, 642, and 723 to the second-reading calendar, while Senate Bill 1373 was sent to Finance and House Bill 703 and Senate Bill 1355 were sent for possible amendment. The Senate also received gubernatorial appointment notices for the Idaho Lottery Commission and State Building Authority, and a large batch of House-passed measures and memorials was read and referred to the appropriate committees. On the floor, the Senate passed several bills after debate and roll-call votes. Senate Bill 1285, concerning recognition of non-public school diplomas for occupational and professional licensure, passed 31-1. Senate Bill 1286, creating consumer protections for veterans benefits assistance, passed 31-0. Senate Bill 1323, relating to the Idaho Constitutional Money Act and enforcement of contracts requiring payment in gold or silver, passed 31-1. Senate Bill 1338, authorizing the state treasurer to invest a portion of idle moneys in gold and silver bullion, passed 24-0. Senate Bill 1342, allowing limited household egg production at detached single-family residences, passed 30-1 after some discussion about local control. The Senate also passed several House bills: House Bill 531 on epinephrine delivery systems in schools, House Bill 518 expanding authority for the Attorney General in human trafficking cases, House Bill 512 reinstating an open-book jurisprudence exam for land surveyors, House Bill 551 correcting urban renewal/fire and ambulance district budget treatment, House Bill 594 codifying a Supreme Court ruling on distribution of late property tax fees and interest, and House Bill 587 clarifying continuous authorization for rangeland improvement funding. House Bill 587 drew the most debate, with supporters emphasizing project continuity and reporting requirements and opponents raising concerns about continuous spending and legislative oversight; it ultimately passed 21-10. The Senate then reordered the third-reading calendar, moved to miscellaneous business, and adjourned until Monday, March 9, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• agreement may not result in increased cost to students and must be with an institution that is accredited
• Given I think what's outlined here is what you would do anyway with your accreditation standards.
• So all ICW member campuses are accredited by the Northwest Commission, as are our public colleges and

Bills: HB2427, HB2458, HB2474, HB2540, HB2589

Keywords: ink of hope act, mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, community support, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, student access, financial aid, consumer protections, school closures, educational programs, student rights, emergency medical services, EMT recertification, healthcare, first responders, public health, encampments

Transcript Highlights:

• This testing is necessary to maintain state accreditation by NIC.
• testing facilities, and reporting loss testing facilities, and reporting loss of<00:16:02.160><c> accreditation
• </c> of accreditation. of accreditation.
• These changes must be adopted by January 1, 2026, in order to remain in compliance with our NAC accreditation
• </c> compliance with our NAC accreditation compliance with our NAC accreditation standards<00:19:49.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At all relating to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public institutions of higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• :21.920><c> its</c><00:46:22.160><c> territories</c><00:46:23.160><c> the</c><00:46:23.319><c> accreditation
• </c><00:46:23.960><c> CS</c> and its territories the accreditation CS and its territories the accreditation
• 00:46:25.880><c> that</c> for graduate medical education that for graduate medical education that accredits
• <00:46:26.920><c> training</c><00:46:27.359><c> programs</c><00:46:27.800><c> after</c> accredits training
• programs after accredits training programs after medical<00:46:28.440><c> school</c><00:46:29.119><c

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met on February 20, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 850, relating to condominiums, drew support from the Community Associations Institute and the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, who said it would improve owner participation, clarify voting rules, and preserve the use of proxies as a personal choice. A Zoom testifier supported the bill’s intent but warned that special meetings can be abused and suggested further amendments to address board president authority. Members asked about proxies versus electronic voting and whether the bill would reduce proxy use; no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 48 on coffee labeling, with the Department of Agriculture in support, and HB 1370 on taxation, where a local brewery representative supported equal tax treatment for beer served from 5-gallon kegs and larger kegs when dispensed from a faucet, arguing the bill would clarify draft beer treatment and encourage sustainability. HB 1422 on motor carriers received comments from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of State Parks, while representatives from a community-based shuttle initiative supported the bill and said nonprofit, community-led transportation solutions should not be regulated like traditional carriers. HB 874, relating to child performers, received support from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and individual performers, who emphasized protecting minors’ earnings, safety, and schooling. Testimony also discussed whether to include social media influencers and whether to add annual income limits or trust-account protections; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said the issue was outside its wheelhouse. Later, HB 799 on healthcare drew support from health plans and HMSA, with the Department of Health requesting amendments such as a sunset date, a Maui-only pilot, and a report back before changing its position. HB 1379 on health received support from Hawaii Pacific Health, but the Hawaii Medical Board raised concerns about vague language and public-safety implications for internationally trained physicians, asking for more time to study national licensing recommendations. Finally, HB 439 on education was heard, with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposing the bill as drafted and warning about licensing standards and predatory third-party loans affecting J-1 teachers; the transcript ends before any action or vote on these measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• one thing that was brought up by I think one thing that was brought up by one of the vsos was accreditation
• and one of the vsos was accreditation and one of the vsos was accreditation and making sure that we
• vet that to not Overlook anything that vet that to not Overlook anything that could jeopardize accreditation
• for them could jeopardize accreditation for them could jeopardize accreditation for them and their ability

Bills: SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 45, SR 47, SR 63, SR 66, SR 70, SR 85, SCR 14, SB 10, SB 11, SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, 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, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also work to ensure that this substance can still be researched by accredited institutions, recognizing
• We will also work to ensure that this substance can still be researched by accredited institutions, recognizing

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on January 13, 2026, and heard several two-year bills, with AB 634 (Gonzalez) and AB 298 (Bonta) receiving the most discussion. The chair also announced consent items AB 96 (Jackson), AB 1126 (Patterson), and AB 1366 (Flora), all with motions to do pass to Appropriations. Committee procedures, witness limits, and conduct rules were reviewed at the start of the hearing. AB 634 would prohibit the manufacture, distribution, or sale of tianeptine in California. Assembly Member Gonzalez described the drug as a dangerous substance sold in retail settings and said the bill had been amended to shift penalties from criminal to civil, narrow its scope so employees without authority over sales would not be targeted, allow cost recovery, and avoid a Commerce Clause issue. The California Narcotic Officers Association supported the bill, and there was no recorded opposition. The committee voted the bill out on a do pass to Judiciary motion. AB 298 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for children’s health care services in large group commercial plans. Bonta argued that deductibles, copays, and coinsurance deter care and create financial strain for families, while noting the bill would not change provider reimbursement and that he would pursue cost-saving amendments in Appropriations, especially for CalPERS. Support came from Health Access California, Family Voices of California, and several medical and pediatric organizations, while the Chamber of Commerce and health plan groups opposed it, warning of premium increases and possible employer shifts to self-insured coverage. The committee advanced the bill on a do pass to Appropriations vote, and the chair later noted the bill was on call before final add-on votes were completed. The consent calendar items were also approved, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• other thing that I would like to ask is, of the licensed camps, do we have a record of how many are accredited
• by the accreditation process that...
• Accreditation. I have heard about certain camps being accredited.
• You know, there would... be, you know, some that would say that we use accreditation processes for a

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the comment that we provided, that all other provider residency programs have their nationally accredited
• Corey Sanders emphasized that all other provider residency programs have their nationally accredited
• into what we're trying to do because this is expanding it to 2-year-olds and also deal with the accreditation
• You're standing in for Director Yaman. with the accreditation efforts and so with the accreditation efforts

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 72 on pharmacy drew only support, with testimony from the University of Hawaiʻi system, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, and others; no questions were raised. HB 237 on peer support programs also received broad support from the Department of Health, DHS, early learning officials, families, and advocates, with testimony emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentoring and support for parents, youth, and people with disabilities; no opposition or questions were noted. HB 250, the prior authorization bill, generated the most discussion. SHPDA supported a revised version focused on reporting prior authorization practices and creating a nonbinding working group to develop automation standards, while PCMA, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, and others raised concerns about duplicative pharmacy requirements, unintended consequences, and alignment with federal timelines and reporting. Several medical groups and individual patients supported the measure, describing delays and burdens caused by prior authorization. A committee member asked whether the bill’s working group differed from a similar group in Senate Bill 1449, and the witness said it was intended to be the same. HB 303 on health care preceptors was supported by the Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi, nursing and health care organizations, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, which asked that pharmacists’ residency programs be specifically tied to national accreditation standards. HB 341, relating to issuance of SPURS to assist the Hawaii Island Community Health Association, drew support from the health center and related groups. HB 692 on Preschool Open Doors received extensive support from early learning, education, family, labor, and community organizations; testimony stressed the shortage of child care and preschool slots, especially on Kauai, and the need to expand access for families. Committee members asked about adding family child care providers and about licensing/certification barriers, and DHS said the bill was focused on current licensed child care facilities and that certification issues were a separate, broader problem. HB 700 on cognitive assessments also drew strong support, with the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, disability advocates, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregivers, and others urging use of a validated cognitive assessment tool during annual wellness visits and asking that the age 65 threshold be removed; some witnesses supported keeping the data-collection portion as a pilot and emphasized early detection and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• interim advanced nuclear energy committee that Senator Patton leads, we visited the Idaho National Laboratory
• Patton leads, we visited the Idaho National that Senator Patton leads, we visited the Idaho National Laboratory
• Energy, a sibling organization to what is now the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can elaborate just a bit, which is: for those listening, UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories.
• to be certified, not merely rated, to applicable UL standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory
• be certified to the applicable UL standard by an OSHA-recognized nationally recognized testing laboratory

Bills: H5400, H5421, H5430, S3077, S3089

Keywords: Boston, easement, highway improvement, Woburn, Burlington, public safety, transportation, land transfer, vessel transportation, Marston Mills, Osterville, Barnstable, state highway, traffic safety, maritime regulation, local legislation, Hyannis Transportation Center, Thomas S. Cahir, Cape Cod, commemorative designation

Transcript Highlights:

• lead regulatory engineer for UL Solutions, who can provide technical background on Underwriters Laboratories
• UL Solutions is a leading global safety science company founded in 1894 as Underwriters Laboratories
• standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code and are certified by Underwriters Laboratories

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• lead regulatory engineer for UL Solutions, who can provide technical background on Underwriters Laboratories
• UL Solutions is a leading global safety science company founded in 1894 as Underwriters Laboratories.
• standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code and are certified by Underwriters Laboratories

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in expanded diagnostic and epidemiology capacity at CDFA and built a state-of-the-art veterinary laboratory
• infrastructure to manage those risks, including inspection capacity to oversee entry and exit points, laboratory
• Including inspection capacity to oversee entry and exit points, laboratory capacity to detect synthetic

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget presentations from the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and related agencies. CDFA discussed its overall budget, ongoing support for the Farm to School program and climate-smart agriculture, and a proposed climate bond expenditure plan. Members focused heavily on whether the Farm to School proposal should become ongoing, how schools and suppliers are selected, whether the program is reaching disadvantaged and food-insecure communities, and whether the trailer bill language creates new duties. The LAO recommended rejecting the ongoing Farm to School proposal as presented, suggesting the Legislature consider Prop. 98 funding instead, while CDFA argued the program supports children, farmers, and local economies and helps build long-term supply-chain infrastructure. Several members also questioned the bond plan’s timing, program metrics, and workforce impacts, while LAO said the bond plan was generally reasonable and should be guided by legislative input. The committee also discussed CDFA’s proposal to eliminate vacant positions; the department said the positions were largely long-vacant or unfunded and could be reclassified if needed, while LAO recommended retaining the special-fund positions and weighing the General Fund positions on their merits. CDFA’s IT support request for additional ongoing funding and four positions was presented as necessary to address staffing shortages, legacy systems, and cybersecurity risks, and LAO had no concerns. The committee then took public comment and voted to approve items 9 through 13, including CDFA dog importation and carcass disposal items, a Gambling Control Commission IT item and tribal grant fund item, and an ABC office relocation item. DCC presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by opening a North State office in Redding and adding sworn and non-sworn staff. The department said most cannabis consumed in California still comes from the illicit market, that it receives about 1,500 complaints annually but can close only about 400 cases, and that it has a backlog of roughly 4,000 cases. DCC argued that a northern office would reduce travel time, improve coordination with local agencies, and help target cross-county and cross-border criminal networks. Finance supported the request as a targeted investment, and LAO had no comment. Members asked about public safety, office security, and whether a North State presence would increase complaints or referrals; DCC said safety is considered in every office opening and that a local presence would likely improve case development. The director also described the broader regulatory strategy as balancing consumer safety, illicit-market enforcement, consumer awareness, and reducing friction for legal operators. The discussion continued into broader concerns about the size of the illicit market and the long-term goals for the cannabis program.

Transcript Highlights:

• HudsonAlpha is an anchor tenant of that space, and I’m really excited that a part of that is a teaching laboratory
• HudsonAlpha is an anchor tenant of that space, and I’m really excited that a part of that is a teaching laboratory
• HudsonAlpha is an anchor tenant of that space, and I’m really excited that a part of that is a teaching laboratory

Bills: HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388, HB187, HB98, HB360, HB394, HB398, HB388

Keywords: school safety, emergency response, training, public safety, Alyssa's Law, law enforcement, scholarship, tuition assistance, dependent education, Alabama, blackout license plate, HB360, Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, sales tax holiday, firearms, guns, ammunition, bullets, primers, gun accessories

Transcript Highlights:

• We have two national labs: Los Alamos National Laboratory... With the Air Force Research Lab.
• We have two national labs, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our forensics laboratories, a law enforcement record bureau, has over 30 separate and distinct units
• Our forensics laboratories, a law enforcement record bureau, has over 30 separate and distinct units
• of $5.6 million that they are requesting to reauthorize, and that funding was for state crime laboratories

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• by an accrediting organization approved by the board.
• by an accrediting organization approved by the board.
• </c> add or an equivalent program accredited add or an equivalent program accredited by<04:18:39.680>
• <c> an</c><04:18:39.840><c> accrediting</c><04:18:40.479><c> or</c><04:18:40.560><c> organization</c>
• by an accrediting or organization by an accrediting or organization approved<04:18:41.359><c> by</c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• possibility of secret shopper programs and testing by the state itself, in addition to independent laboratories
• possibility of secret shopper programs and testing by the state itself, in addition to independent laboratories
• possibility of secret shopper programs and testing by the state itself, in addition to independent laboratories
• 10.880><c> addition</c><00:17:11.160><c> to</c><00:17:11.400><c> Independent</c><00:17:11.880><c> Laboratories
• </c> in addition to Independent Laboratories in addition to Independent Laboratories that<00:17:12.600

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• body that accredits all the lumber producers in the country.
• body that accredits all the lumber producers in the country.
• We accredit 16 softwood lumber mills, agencies overseas as well.
• We accredit 16 softwood lumber mills, agencies overseas as well.
• </c> an accredited stamp saying SPF South. an accredited stamp saying SPF South.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all