Transcript Highlights:

• and the House bill.
• That is the House bill, Madam President. Are there amendments to the House amendment?
• House Bill 711, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Spectrum Alert.
• House Bill 1101, a bill to be entitled an act relating to out-of-network providers.
• A bill to be entitled an act relating to housing.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• the fiscal impact of House Bill 863, which has to do with the residential habilitation provider rate
• Chairman, and I guess I'm looking at House Bill 863 being added in here, but I'm not seeing the Millennium
• Representative Manwaring, your chairman, just a question with regards to the impacts of House Bill 863
• Bill 863 that passed the house and is in here as a 21 That passed the House and is in here as a $21
• And, as mentioned, the bill to consolidate those two agencies has passed the House. Mr.

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met to revisit the Health and Human Services maintenance budget after the prior appropriation bill failed. Members debated competing FY 2027 budget motions that adjusted the Department of Health and Welfare budget, including reductions tied to House Bill 863’s residential habilitation provider rate changes. One substitute motion to cut the program more deeply failed, while the original motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. Several members voiced concern about the size of the residential habilitation cuts and the absence of funding for ACT teams, peer support, and other services, while others argued the program’s rapid growth and federal funding dependence justified the reductions. The committee also adopted unchanged standard language from the prior bill and approved new language requiring the department to report by year-end on rules citing Idaho Code 56-202 and to justify or repeal any unsupported rule sections. The committee then approved language for the Department of Water Resources, including filing-fee language and reappropriation authority for ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund money, by unanimous consent. It next considered the Workforce Development Council budget, including consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council and a budget-neutral transfer among expenditure categories; that motion passed. The committee also approved a FY 2026 supplemental reduction for the STEM Action Center and then a FY 2027 reduction that zeroed out the STEM Action Center’s standalone budget in connection with the consolidation, both with do-pass recommendations. Finally, the committee considered language for the Office of the Attorney General restoring about $980,000 from the Consumer Protection Fund. After discussion, members removed “continuous appropriation” wording and replaced it with a regular appropriation for a two-year period. Some members objected that the language would divert dedicated consumer-protection money and reduce general fund reversions, while supporters said it would help cover personnel costs and avoid layoffs. The amended language passed with a do-pass recommendation. The chair then announced the committee would meet the next day to address public schools and IDLA and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, if you're not on the floor, five or six people pass the bill.
• President, there's a message from the House. Admit the messenger.
• Following bills on first reading and reference, the committee secretary will read the bills.
• Concur on amendments to House Bill 1 and request members to scroll down on the floor a little bit, and
• And let's make it 3:45.

Bills: SJR27 , SJR39 , SB22 , SB33 , SB34 , SB37 , SB209 , SB310 , SB326 , SB505 , SB605 , SB618 , SB732 , SB762 , SB769 , SB783 , SB819 , SB825 , SB870 , SB964 , SB1030 , SB1080 , SB1085 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1233 , SB1314 , SB1320 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1405 , SB1541 , SB1567 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1625 , SB1646 , SB1662 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1791 , SB1804 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1838 , SB1855 , SB1869 , SB1951 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2368 , SB2411 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SB2569

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> welcome them to the House. welcome them to the House.
• </c> on House Resolution 26. on House Resolution 26.
• Education will meet at 3:00 in at 3:00.
• &gt;&gt; Education,<00:37:12.080><c> 3:00.</c> &gt;&gt; Education, 3:00. &gt;&gt; Education, 3:00.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Drug Policy, 3:30, 204. &gt;&gt; Drug Policy, 3:30, 204.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the House bill.
• House Bill 711, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Spectrum Alert.
• House Bill 1101, a bill to be entitled an act relating to out-of-network providers.
• A bill to be entitled an act relating to housing...
• A bill to be entitled an act relating to housing.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• noted House and Senate bills.
• </c> our House of Representatives. our House of Representatives.
• </c> at 3:00 p.m. in room 430. at 3:00 p.m. in room 430. So<00:16:53.200><c> ordered.
• </c> Madam Speaker, I move that this house Madam Speaker, I move that this house stand<00:18:08.080><
• The house stands adjourned carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 70 has duly passed this House.
• House Bill 156 removes the sunset clause from Senate Bill 3 that we did in the first special session
• So in the meantime, you're moving House floor amendment number one to Senate Bill 3 as twice amended.
• So, in the meantime, you're moving House floor amendment number one to Senate Bill 3, as twice amended
• Senate Bill 3, as twice amended, has duly passed the House. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB111 , HB61 , HB43 , HB156 , HB70 , SB3 , HB103 , HB109 , HB128 , HB247 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and pledges, and spent much of the session on memorials and recognitions. Members honored former Senator Clint Hardin with a certificate and extended condolences, with several representatives sharing personal remembrances of his work on autism coverage, second chances for formerly incarcerated people, rural issues, and bipartisan dealmaking. The chamber also recognized Council of Governments Day, 4-H Day, NMSU Day, scouting groups, and several student and community guests, including youth from 4-H, NMSU CAMP, folklórico, and the La Cueva boys soccer team. The House received messages from the governor and Senate, including authorization for House Bill 320, the Industrial Carbon Reduction Act, and Senate passage of several bills. Committee reports were adopted on a long list of measures, including House Bills 145, 158, 180, 49, 164, 256, 287, 60, 120, 166, 306, 124, 314, 185, 253, 195, 259, 295, 296, 338, and others, along with several joint resolutions and memorials. The chamber also ordered certain bills germane and referred them to committees, and enrolled and engrossed multiple memorials. On third reading, House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill, passed 65-0. The House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 70, updating the Public Regulation Commission and hearing officer structure, passed 66-0 after brief debate. House Bill 247, which modernizes capital outlay procedures and limits reauthorizations, was then taken up; the sponsor explained it would send unspent general fund capital outlay money to a Capital Development and Reserve Fund and tribal project balances to the tribal infrastructure fund. An amendment was offered to redirect the reserve fund money to the state road fund, and debate began, with members discussing road conditions and the purpose of the reserve fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first piece is that House Bill 345 of last session made some changes to the Medicaid program, specifically
• One of the changes that was enacted by House Bill 345 last session, as you can see highlighted on the
• House Bill 345 has them all roll into the dedicated fund.
• Bill 345 of 2025.
• We have for the Senate 3 ayes, 6 nays, one absent and excused; for the House, 1 aye, 8 nays, one absent

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met to consider several Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid items, Idaho State Police budgets, the Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Department of Administration and Military Division. The committee first approved a FY 2026 Medicaid forecast supplemental, then approved a budget-neutral FY 2026 hospital assessment fund shift and creation of a separate hospital assessment budgeted program. For FY 2027 Medicaid, members heard extensive discussion of MMIS procurement, estate recovery, program integrity, purchasing staff, hospital assessment alignment, population forecast adjustments, and proposed reductions tied to provider rates and RESHAB. After debate among three competing motions, the committee rejected two alternatives and passed the original motion, which included the governor’s recommended Medicaid adjustments and the $22 million reduction concept, sending it with a do pass recommendation. The committee then approved Idaho State Police Brand Inspection replacement items for trucks and equipment, as well as Idaho State Police division requests for a commercial vehicle safety grant increase, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement patrol vehicles and equipment. POST Academy replacement items were also approved. For the Department of Juvenile Corrections, members approved clinician service transfer funding from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of six FTPs and related funding for direct care staff and substance use disorder mentoring services. In the Department of Administration budget, the committee debated Medicaid procurement staffing and related transfers. A substitute motion to fund three FTPs failed, and the committee ultimately approved a compromise motion funding two FTPs, utilities alignment, program transfers, inflationary utilities, IT hardware, and a prior rescission adjustment. The Military Division enhancement request for indirect cost recovery for emergency management and state education assistance funding was also approved. The committee adjourned after announcing its Monday agenda, which included DEQ, public school support and financing, services for the deaf and blind, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 608, Representative Pickett and Furness.
• Heather Scott, District 2, and before you is House Bill 635.
• Before you is House Bill 636, which I am grateful is a simple bill.
• House Bill 636 aligns existing plant facilities language with final stages of House Bill 292 Waterfall
• House Bill 636 aligns existing plant facilities language with final stages of House Bill 292 Waterfall

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• With House Senate Bill 218, Madam Chair, what this is, and I will yield to my witnesses so they can give
• Right now they're housed in Fire Station 3, which is in White Rock.
• .. ...stripped off but put into the work of the Finance Committee as it works on House Bill 2 is for
• But if this is the eight years times the number, that was in the original House bill.
• There is a bill in the House, Representative Chandler, and they're trying to... ...trying to connect

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization and step-therapy measure, on a committee substitute that had already incorporated many stakeholder changes. The sponsor and agency witnesses described revisions to definitions of chronic health condition and serious mental illness, shorter prior-authorization periods, and limits on reporting requirements. Supporters, including a nurse practitioner and disability advocates, said the bill would reduce barriers to needed medications and urged broader protections for chronic and behavioral health conditions. Health insurance and pharmacy benefit management representatives remained opposed, arguing prior authorization is an important patient-safety tool and objecting to the bill’s limits on its use. Senator Hickey offered two amendments: one to conform electronic prior-authorization response times to existing law by changing seven days to three, and one to restore the prior-authorization period from 12 months to three years. The first amendment was accepted; the second passed on a 5-4 vote. The committee then approved the amended substitute 6-3. The committee next heard Senate Bill 111, which would expand the confidentiality of personal information held by the Motor Vehicle Division to include sex, gender identity, national origin, and immigration status. Tax and Revenue officials explained that the bill would not change what documents MVD collects, but would limit disclosure of sensitive information contained in scanned records unless a statutory exception applies. Members asked about what appears on licenses, what is stored in MVD’s system, and whether law enforcement access would change; officials said criminal law enforcement exceptions would remain in place and that the bill mainly affects public disclosure requests. The committee voted 8-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation. Senate Bill 218, funding a Los Alamos Emergency Operations Center, was presented as a regional disaster-response and training facility for northern New Mexico. Los Alamos County witnesses said the project would support emergency management training and coordination across the region and requested $5 million. Several senators questioned whether the county had explored bonding, intergovernmental agreements, or regional cost-sharing, and raised concerns about Los Alamos’s debt capacity and whether the project was truly regional. Supporters said the county has a long capital backlog and that the center would serve communities from Santa Fe north. The committee ultimately voted 9-1 to advance the bill. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 14, a major health professional loan-repayment proposal. Senator Hickey described it as an effort to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals by increasing repayment amounts, prioritizing physicians and doctors of osteopathic medicine for 50% of the fund, and allowing service commitments with some flexibility, including part-time work. Supporters from medical, nursing, and behavioral health groups said the bill would help address workforce shortages and make New Mexico more competitive. Committee members asked about the inclusion of physician assistants, the 90-day start requirement, anti-donation concerns, tax treatment, tribal and IHS providers, and whether the 50% physician set-aside would leave enough for other professions. After discussion, the committee voted 10-0 to send the bill forward with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1f.
• Senate Bill 1257 in its current form, the bill is confusing.
• House Bill 3314. OK, this is the tax bill. The folly of this bill cannot be understated.
• And I just want to actually, this goes back to House Bill 454, and I might say this wrong, Senate Bill
• Representative Marty did amend Representative Newton's bill to take out the milligram caps on the house

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, Vice Chair, for the vote. >> Voting on House Bill 2384 HD1 with amendments. the recommendations
• </c> >> Voting on House Bill 2384 HD1 with amendments.
• </c><00:45:15.520><c> House</c><00:45:15.760><c> Bill</c><00:45:16.000><c> 750.
• </c><00:45:17.040><c> that</c> last year in bill House Bill 750. that last year in bill House Bill 750
• Uh, this bill was prime previously, testified by a different part of our house, which was a solid waste

Bills: HB2384

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The joint committees heard HB 2384, relating to student athlete compensation, with testimony largely in support from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Athletics, and several other supporters. UH Mānoa said the bill would create a framework for name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies, including education, financial literacy, agent regulation, transparency, and reporting. Supporters argued NIL is now a necessary part of college athletics to recruit and retain athletes, keep Hawaiʻi talent in-state, and remain competitive, while also helping student athletes develop as future leaders. One supporter also emphasized the need for financial guidance so young athletes do not mishandle NIL income. Committee members questioned why the bill would direct public funds to NIL payments rather than broader athletic operations or other student groups, whether other states are funding NIL directly, and whether the approach could create a bidding war. UH representatives said the university already has NIL contracts in place, but the bill would strengthen and formalize policies. They said the requested funding model includes about $5 million for NIL and $10 million for athletics operations, with the NIL amount intended to supplement private fundraising; they also noted UH has raised roughly $1.5 million to $2 million for NIL since July 1 and is targeting $3 million this fiscal year. Members also raised concerns about fairness, public spending priorities, and whether the university’s policies adequately protect student athletes. The committees voted to pass HB 2384 HD1 with amendments. The chair said the bill should be amended to explicitly state that allocated funds may be used by UH for NIL payments to student athletes, and asked the next committee to examine whether a different payment scheme, similar to those used elsewhere, might be more appropriate for public funds. One member announced a no vote, citing concerns about direct public funding of NIL and unequal treatment of student athletes versus other students. The JHA committee adopted the same recommendation, with some members voting with reservations. Afterward, the meeting moved on to HB 644 HD1 on single-use plastics, where the first testimony was in opposition from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Biodegradable Products Institute, both arguing the bill as drafted would improperly exclude certified compostable products and should better align with composting and certification standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• : Senate Bill 1, 2, and 3.
• You should also have copies of Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3.
• To keep in mind is that even though the bills were introduced as Senate Bills 1, 2, and 3, the way you
• Lastly, Senate Bill 3 is your guardrails. How do you make sure that things are done right?
• We've got money in House Bill 2 for supportive housing.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with House Bill 886.
• We're going to start with House Bill 886 by Representative Orgeron. Ms.
• All right, next bill: House Bill 855 by Representative Orgeron. resource.
• Next bill. House Bill 8, 5.5. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• We do have cards wishing to speak on House Bill 872.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 96 creates a working group to study the possibility of creating the New Mexico Space Commission
• And so House Joint Memorial 3. Thank you. Mr.
• Chairman, members of the subcommittee, House Joint Memorial 3 asks the Environment Department and the
• Environmental Improvement Board to take a look at the... we passed House Bill 212.
• For example, House Joint Memorial 3 states that the act requires manufacturers to label products containing

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 3 bills today. We will begin on tab one with Senate Bill 526.
• Excuse me, the bill as amended other questions on the bill.
• And today this feels like a different Bill. I voted no on this bill.
• And let's take up Tab 3 Senate Bill, 170, on quality care in nursing homes. You're recognized.
• And Senator Trumbull, this is on this committee with a sponsored a bill that was the House sponsor at

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes the manufactured housing bill of rights.
• It includes the manufactured housing bill of rights.
• </c> It includes the manufactured housing It includes the manufactured housing bill<00:03:01.920><c>
• </c><00:09:35.920><c> bill</c><00:09:36.120><c> of</c> modify the manufactured housing bill of modify
• This is everything we've got in the housing bill this year.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 749. Ms. Little, read in the bill, please.
• Robinson, would you read in House Bill 979? This is House Bill 979.
• Members, House Bill 325.
• House Bill 325.
• Vice Chairman Zeringue made a motion to pass House Bill 992 favorable, seeing no objection, House Bill

Bills: HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB416 , HB482 , HB610 , HB749 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1193

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: survivor benefits, law enforcement, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, public safety, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, judicial salaries, judges, judiciary compensation, cost of living adjustment, COLA, Louisiana Supreme Court, court of appeal judges, district court judges, city court judges, parish court judges

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we are here to reconvene the JCC on House Bill 11, which is the Cap Con bill.
• </c> in this bill. in this bill. Okay. Okay. Okay.
• </c> of state buildings is in this bill. of state buildings is in this bill.
• </c> It still stands in the bill. It still stands in the bill.
• Chairman, can we can we take 3<00:12:31.600><c> minutes?</c> 3 minutes? 3 minutes?

Summary: The committee reconvened on House Bill 11, the capital construction bill, with a quorum present and focused on several remaining amendments. Members discussed projects including a building completion in Jackson, the NC Center at Gillette College, and a University of Wyoming parking lot green space item that had already been resolved. A major point of discussion was the Gillette College proposal, which was tied to a requirement that the college move to a four-mill levy and provide a one-to-one local match; supporters argued this would bring Gillette into the state system on equal footing and was a fair incentive, while opponents raised concerns about the mechanism and the impact on their own institutions. There was also clarification that major maintenance funding for state buildings remained in the bill, while the LCCC exterior renewal project and a separate inflation-related request were distinct items. The committee first considered a motion to cut the NZ stem research facility funding from $16 million to $8 million, but that motion failed. After a brief recess, members reached a compromise on the two contested projects: a motion passed to set the Gillette NC Center at $6 million and the Jackson project at $750,000, by a vote of 5-1. The committee then unanimously reinstated the stricken University of Wyoming language in section 3. The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation for the compromise and the bill was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, committee members, for allowing us to bring this bill forward, House Bill 44, also named Landon's
• Thank you, committee members, for allowing us to bring this bill forward, House Bill 44, also named Landon's
• c> 44</c> to bring this bill forward House Bill 44 to bring this bill forward House Bill 44 also<00:02
• c><00:03:08.159><c> hopes</c> hearing for House Bill 44 in the hopes hearing for House Bill 44 in the
• But this was something that several people asked for when we passed House Bill 265 last year.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 44, “Landon’s Law,” sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni. The bill would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac on hand while limiting liability. Testimony from Equal First Aid and LifeVac emphasized that choking is a leading cause of death for children, that the devices are noninvasive and FDA-registered, and that updated Red Cross guidance allows their use when standard rescue protocols fail or are not feasible. Lauren McCubbins, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her 8-year-old son’s death from choking at school and urged the committee to give schools an added rescue option. Members asked questions about how the device works, whether the Heimlich maneuver remains part of the protocol, and whether the bill is limited to LifeVac or applies to similar devices. The bill was reported favorably, with a roll call vote showing unanimous support from members present. The committee then heard a bill sponsored by Rep. J. Baker aimed at reducing administrative burdens in schools and supporting teacher recruitment and retention. The measure would lengthen the required evaluation cycle for tenured teachers from every three years to every five years, provide teachers a copy of their employment contract upon request, streamline professional development provisions, update continuous school improvement plan filing requirements, restore schools’ ability to use Title II funds for certain programs after an unintended consequence of prior legislation, and require KDE to review reporting requirements and eliminate those not required by law. Rep. Baker said the bill was developed with teachers and administrators through a working group and is intended to reduce “check-the-box” tasks so educators can focus on instruction. Amanda Butler of Spencer County Schools and other educators testified that the changes would save time, preserve funding for mentor and induction programs, and reduce repetitive paperwork. Rep. Fleming asked for clarification on the longer evaluation cycle, and an educator witness explained that each evaluation involves pre-observation, observation, and post-observation time and that districts would still retain flexibility to evaluate more often if needed. No final vote on this bill was included in the transcript excerpt.