Video & Transcript : 'proposed ward' :
Page 77 of 500
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, you wouldn't take CPAs and put them under a ward run by QuickBooks CEOs because they compete
- Reva Garnett: The proposed change to dissolve the denturistry board could greatly affect procedures for
- Rather than addressing the issue through targeted financial solutions, the proposal before you would
- Instead, the proposed solution is consolidation under the dental board.
- In this case, DOPL proposed this legislation and would also be responsible for enforcing it if enacted
Committee:
House Health and Welfare
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee - 2026-01-30
Transcript Highlights:
- Woodward, Cook, Burkey, Hart, Carlson, Zuiderveld, Galloway, Ward Engel King, Wintrow, here.
- This is in part related to the ongoing rescission proposed by the department.
- Williamson noted we're still, you know, in this proposal, we're still wanting to track it.
- Williamson noted we're still, you know, in this proposal, we're still wanting to track it.
- We're still, in this proposal, we're still wanting to track it.
Summary:
The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and began with questions about a Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, what notice was given, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was separate from the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership rather than this committee, that JFAC would still control funding decisions, and that the task force was intended to provide structure and policy direction if the funding moves forward.
The committee then received a General Fund Daily Update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who noted updated revenue projections, three introduced House bills with general fund fiscal impacts, and the green sheet’s totalizing function for tracking legislation. The main presentation was from the Department of Health and Welfare on the Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Alex Williamson reviewed the divisions’ roles, staffing, and five-year spending trends, and outlined the governor’s recommendations, including Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law, SNAP administrative cost shifts to the state, Medicaid expansion work requirements, restoration of transfer authority, and behavioral health requests tied to the Jeff D. settlement and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan.
Director Juliet Sharon said the department’s requests were largely maintenance, restoration, or compliance items, including system changes for twice-yearly Medicaid redeterminations and work requirements. Members asked about the impact of federal changes, the $5 million increase in welfare operations, vacancy levels, endowment funds, and whether the department could compare SNAP administrative costs to other states. Several questions focused on mental health cuts, the former Center of Excellence, the request to combine adult and children’s mental health budgets, and the effect of reductions on crisis services, ACT services, and mobile crisis units. Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds said the department was trying to preserve crisis and hospital services, maintain separate tracking for children and adults, and monitor access closely while complying with legal and federal requirements.
The committee also discussed Magellan’s contract, audit findings, and managed care oversight. Sharon said Magellan is reviewed through monthly, quarterly, and annual deliverables and can be placed on corrective action plans; she also said the department has processes to prevent payments for deceased or ineligible individuals. Members asked about duplication of services, the use of endowment funds at state hospitals, the need for more behavioral health workforce data, and whether the department could share equipment or contract out maintenance at the psychiatric hospitals. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee - 2026-02-04
Transcript Highlights:
- Hart, Carlson, Zuiderveld, Galloway, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Representative Tanner, Miller, Furniss,
- To fund a new pay plan for commissioned officers at ISP, the department is proposing increasing that
- The commission pay plan legislation has been proposed. Was that included in the governor's budget?
Summary:
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee reviewed the Idaho State Police budget, including the Division of Idaho State Police, POST Academy, and the Brand Inspection Division. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined funding sources, staffing levels, recent budget enhancements, and the fiscal year 2027 requests. For the state police division, the main new request was a $12.6 million commissioned officer pay plan tied to a proposed increase in the vehicle registration “project choice” fee from $3 to $12, along with a $500,000 federal grant increase for commercial vehicle safety, a $551,500 mobile live-scan pilot, and $3.2 million in replacement items. Peterson and Colonel Gardner explained that the pay plan is intended to make ISP compensation more competitive and to fund base pay in a way that allows future CEC increases to apply to the full salary rather than only part of it.
Colonel Gardner gave extensive testimony on staffing shortages, vacancy patterns in districts such as Lewiston and Idaho Falls, and the difficulty of retaining trained troopers after three to five years when other agencies offer higher pay. He said the agency is using overtime, reduced travel, and strategic deployment to cover gaps, but warned that vacancies are affecting public safety and that the proposed pay plan is needed to stabilize staffing. Committee members questioned the size of the fee increase, the sustainability of the plan, and the effect on trooper pay. Gardner said the request was based on what is needed to sustain the plan for about 10 years and emphasized that commissioned officers and troopers are the same group in this context. The committee also heard that a trooper injured in a fentanyl seizure the day before was receiving medical evaluation, and members expressed support for ISP personnel.
The committee then reviewed POST, where Peterson said the academy has 31 FTP and no ongoing fiscal year 2027 enhancement requests beyond $324,100 for replacement items. Administrator Brad Johnson explained that POST’s basic academy costs about $10,700 per student for a 14-week course, while ISP’s internal trooper training and first-year costs are much higher because they include equipment, wages, room and board, and other expenses. He said students sign a two-year repayment agreement if they leave the profession after training. Members asked about agency-run academies, college programs, and whether the training model could be extended, and Johnson said POST remains the only accredited academy in Idaho and has received top national accreditation scores.
Finally, the Brand Inspection Division budget was reviewed. Peterson said the division is funded by the State Brand Board Fund and has no new ongoing requests for fiscal year 2027, only $288,100 in replacement items, including six trucks and computer equipment. Brand Inspector Cody Burlisle said most inspectors are POST-certified and perform both regulatory inspections and law-enforcement duties. Committee members praised the division for keeping vehicles in service for high mileage and for helping livestock producers during gathers and inspections. The meeting ended with instructions for members to attend work groups and a reminder that votes on transfers, rescissions, and reductions would occur later in the week, followed by adjournment until the next morning.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Aug 28th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Soros, Chiavo, Schultz, Sharp Collins, Solace, Soria, Stephanie, Taw, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward
- The current administration has proposed to completely eliminate temporary protected status for hundreds
- The current administration has proposed to completely eliminate temporary protected status for hundreds
Summary:
The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, with members observing a moment of silence for the Minnesota tragedy mentioned by the Speaker. The chamber then moved quickly through a large daily file, taking up many Senate amendments and third-reading measures, with most bills passing by wide margins or unanimously. Early procedural actions included returning AB 1308 to the Senate, rescinding action on SB 863, and later taking up several resolutions and bills on concurrence and third reading.
Among the main policy items, members adopted AJR 8 on temporary protected status after debate over immigration policy, and AJR 19 urging opposition to dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The Assembly also adopted ACR 112 recognizing September as Deaf Awareness Month, with several members speaking in support of the deaf community and accessibility. Other notable measures included bills on water reclamation and Colorado River Aqueduct maintenance (AB 580), telehealth (AB 688), housing approvals and ADU enforcement/cleanup (AB 920, SB 9, SB 543), pension and retirement rules (SB 301), volunteer fire department tax exemptions (SB 87), dementia training for home care aides (SB 412), and a San Francisco public-safety measure on stolen goods resale (SB 276), which drew opposition over permitting and criminalization concerns.
The Assembly also passed or concurred in a number of Senate bills dealing with local government finance and infrastructure, public contracts, the Delta, fairgrounds compensation, and San Francisco liquor licenses, as well as AJR 3 on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Most measures were approved on roll-call votes with few no votes; SB 227 and SB 276 were urgency measures and received the required two-thirds support. The consent calendar was adopted unanimously, and the day concluded with several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remembrances of former Assembly staffer Lawrence Merman, Jeff Brady, Fran Urcini, and Alejandro Luna, before the House adjourned until the next morning.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate of the 89th Legislature Feb 19th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Texas Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Dutton is a proud son of Houston's 5th Ward.
- Committee substitute SJR 1, proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail.
- Number one, proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail for an illegal alien charged
Bills:
SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR36 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SR62 , SR92 , SR95 , SR108 , SR110 , SR111 , SR113 , SR114 , SR117 , SR120 , SB314 , SB314
Keywords:
bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, El Paso, economic development
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the VA's Community Care Program. Jan 28th, 2025 at 09:30 am
Senate Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Assure the referral system under the kind of legislation that the Chairman has proposed.
- He was held on an emergency detention order and admitted to the psychiatric ward for 36 hours.
- What I'd like to see us do, and I've got a proposal, is to do this, and you'll be hearing more about
Committee:
Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (04/22/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- The department can their proposed use.
- And and so some of the proposed road.
- So all required under the proposed law.
- </c> bill proposes. bill proposes.
- We have one Uh, represent Ward One.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you, Chair Ward. Thank you, Senator Suin, for taking my question.
- Thank you, Chairman Ward, and my name is Jerry F.
- Senator Ward, Senator Lang, good to see you again.
- Senator Ward, thank you, Chair. Senator Lang, good to see you again.
- Ward Senator Lang good to see you again Ward Senator Lang good to see you again again<01:46:23.599><c
Committee:
Senate Education
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (02/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> that the agency comes up with a that the agency comes up with a particular<00:06:40.599><c> proposed
- </c><00:06:41.280><c> rating</c><00:06:42.280><c> then</c><00:06:42.520><c> that</c> particular proposed
- rating then that particular proposed rating then that comes<00:06:42.960><c> to</c><00:06:43.160><c>
- </c><00:40:47.280><c> design</c><00:40:48.000><c> the</c> create the proposed design the create the proposed
- He said he wanted to be realistic about what could come of the proposal.
Summary:
The hearing opened on House Bill 192, which concerns the Joint Committee on Employee Classification process for state employee positions. Representative Peter Schmidt explained that the bill is a procedural step to send already-reviewed classifications to Korn Ferry and then into statute and the budget. Department of Corrections staff and Commissioner Helen Hanks testified that one Deputy Director of Medical Services position had been omitted from the bill by mistake even though it had already gone through the JCEC process, and they asked for an amendment to add it. Hanks clarified that the position is an existing classified job being converted to unclassified status, not a new position. The committee discussed how the amendment would work and the quorum requirements for the JCEC, then closed the hearing on HB 192 after no further testimony.
The committee then heard House Bill 435, sponsored by Representative Don McFarland, which would clarify professional engineering licensure law. McFarland said the bill is intended to make clear that work in IT security, electronics, digital systems, computing, and software is not the practice of engineering requiring a professional engineer license, while preserving licensure requirements for fields such as civil, structural, and building-related engineering. He said he had consulted with the American Council of Engineering Companies and that the bill is meant to remove ambiguity and legal risk, not deregulate engineering. Several members with engineering backgrounds spoke in support, describing the distinction between licensed PE work and other technical fields, and one member noted that software development and regulated software work typically do not require a PE license. The committee voted ought to pass on HB 435 by a roll call of 16-0 and placed it on consent.
Finally, the committee opened House Bill 210, which would create a commission to study the New Hampshire state flag. Representative Tom Corman argued that the current flag is a generic “state seal on a blue bedsheet” and does not meet common vexillological design principles such as simplicity, meaningful symbolism, limited colors, and distinctiveness. He said the proposed commission would include legislative members plus representatives of the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New England Vexillological Association, and would review the flag’s history and recommend whether to redesign it and how to do so. He also indicated he intended to add language to avoid costs, but the bill discussion was not completed in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- H.J.R. 40 by Birdwell, proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the powers of the governor, the
- H.J.R. 6 by Capriglione, proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on
- of this is going to have to go from Fifth Ward to Fort Bend County?
- I've actually proposed this in prior sessions.
- That's what this proposed bill says.
Bills:
HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB2143 , HJR2 , HB147 , HJR6 , HB 120 , HB20 , HB150 , HB6 , HB 100 , HB 124 , HB210 , HB215 , HB1393 , HB1587 , HB 1151 , HB 1268 , HB142 , HB451 , SB1
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget.
A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes.
The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6.
Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Congressional Redistricting, Select Aug 1st, 2025
Congressional Redistricting, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- This proposal is part of a long process.
- But today, the proposed map does the opposite.
- Coming from certain communities in Houston, like Third Ward, Fifth Ward, East End, and Alief, why would
- Today, the proposed HB... does the opposite.
- The new proposed map is even worse.
Bills:
HB4
Committee:
House Congressional Redistricting, Select
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Ward-Johnson.
- We greatly appreciate the trust the legislature has given us with the proposed $100 million to continue
- counties using their histories. unique histories to promote visitation, and again, the budget bills proposed
- Establishing a 50-hour work week for our Texas game ward and state park police officers.
Committee:
House Culture, Recreation & Tourism
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- overview today, high-level discussion, but we look forward to talking. to you more about some specific proposals
- If y'all can take some actions on some of the things that are being proposed and so we want to be able
- The chair now calls David Montane of the Sabine River Authority and Kevin Ward of the Trinity River Authority
- So for the record, I'm Jay Kevin Ward, I'm the General Manager.
Committee:
House Natural Resources
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Finance Sub Committee Oct 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to thank especially Lieutenant Curtis Ward from the State Police, who has been with us a number
- looking for an increase of about $200,000 for contractual services as we anticipate an increase in proposals
- As I look at the proposal, you have a request for one temporary employee. What is that for?
- Presenter, you said that on the DD caretaker, they're currently making $440 a month, and your proposal
- Project that Farmington, the city of Farmington, proposed to us.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Our prayer today will be delivered by Jeremy Ward.
- Jeremy Ward is the pastor at Union 3 Baptist Church in Hoax Bluff.
- Pastor Ward is the guest of Senator Jones. 1 Timothy 2:1 and 2 says, "Therefore I exhort first of all
- Thank you, Pastor Ward. Today the pledge will be led by Sophia Woods.
- Thank you, Pastor Ward. Today the Amen. Thank you, Pastor Ward.
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer by Pastor Jeremy Ward and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sophia Woods. A quorum was established with 27 senators present, and the Senate adopted routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the previous day’s journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber also referred Executive Message 69, appointing Brandy Williams to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards and Education Commission, to the Committee on Confirmations.
The Senate received several Judiciary Committee reports. House Bills 41 and 149 and Senate Bills 230, 87, 169, 238, and 233 were reported favorably, with amendments on Senate Bills 87, 169, and 233. Those measures received second reading and were placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 31, commending Mackenzie Grace Stigel, and Senate Joint Resolution 32, recognizing the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science for its national ranking; guests from the school were welcomed in the gallery.
The Rules Committee report was then adopted by a 33-0 vote, setting a special order calendar that included Senate Bill 71 on administrative rules, along with several other bills on dredging, county subdivisions, legislative matters, public corruption, rural hospital investment, minority affairs, campaign finance, and natural resources. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 71, the “sound science” bill, which would limit state agencies from adopting environmental rules more stringent than federal law and require science-based standards where federal law is absent. Senator Coleman-Madison offered an amendment to preserve stronger scientific and causal standards, arguing the bill could weaken protections in heavily burdened communities; the amendment failed on a roll call vote of 25 nays to 1 yea. Senators then continued debating the bill’s effect on ADEM’s authority, emergency rulemaking, federal standards, and environmental enforcement in Alabama.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- Our next panel: a remote Tyler Mark Ward, John Worthington, and Mike Aside.
- The changes proposed by the Washington State Cannabis Licensee Association...
- I'm here in support of Senate Bill 6195 in the suggested language proposed by the WCLA.
- I'm here to testify in strong support of SB 6195 in the proposed language that WCLA shared.
- However, this is a new proposal that differs from previous years.
Committee:
Senate Labor & Commerce
Keywords:
kratom, taxation, regulated substances, health safety, state revenue, cannabis, marijuana, home grow, home cultivation, personal cultivation, adult use cannabis, recreational marijuana, 21 and older, controlled substances, RCW 69.50, Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB, plant limits, cannabis possession, cannabis concentrates
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Appreciate that you're adding this member, you're proposing a bill to add this member.
- The proposed state budget would cut our budget by 8%, or $396 million.
- So in recognition of these shifting realities, AB 791 proposes establishing a housing budget that would
- My name is Justin Ward.
- this proposal today, just on the basis of it's not cooked.
Summary:
The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We're not proposing trailer bill language to modify. fee schedule program, we're not proposing trailer
- And this proposal has no impact on those existing fees.
- And this proposal has no impact on those existing fees.
- We have two comments on the fees proposal, so this is not on the sanctions proposal.
- We also regrettably oppose both proposals.
Summary:
The committee heard a budget oversight hearing on the Department of Health Care Services, focusing first on the overall Medi-Cal budget and a March General Fund loan to cover a current-year shortfall. DHCS said the 2025-26 budget proposal totals $193.4 billion, with Medi-Cal projected at $188.1 billion total funds and $42.1 billion General Fund, driven by higher enrollment, pharmacy costs, managed care growth, and costs tied to eligibility expansions and the COVID-era redetermination unwinding. The department said the $3.44 billion loan was needed to manage cash flow and ensure timely payments to providers and plans, while the LAO noted Medi-Cal’s cash-basis budgeting creates volatility and that more detailed estimates would come with the May Revision. Members discussed federal Medicaid threats, the need for transparency on cost drivers, and the impact of pharmacy spending, long-term care, and immigration-related coverage expansions.
The second major topic was family health programs, including California Children’s Services, the continuous coverage unwinding, and opioid settlement fund spending. DHCS described CCS funding methodology changes, ongoing county stakeholder work, and a delayed rollout of CCS monitoring and oversight until July 1, 2025, while county representatives and advocates argued the program is underfunded and asked for more technical assistance and a delay in implementation. On the unwinding, the department explained that federal redetermination flexibilities helped maintain coverage after the pandemic, but the Governor’s budget proposes ending them at the end of June 2025; advocates urged making the flexibilities permanent to avoid coverage losses. For opioid settlement funds, DHCS and Finance said the budget increases funding for naloxone distribution while reducing other harm-reduction spending based on updated settlement revenues, prompting criticism from members and public commenters who argued the change would weaken effective harm-reduction programs.
The hearing also included an update on Proposition 35 implementation. DHCS said the voter-approved measure continuously appropriates MCO tax revenues beginning in 2025, with up to $4.6 billion annually available for specified Medi-Cal and provider investments in 2025 and 2026, but implementation depends on consultation with the required stakeholder advisory committee. The department and LAO noted uncertainty about future federal rules affecting the MCO tax after 2026. Public testimony largely supported maintaining Medi-Cal expansions, protecting immigrant coverage, preserving harm-reduction funding, and increasing support for community health workers, pediatric dental care, and CCS county administration. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee - 2026-02-25
Transcript Highlights:
- Price, Bruce, Harris, Green, Senator Groh, Woodward, Cook, Jerky, Hart, Carlson, Zider Belt, Galloway, Ward
- Thank you, Senator Ward Engel King. Thank you, Mr.
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations and questions for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Office of Species Conservation, and the Office of the Attorney General. Fish and Game’s budget was described as largely dedicated and federal funding with no general fund support, with discussion of ongoing and one-time enhancements for fisheries inflation, habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, depredation claims, chronic wasting disease testing, and communications. Director Jim Fredericks also reviewed the new nonresident tag draw system, access challenges on private lands, and the department’s role in habitat work and species management. Members raised concerns about depredation claim shortfalls, survey and advisory committee processes, predator management, and the overlap between Fish and Game and the Office of Species Conservation on habitat and endangered species work.
The Office of Species Conservation presentation focused on its role coordinating state actions for threatened, endangered, and candidate species, mostly through federal and miscellaneous revenue funds. Administrator Mike Edmondson explained that the office often serves as the policy and administrative lead while Fish and Game carries out much of the field work, and he described metrics for sage grouse, salmon and steelhead, and grizzly bear-related efforts. He also said the office has been working with the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources on a possible merger, with some staff reductions under consideration, and answered questions about grizzly bear delisting, wolf litigation, and tribal consultation.
Attorney General Raul Labrador then argued that his office has produced significant results without asking for new money, but said the committee’s proposed reductions would force furloughs or position cuts and asked for $980,000 to be restored. He highlighted the ICAC unit’s elimination of a cyber-tip backlog, increased arrests, consumer protection recoveries, and expanded appellate and civil litigation work defending state laws. Members asked about the source of recovered funds, the office’s flexibility to absorb cuts, and whether the state could work on a framework to transfer incarcerated undocumented offenders to federal custody for deportation. The committee ended by noting upcoming budget-setting work and adjourned until the next morning.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Feb 12th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Majority Floor Leader, Peter Ward, take us to the next order of business. Mr.
- Senate Majority Floor Leader, Peter Ward to take us that next order of business. I'm Mr. President.
- I want to make sure that all members have the floor substitute that's being proposed.
- So as this legislation is proposed, So as this legislation is proposed, there is no minimum requirement
- this proposal that we're working toward is pretty much wide open and that young parents with just a