Transcript Highlights:

• Working forest management plans developed by landowners serve as living long-term plans for sustainable
• Under current law, a planned harvest area sustainable forest stewardship.
• Under current law, a planned harvest area cannot include more than one watershed.
• We made significant changes, adjusted retirement formulas, increased retirement ages, and required greater
• Assembly Bill 1439 by Assembly Member Garcia, relating to the public retirement systems.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up a long third-reading file with several guest introductions and ceremonial resolutions. Early floor action included AB 713, allowing undocumented students equal access to campus jobs at UC, CSU, and community colleges, and AB 1049, streamlining California Food Assistance Program applications for low-income immigrant families; both passed. The body also defeated an amendment to AB 1421, a bill to begin studying a statewide mileage-based road user charge, before passing the measure. AB 1171, modernizing part-time community college faculty health insurance access, also passed with strong support. The Assembly then approved a series of policy bills on animals, domestic violence, telehealth for autism services, forestry, false lien filings, tianeptine restrictions, housing, common interest development fee transparency, prison sexual abuse accountability, PBM reporting, foster youth benefits protections, illegal dumping and abandoned RV removal, condo financing/liquidated damages, public contracting, pension-related study language, climate resiliency research funding, and a disposable vape reduction measure. Most passed with broad margins; AB 762 on vapor inhalation devices drew the most debate, with supporters emphasizing landfill fires and public health and opponents warning about revenue losses and illicit-market growth, but it still passed. AB 1406 on condo development financing drew extensive discussion about housing affordability and consumer protections before passing. The chamber also adopted three resolutions: ACR 120 declaring January 2026 Positive Parenting Awareness Month, ACR 121 designating January 2026 National Mentoring Month, and ACR 122 designating Anesthesiologist Week. Later, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments on AB 1485, extending welfare-tax exemption treatment to federally recognized tribes holding land for conservation, and adopted the consent calendar, which included several additional bills and SCR 6. The session ended with adjournment until February 2, 2016, after which several members recorded vote changes from the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a strategic plan that's currently in place, called Unleashing Potential.
• It makes it more difficult to do planning and budgeting around that.
• It makes it more difficult to do planning and budgeting around that.
• If they do not, after multiple years, there's a performance improvement plan.
• The ability to create enrollment plans that are structured and multi-year.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• , lieutenant, Quincy Police Department, retired, and retired colonel, Special Forces, U.S.
• Tobin, lieutenant, Quincy Police Department, retired, and his wife Lynn; Bruce J.
• Tobin, probation officer, retired, Hingham District Court of Weymouth; George L.
• Tobin, Quincy Police Department, retired, Edward J.
• Tobin, Quincy Police Department, retired, Edward J.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments focused on education, health, transportation, tax administration, and oversight. Senator Kennedy spoke in support of increasing funding for DTA caseworkers to improve SNAP access and reduce delays, but then withdrew the amendment by unanimous consent. Senator O’Connor’s amendment adding $500,000 for Free Period to provide free menstrual products in public schools was adopted, as was Senator Miranda’s $1 million METCO transportation and student support amendment. Senator Collins briefly proposed extending paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance coverage to graduate student workers, but withdrew that amendment for later discussion. Several amendments were debated and either adopted or rejected. Senator Tarr’s proposal to create oversight of the Group Insurance Commission and fund an Inspector General review was defeated after opposition argued existing oversight was sufficient. Tarr also offered amendments on MBTA deficiency fund withdrawals and on requiring 90 days’ notice before state tax code decoupling changes; both were rejected after standing votes. Senator Driscoll’s amendment for Randolph Public Schools restroom improvements was adopted, while his veterans student loan forgiveness amendment was withdrawn. Additional amendments were adopted for Bridgewater Middle School water filtration, Uffum’s Corner Health Center, and NeighborHealth’s pharmacy technician training program for local high school students. A major discussion centered on school funding and enrollment declines. Senator DiDomenico withdrew an amendment that would have provided $100 million to address Chapter 70 funding losses tied to enrollment drops, but he and Senator Collins used the floor to argue that districts facing declining enrollment and rising costs need a broader state response. The Senate also adopted a new draft of the supplemental budget and then passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote, with 35 members in the affirmative and 4 in the negative. The chamber then adjourned to meet again Monday, and did so in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy mayor, state legislator, and clerk magistrate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ensures that education retirement systems are financially sound.
• Madam Chair, I was just planning to move a do-pass on each second. Senator Vanya Nornu.
• Madam Chair, I was just planning to move a due pass on each second. Senator Vanya Nornu.
• I'm the executive director of the Educational Retirement Board.
• Madam Chair, Representative Block, the volunteer firefighter retirement benefit is very small.

Summary: The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee met and first heard House Bill 30, which would update New Mexico’s teacher residency program. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would raise and index residency stipends to a percentage of a level-one teacher salary, better align pay with teacher compensation over time, and loosen post-residency service rules so residents could teach anywhere in New Mexico rather than being tied to one district. Testimony from educators, school boards, unions, and teacher-preparation groups emphasized that year-long residencies improve classroom readiness, help recruit career changers and special education teachers, and increase retention, especially in rural areas. Members asked about the stipend calculation and funding impacts; the bill was described as using existing grow funding and possibly requiring tradeoffs in future years. The committee approved HB 30 on a do-pass vote. The committee then considered House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill. PERA staff explained that the measure makes technical corrections, resolves ambiguities, and aligns the statute with current administrative practice without making major policy changes. Supporters from AFSCME and the Educational Retirement Board said the bill would help administer retirement benefits more clearly, reduce litigation risk, and improve reciprocity for members with both PERA and ERB service credit. Committee questions focused on liability for overpayments, disability-retiree earnings limits, and survivor benefits for volunteer firefighters; staff said the changes were intended to broaden and modernize the language and mirror other retirement plans. HB 43 also received a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 255, which would consolidate separate public safety workforce funding streams into a single nonreverting public safety workforce capacity building fund. The sponsor and Department of Finance and Administration witnesses said the new fund would create a more durable, flexible way to support recruitment, retention, relocation assistance, training, equipment, and other workforce needs for police, corrections, firefighters, and related public safety personnel. Supporters from the State Police, counties, labor, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber said vacancies and short staffing are severe and that a stable grant program would help fill positions and improve public safety and economic stability. After brief questions about the fund structure and uses, the committee passed HB 255 on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've reduced our employer contributions for retirement.
• of the New Hampshire retirement members of the New Hampshire retirement system<00:26:18.039><c> the<
• :26:29.520><c> plan</c><00:26:29.880><c> benefits</c><00:26:30.520><c> increasing</c> our medical plan
• <00:27:12.919><c> um</c><00:27:13.919><c> system</c> planning um system planning um system infrastructure
• </c> the many more took the early retirement the many more took the early retirement program<00:39:58.079

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• Particularly in the context of the congressional redistricting plan, as opposed to waiting for the plan
• In various plans, including the congressional plan, over time.
• The plan doesn't build trust; it breaks it.
• We are the second worst place to retire.
• So what do you plan to do with all the...?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The new pay plan that we have come up with fixes that problem, and what sorry, the new pay plan that
• I was wondering if the proposed ISP pay plan is going to have enough money.
• It would surprise you that we get a lot of folks who have retired from the military.
• And oftentimes in our academies, our class presidents are retired military folks.
• And oftentimes in our academies, our class presidents are retired military folks.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved minutes from March 17, 18, 19, and 20, then took up House Bill 944, sponsored by Rep. Palmer, which would redirect $5 million from the liquor distribution formula to the Idaho State Police choice fund to help address trooper pay and recruitment problems. ISP Director Bill Gardner testified that the agency has severe staffing shortages, unfilled positions, and difficulty recruiting and retaining troopers, especially at the 5-, 10-, and 15-year marks, because its pay has fallen behind other law enforcement agencies. He explained that the bill would help but would not fully solve the problem; he said the original ongoing funding request was $12 million, and a fully sustainable long-term solution would be about $18 million. He also described a new merit-based pay structure and said he would suspend ISP’s lateral transfer program for three years if a solution is reached, to reduce concerns from sheriffs and city police about losing officers. Committee members raised concerns that the bill would shift financial pain to counties and cities, especially rural counties that already struggle to fund local law enforcement and related services. Some members argued the Legislature should use the rainy day fund or restore prior gas-tax support instead of reallocating existing revenue, while others said the bill was a necessary step to address a real law enforcement crisis even if it was not enough. Rep. Palmer said he did not want to use the rainy day fund for ongoing salaries and asked the committee to consider a smaller, more workable solution. After debate, Rep. Cheatham moved to send House Bill 944 to General Orders as a substitute motion, and the committee approved that motion on a 12-3 roll call vote, sending the bill to General Orders rather than advancing it directly to the floor. The committee then briefly recognized its page and secretary before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people are, you know, retiring and moving on.
• A lot of people are, you know, retiring and moving on.
• . the commission does is approve the state's revolving fund intended use plan.
• That's a plan that comes to them from DNR staff that includes the applications of the POTWs.
• They vote to approve that plan that includes all of those.

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture met in executive session and took up three bills before moving to a public hearing on House Bill 1885. On House Bill 2297, Representative Hayden’s fencing/enclosure bill, the committee adopted a House Committee substitute after discussion about terminology changes, including whether to use “property boundary line” versus “division line,” and about liability language for injuries during fence construction. The substitute was then reported do pass by a vote of 18 ayes and 3 noes. The committee next approved House Bill 2436, Representative Van Skoik’s animal impoundment bill, by a vote of 14 ayes and 7 noes. It then considered House Bill 2713, where the committee adopted a substitute and an amendment restoring a five-year sunset, after discussion that the bill related to a tax credit and industry concerns about removing the sunset. The final committee vote on the House Committee substitute for HB 2713 was 17 ayes and 4 noes, and it was reported do pass. In public hearing, Representative Van Skoik presented House Bill 1885, which would change the makeup of the Clean Water Commission by allowing at least one member knowledgeable about publicly owned wastewater treatment works, removing a two-year waiting period for certain industry members, and directing the commission to set recusal rules for conflicts of interest. Supporters from the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and municipal utilities said the bill would help ensure knowledgeable, current wastewater professionals can serve and address a shortage of experienced people in the field. Questions focused on whether the commission should set its own conflict rules and whether members could still have income from permit holders; the sponsor and witnesses said recusal rules would address conflicts and that the bill was intended to improve expertise on the commission. No opposition testimony was heard before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you have an $800-a-month bill for your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan or whatever plan you have, those
• So if you have an $800-a-month bill for your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan or whatever plan you have, those
• and commercial health care plans... ...reform tax on Medi-Cal managed care plans and commercial health
• care plans licensed by the Department of Managed Healthcare.
• He has unfortunately announced his retirement, which won't happen for a year.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we typically have three levels of work plans.
• career teachers and the age of teachers at retirement.
• evaluation to ask those questions of whether or not you know you're retiring, why you're retiring, and
• We surveyed current teachers about their reasons for retiring.
• We surveyed current teachers, retired teachers, and paraprofessionals.

Bills: SB197 , HB140 , SB214 , HB214 , HB147 , HB270 , SB73

Committee: House Fiscal Responsibility

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Transcript Highlights:

• Janice Gebhardt is a lifelong Californian and retired embryologist.
• Since retiring in 2015, she has devoted herself to community service.
• Shirley Rowe is a retired teacher and president of the.
• After retirement, Ms. Rowe returned to farming to support the next generation of farmers. Ms.
• After retiring from Procter and Gamble.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plans and disability plans as well.
• Retirement plans and disability plans as well.
• plans.
• The general, if this passes, would be able to offer a retirement benefit, a health care plan, something
• like that, without bridging the line... ...a retirement benefit, a health care plan, something like

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first introduced a new page, approved the January 27 and January 29 minutes, and then heard House Bill 703, which would consolidate multiple disciplinary provisions into a single procedural framework in Title 67 without changing substantive licensing standards. The sponsor said it was a cleanup measure building on prior code consolidation work, and a contractor group testified in support. The committee voted to send HB 703 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The main item was House Bill 704, a universal E-Verify bill requiring employers to verify new hires through the federal system. Sponsors said it would protect Idaho workers and businesses, align with federal law, and create a level playing field; they also said they were open to adjusting the implementation date. Supporters included business, law enforcement, immigrant, and advocacy witnesses who argued it would enforce existing law and reduce unauthorized employment. Opponents, including the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, small business and bookkeeping witnesses, and others, argued E-Verify is flawed, burdensome, and could harm agriculture, construction, household employers, and other sectors; they also raised concerns about biometric language, private complaints to the Attorney General, and possible unintended coverage of service relationships. After extensive committee questioning and testimony, a motion to send HB 704 to general orders failed 11-7. The committee then voted 16-2 to send HB 704 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation, with several members noting they reserved the right to change their votes on the floor. The committee then began House Bill 700, which would add criminal penalties for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers while providing a defense for employers who use E-Verify in good faith. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an enforcement measure, while opponents repeated concerns about E-Verify’s reliability and added burdens; the transcript ends during the sponsor’s closing remarks on HB 700, before any committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• have 75 years as retirement age, 19 states have 70 as a retirement age, and six states have retirement
• 19 states have 70 as years as Retirement 19 states have 70 as a<00:26:51.640><c> retirement</c><00:26
• and six states have a retirement and six states have retirement<00:26:54.360><c> ages</c><00:26:54.840
• I really wasn't planning on doing it, but I just felt like I needed to do it.
• So, but I'm retired.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• These aren't family investments or retirement accounts. We should protect those.
• Your retirement account or your family's college savings plan.
• Members, House Bill 13 is a bill for a plan for an interoperability system.
• You talk to Chief Kidd; this is a 7 to 10 year build-out to create a statewide plan.
• Davis of Dallas relating to deferred retirement option plans under the public retirement systems for

Bills: HJR4 , HJR6 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• for 35... ...for, I know to this committee that I am a retired agriculture teacher and FFA advisor for
• I'm a retired dairyman farmer, and maybe sitting here thinking about it, one of the most unique things
• I'm a retired dairyman farmer, and maybe sitting here thinking about it, one of the most unique things
• We will not meet this Friday, but plan to meet next Monday, and we're just going to dive right in and
• But plan to meet next Monday, and we're just going to dive right in and go to work.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 618 requires health insurance plans for state employees, retirees, and school teachers to
• Currently, the plans ensuring our public servants lack coverage for IVF treatments.
• That's ERS employees, uh, uh, Section 2 of their line six basic plan under Chapter 1575.
• Uh, part three, primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579, that is TRA TRS retired employees and
• then section 4 line 9, or number 4, I'm sorry, not section number 4, a plan providing basic coverage

Bills: HB201 , HB272

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people are, you know, retiring and moving on.
• A lot of people are, you know, retiring and moving on.
• And so, you know, a lot of these people that retire, they're, they believe in public service, they're
• That’s a plan that comes to them from DNR staff that includes the applications of the POTWs.
• They vote to approve that plan that includes all of those.

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to mean less contributions into PERSI, and that's going to put a burden on those who are already retired
• It helped to modernize some of our retirement plans, and with that, made it possible for 401(k)s and
• simple IRAs and other retirement plans to allow for after-tax contributions. ...401(k)s and simple IRAs
• and other retirement plans to allow for after-tax contributions, or what we know of as Roth contributions
• However, ...after-tax contributions into that 401(k) on the PERSI Choice plan.

Summary: The House Commerce and Human Resources Committee opened by welcoming new members Representatives Bingham and Haas and a new committee secretary, Michelle Coburn. The committee then received a briefing from Representative Josh Tanner on the JFAC budget process, with Tanner emphasizing that germane committees should pay closer attention to budget impacts, fiscal notes, ongoing costs, and whether existing programs still achieve their intended purpose. He discussed the committee’s role in reviewing policy decisions that drive spending, the limits of using stabilization funds for structural spending problems, and the major budget drivers in Idaho, especially education, health and welfare, and corrections. Members asked Tanner about Medicaid, agency cuts, and the risk that repeated reductions could lead to furloughs and pension impacts. Tanner said additional Medicaid cuts would be constrained by federal approval, noted that some Health and Welfare reductions were already being considered, and argued that agencies should identify where cuts can be made rather than relying on reserves. He also encouraged the committee to look backward at existing statutes and programs to determine whether they still work or should be scaled back. The committee then considered two RS measures. Representative Ted Hill presented RS 3-2-878, a bill to conform Idaho leave law to recent changes increasing military leave from 120 to 160 hours and removing a contradiction in the law; the committee moved to introduce it and the motion passed. Representative Furman presented RS 32833, which would fix compliance issues in PERSI by aligning Idaho law with the federal Secure Act 2.0 and allowing after-tax Roth-style contributions in the PERSI Choice 401(k) plan; the committee also moved to introduce it and the motion passed. The meeting ended with notice of a future Thursday meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members should retire to the rear of the chamber as I call your name.
• I think I've surprised some of my colleagues who did not know you were retiring.
• AB 1999 responds to this resolution by creating a retired volunteer status for retired veterinarians
• , IEP, or 504 plan as valid proof of their disability.
• relating to retirement and making an appropriation therefor.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amending Section 37-83, A.R.S., relating to the Arizona State Retirement System.
• Amending Section 37-83, A.R.S., relating to the Arizona State Retirement System.
• With that, when he retired out of the Air Force, he did not get a proper retirement.
• Air Force retired Master Sergeant Nick Cupper. Congratulations. Representative Sandoval?
• So to best serve my constituents and all my supporters, I will plan the result.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions, including the Doctor of the Day, students visiting the chamber, and other special guests. Members also announced committee substitutions and bill withdrawals/re-referrals, and the chamber observed a moment of respectful silence for the late Hon. George Cunningham, after unanimously adopting HCR 2060, a death resolution honoring his public service. The House then spent much of the day in Committee of the Whole on several calendars. The most contested item was HB 2758, a groundwater transportation bill, which drew extensive debate over fairness to the McMullen Valley and the need to protect water supplies for the CAP system and metro Phoenix. Multiple amendments were adopted, including changes affecting transfer limits and basin-specific water allocations. The bill ultimately received a do pass recommendation in COW by a 31-23 vote, and later passed third reading in the House 32-24 after several members explained their votes. A motion to amend the COW report to show the bill failed was defeated 23-32. The House also advanced a series of other measures with little or no opposition. In COW, HB 2049, HB 2090, HB 2092, HB 2179 as amended, HB 2228 as amended, HB 2111, HB 2114, HB 2256 as amended, HCM 2007 as amended, HR 2003, HB 2098, HB 2265 as amended, HB 2663, HB 2666 as amended, HB 2756 as amended, HB 2192 as amended, HB 2476, HB 2693 as amended, and HB 2877 as amended all received do pass recommendations, while HB 2875 was retained on the calendar. The House later passed several bills on third reading, including HB 2089, HB 2258, HB 2322, HB 2786, and HB 2825, and referred the approved measures to engrossing or to the Senate as appropriate. The session concluded with numerous personal privilege remarks, including recognition of a retiring Air Force veteran, Black History Month remarks, birthday wishes, and an announcement that Representative Chaplik plans to resign next week to focus on a congressional campaign. The House also announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026.