Transcript Highlights:

• This slide is describing some of the ways that legislators use those appropriations.
• requests.
• So in the last session, you received nearly $4 billion in requests for direct appropriations for capital
• The requests.
• OK, so first off, request deadlines and information on requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• requests as provided for in statute.
• The uses of the fund are determined by legislative appropriation.
• The uses of the fund are determined by legislative appropriation.
• the appropriation be spent for a specific purpose.
• Are either reporting structures or requesting that funds in the appropriation need to be spent for a

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee met to consider several budget items and related language. For the Idaho Judicial Branch, the committee approved a motion adding $3.9 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including money for the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, treatment court and family court services funds, the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the court technology funding was being shifted to dedicated funds to replace general fund support, and the motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 from the general fund, including support for the Second Judicial District CASA program and restoration of part of a prior rescission. Testimony emphasized the role of CASA volunteers and guardian ad litems in child welfare cases. The motion passed despite some dissent, and the committee also adopted related language. For the Millennium Income Fund, the committee approved a motion totaling $9,872,200, including funding for the Kamiah recovery center, the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, youth assessment centers, children’s advocacy centers, a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and an added $30,000 for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers. The added SRO funding drew questions about committee consultation, but the substitute motion passed. The committee also adopted maintenance and new appropriation language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions. Finally, the committee approved $486,300 in dedicated funds for the Idaho State Historical Society for archival moving and IT hardware, along with reappropriation language for unspent archive-move funds. It also adopted statewide language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in appropriation bills binding law. The meeting concluded with notice of the next day’s agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a request for court interpreters. It is a request to increase that appropriation by 94,750.
• This is a request from their cash fund appropriation.
• He was requested to make an increase of $4 million appropriation. He's done it.
• request if you'll be getting actual funding request and will have both the money and the appropriation
• If I'm the legislator, I would rewrite your appropriation bill.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The department is requesting $1,298,600, one-time appropriation for exotic pest monitoring and treatment
• And finally, the last request is for $3,393,000 and one-time dedicated fund supplemental appropriation
• The department is requesting $1,298,600, one-time appropriation for exotic pest monitoring and treatment
• And finally, the last request is for $3,393,000 and one-time dedicated fund supplemental appropriation
• The last request is for $3,393,000 and one-time dedicated fund supplemental appropriation for expenses

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and then for the State Liquor Division. For Agriculture, analyst Morgan Poloni outlined the agency’s structure, staffing, dedicated funds, and major FY 2025-2027 budget items, including ongoing pay enhancements for investigators and fruit and vegetable inspectors, replacement items, IT hardware, reappropriation of the Resilient Food Systems Grant, and two FY 2026 requests: a deficiency warrant for exotic pest response and a supplemental appropriation for quagga mussel treatment. Director Chanel Tewalt emphasized the history and statutory basis of Idaho’s invasive species program, described the quagga mussel response and its impacts, and said the agency is trying to manage risk while maintaining inspection coverage. Members asked about grant delays, vehicle replacement, signage costs, chemical treatment costs, possible research or biological solutions, and whether cuts would reduce station hours or openings; Tewalt said some stations would be delayed or reduced under cuts and that the department would continue to seek creative enforcement and funding options. The committee then reviewed the Liquor Division budget. Poloni described the division as a dedicated-fund operation with retail, accounting, and distribution functions, and summarized FY 2025-2027 enhancements for personnel, store maintenance, ADA website compliance, replacement items, and IT/security equipment. Director Andrew Arulenandum said he had prioritized spending based on safety, legal exposure, and operational needs, citing a store shelving collapse and warehouse safety concerns as reasons for some requests. Members asked about a pending policy issue involving bulk lottery ticket purchases by out-of-state syndicates, and Arulenandum said the proposal would not have a fiscal impact but would protect the integrity of the lottery. He also addressed questions about liquor pricing and distributor concerns, explaining that Idaho uses a standard tiered markup and that smaller manufacturers can be disadvantaged by higher production costs, though the division sells premium bottles close to cost. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions taken, and the committee announced it would meet the next morning to take action on FY 2027 maintenance budgets before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to be providing you a brief overview of our legislative appropriations requests and um budgetary
• These are requests 123, and 5 in our legislative appropriations request.
• These are requests 78, and 9 in our legislative appropriations request.
• Our legislative appropriations request also includes a rider that would allow us to expend all fund 5105
• You've got a rather significant, um, legislative appropriations request in front of this committee right

Transcript Highlights:

• At the request of the courts, they redistribute the fiscal years '28 and '29 tail appropriations for
• And that section removes the provision that is a House-only provision that sets out legislative requests
• </c><00:29:05.800><c> requests</c><00:29:06.400><c> for</c> sets out legislative requests for sets out
• legislative requests for personal<00:29:07.280><c> protective</c><00:29:07.800><c> services</c><00:29
• , requests, requests, and<00:55:53.160><c> additional</c><00:55:53.760><c> legislator</c><00:55:54.480

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Safety and Security Conference Committee met on May 13, 2026, with a quorum present and no immediate vote taken. Chairs explained the committee was working ahead of a possible target so it could act quickly later if needed, then proceeded with member introductions and a reminder about committee decorum. Staff noted a microphone delay and said the meeting would include a side-by-side walk-through of the House and Senate policy language and a review of the fiscal spreadsheet. Fiscal staff summarized major differences in court, public safety, and legislative security funding. The House and Senate proposals differed on safety and security funding for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts, as well as on courthouse grants, capital security enhancements, and a new legislative/protective services unit. Staff also reviewed Senate-only and House-only items, including a Senate proposal to require removal of insignia from public safety vehicles sold to the public, and House provisions for a security services task force and member security costs. Total general fund impacts were reviewed, with the House total corrected to include an open appropriation that had been omitted from the spreadsheet totals. Nonpartisan staff then walked through the policy differences. The Senate language focused on a Protective Services Unit and security for principal state officials, while the House language focused on a Legislative Services Unit and security for legislators. Both bills included provisions on Capitol Complex Security, reporting requirements, and reimbursement arrangements with local law enforcement, but differed on details such as whether elected officials must provide contact information to DPS and how requests for personal protective services are handled. The House-only amendment A8 was presented for discussion; it would revise emergency contact provisions, replace the House’s personal protective services request language with a more detailed threat assessment and mitigation framework, direct implementation of the new unit, and make related reimbursement and technical changes. Judge Richard Kyle, president of the Minnesota District Judges Association, testified in support of stronger judicial and court safety measures. He described rising threats against judges, citing survey results showing high rates of judges limiting personal information, receiving inappropriate communications, changing personal behavior, and experiencing threats to themselves and family members. He said the association supports legislative authorization and funding for home security and personal data protections for judicial officers, and emphasized that safety concerns for judges and court staff have become more serious in recent years.

Transcript Highlights:

• April Renfro, Legislative Audit Division Manager, Legislative Services.” “Thank you.”
• April Renfro, Legislative Audit Division Manager, Legislative Services.”
• This is a request.
• This is a request.
• And so whether something is appropriate under legislative rules is just something for your bodies to

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next request includes $16 million in one-time federal appropriation The next request includes $16
• And finally, the department is requesting $20,000 in one-time dedicated federal appropriation for the
• This request encapsulates the budgeted program, including three FTP and all associated 2027 appropriation
• They can also be found, along with the budget request description, in your legislative budget book.
• The department is requesting $6,633,700 in one-time federal appropriation.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations for several Department of Health and Welfare divisions, including Early Learning and Development, Public Health Services, and Family and Community Partnerships. The analyst and director explained recent reorganizations, such as moving the Idaho Child Care Program into Early Learning and Development, shifting Emergency Medical Services out of Public Health, and proposing to move the Idaho Home Visiting Program from Public Health to Early Learning and Development for efficiency. The presentations also covered ongoing and one-time funding requests for child care capacity, immunizations, HIV and hepatitis prevention, lab testing, disaster preparedness, and kinship navigation services. A major focus was the Idaho Child Care Program capacity funding. Committee members asked about the source of the money, how much was already set aside, whether the funds would create new slots rather than subsidize existing ones, and how the department would verify proper use. The director said the money comes from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant, is intended to expand provider capacity in underserved and rural areas, and can support both licensed and unlicensed providers as long as federal health and safety requirements are met. Members also questioned the proposed five new program integrity positions, including a fraud investigator, and the director said they are needed for a full annual review of providers and beneficiaries; she later corrected that the positions are ongoing, not one-time, funding. Public health questions centered on the effectiveness of HIV and hepatitis prevention spending, the immunization assessment fund, and the role of public health more broadly. The director said HIV and hepatitis funds support education, screening, and surveillance rather than treatment, that the state continues to see a need despite rising case counts, and that the department is revamping outcome reporting. On immunizations, she said the assessment fund is financed by insurer assessments and supports vaccine purchases at lower cost, with the governor recommending an increase based on the assessment board’s decision. Members also asked about the home visiting program’s funding history, the proposed transfer of funds between Youth Safety and Permanency and Switzie for rare complex cases, and the use of ARPA funds for one-time data modernization projects. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to hear the budget adjustment requests, or BARs, and then the appropriation reauthorization
• If a BAR request comes in too soon after the conclusion of a legislative session where we've set a budget
• So this is related to actually some special appropriation requests from the Secretary of State's office
• Because yesterday we heard the special appropriation request from the second district attorney, We heard
• the special appropriation request from the second district attorney wanting $3 million for warrant enforcement

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• April Renfro, Legislative Audit Division Manager, Legislative Services. Thank you.
• This is a request.
• This is a request.
• I'm Elizabeth Bowen, Legislative Legal Counsel, and the Legislative Services Office.
• And so whether something is appropriate under legislative rules is just something for your bodies to

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on Idaho’s medical education workforce plan, developed from House Bill 368. The presenter said the working group unanimously supported a long-term plan to address Idaho’s physician shortage, noting Idaho ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 more doctors to reach the national average. Recommendations included maintaining existing WAMI and other state-supported seats, adding 10 non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, creating a dedicated health education coordinator/director to manage undergraduate and graduate placements and clinical sites, and using one-time Rural Health Transformation funds for larger investments. Members discussed the value of WAMI, the need for more clinical training sites, rural recruitment incentives, the role of nurse practitioners and other providers, and how to measure results. No formal vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then received April Renfro’s update on the statewide single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited for fiscal year 2024, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, especially Medicaid managed care eligibility and provider oversight, delayed health and safety surveys, and reporting problems tied in part to the Luma transition. Other notable findings involved the Child Care and Development Fund, Vocational Rehabilitation, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, and DEQ. Members pressed her on accountability, fraud detection, managed care oversight, Luma-related errors, staffing, and which findings should be prioritized for follow-up. She said her office would provide a top-10 list of priorities to the co-chairs. No vote was taken. After a break, the committee heard a budget presentation from Brooke Dupree on how to read the front-end reports in the legislative budget book. She explained the state’s constitutional structure, the 20 executive departments, and the decision-unit budget model, including the sequence from the current-year appropriation to maintenance, enhancements, and the final fiscal year 2027 original appropriation. She also walked through request-versus-recommendation reports and fund-source comparisons. Members asked a few clarifying questions, including what falls under public school support. The final item began a short presentation from the Impact Review Team on a base budget dashboard tool, described as a different way to view existing budget data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Evaluations, the legislative technology budget, and also the Legislative Services Office.
• I think we’re talking about the legislative budget, correct?
• Everybody will vote as they see appropriate.
• You've heard the unanimous consent request. You've heard the unanimous consent request.
• So for example, the enrollment workload adjustment was not requested. even requested.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first received updates from LSO on the latest green sheet, including the revenue impact of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Members then moved through a series of FY 2027 maintenance budgets, beginning with the legislative branch. The committee discussed the statewide 2% reduction layered on top of the governor’s recommendation, benefit-cost adjustments, and how those decisions were being built into the maintenance budgets. The legislative branch budget passed, followed by unanimous-consent adoption of related language. The committee next considered public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government budgets. In each case, analysts explained how rescissions, ongoing base reductions, and statewide adjustments were incorporated. Several members objected to the across-the-board cuts, arguing they would reduce staffing or services in corrections, juvenile corrections, environmental quality, health and welfare, public defender services, crime victims compensation, tax administration, and treatment courts, while supporters said the committee needed a target and would revisit details in enhancement work groups. Most budget motions passed on divided votes and were forwarded with do-pass recommendations. The committee also adopted multiple sections of standard and nonstandard language, including cash transfers, reporting requirements, and agency-specific provisions. In Health and Human Services, members debated language requiring reporting on large acquisitions and transfers, and in Economic Development and General Government they adopted language affecting the State Public Defender, the Department of Insurance, and group insurance premiums. The meeting ended while the committee was still working through a disputed general government language item about funding employee health insurance premiums from reserve accounts, with members debating whether the language should reference specific reserve funds or broader reserve funding and whether the proposal was properly within JFAC’s scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• A legislator who was working on this budget requested this language to direct the $550,000 for the fast
• requests.
• The division requested one enhancement, which would provide them $120,000 in dedicated fund appropriation
• The division requested one enhancement, which would provide them 120,000 in dedicated fund appropriation
• Reappropriation was requested for one-time monies that were appropriated for projects that extend past

Summary: The committee began with a general fund update from Legislative Services, which reviewed the latest green sheet, explained where to find budget information and hearing schedules online, and noted that JFAC actions had updated the FY 2026 and FY 2027 ending balance estimates. Members asked about tracking workgroup progress and were told to consult analysts and workgroup members rather than circulate a public daily summary. The update also noted several bills moving between chambers, including House bills 503, 556, 684, 737, and 759, and Senate Bill 1226. The committee then considered and approved several agency budgets and supplemental requests. The Idaho State Tax Commission budget was reconsidered and approved with a revised FY 2027 motion that removed funding for the chief operating officer salary and set aside funding for property tax education, tax automation, fast tax collection services, seasonal employees, replacement items, and OITS hardware; accompanying language restricted the fast tax collection money to that purpose and required any unused amount to revert to the general fund. The Office of Information Technology Services received approval for FY 2026 supplemental funding for Chinden campus furnishings and the E-CORE grant, and FY 2027 enhancements for enterprise security, the E-CORE continuation, and the final IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, along with cash-transfer language tied to SWICAP costs. The Military Division’s request for indirect cost recovery funds passed, but a proposed add-on for the state education assistance program failed. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets also passed with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund costs, and replacement hardware. The Department of Fish and Game budget was approved with a large package of dedicated and federal fund enhancements for fishery habitat work, Good Neighbor Authority projects, hatchery and lab inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and equipment replacement, along with reappropriation authority. The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services drew the most debate: one motion would have funded home visiting, immunization assessment restoration, lab testing, ARPA grants, HIV and hepatitis prevention, and related items, while a substitute motion sought to keep some funding but move the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development and restore additional public health items. Both motions failed, leaving that budget unresolved in committee. The meeting ended with new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer requiring monthly cash reconciliations between Luma and TATERS, reporting to JFAC and LSO, and retention of supporting documentation for audit purposes. The committee adjourned after being reminded that budget setting would continue through the week and that Monday’s agenda would include education, administration, building fund, and lottery budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, getting into the fiscal year 2027 request, the agency is requesting an ongoing expenditure category
• What that looks like is that of their current appropriation in the In Demand Careers Fund, they're requesting
• Appropriations, you know, appropriation bills with negative numbers in them.
• Getting into the fiscal year 2027 request, first, the agency is requesting $62,700 ongoing for client
• We are requesting to increase that appropriation so that we can use that money to purchase, in this case

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the council’s statutory role, fund balances, and FY 2027 requests, including an ongoing transfer of $1.15 million within the In Demand Careers Fund to support more Launch grants, a proposed consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council, and reappropriation authority for ARPA and other grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training grants, child care grants, and semiconductor-related grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the STEM education fund would be sunset under the merger. Members asked about the remaining STEM dedicated fund, the timing and impact of a proposed $10 million cash transfer from Launch, repayment of some Launch grants, and how much of the training funding goes to incumbent workers versus new hires. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s dedicated funds and FY 2027 requests for additional appropriation authority tied to Social Security reimbursements and adaptive aids store revenue, plus one-time vehicle replacement funding. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support vocational rehabilitation, independent living services, and surgeries for eligible clients without other coverage. Members asked about discrepancies in fund figures, the growth in the adaptive aids fund balance, and the effect of holdbacks on services; Cunningham said the cuts would modestly reduce client services, travel, and some site restoration support. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described requests for $450,000 to complete the move of state records and collections into the new archives addition, $36,300 for IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for moving costs, along with prior enhancements for Old Pen staffing and archival work. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the move, and the agency’s role in Idaho’s America 250 efforts. Members praised the agency’s work and asked about historic preservation reviews and archaeological surveys; Gallimore said staff consult with federal agencies under the National Historic Preservation Act and agreed to provide travel records for surveys in Bonner County. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation to the Commission on Aging, appropriating additional monies to the Commission on Aging
• House Bill 923 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations.
• House Bill 923 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, College and Universities.
• House Bill 924 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, State Liquor Division.
• House Bill 925 by the Appropriations Committee regarding appropriations, Judicial Branch.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. Members also received multiple messages from the Senate and Governor regarding enrolled bills, new Senate bills, and committee reports. The House Business Committee’s report on pending and temporary administrative rules was filed, including recommendations to approve several insurance and licensing rules, extend temporary building-related rules, and reject one proposed building code rule as inconsistent with legislative intent. A number of memorials and resolutions were considered. House Joint Memorial 20, which argues that Plyler v. Doe imposes an unfunded mandate on Idaho for educating non-citizen students and asks Congress to make the state whole, passed on a voice vote. House Joint Memorial 19, supporting efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and urging Congress to cooperate, passed 61-8 after debate over whether eliminating the department would shift enforcement costs to the state. House Concurrent Resolution 34, directing the Idaho Water Resource Board to study Bear River Basin water development feasibility, passed 67-2. House Concurrent Resolution 23 was held on the calendar. The House also passed several Senate bills, including SB 1301 on allowing small breweries an additional retail location, SB 1256 cleaning up an outdated reporting requirement for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, SB 1345 allowing voluntary electronic communications from the Tax Commission, SB 1304 clarifying ditch and easement maintenance, SB 1305 establishing a fixed-fee process for water district title-tracing services, SB 1306 clarifying water district withdrawal procedures, SB 1307 cleaning up canal and lateral ditch maintenance rules, SB 1337 expanding eligibility for irrigation district board service, and SB 1286 restricting predatory fees in veterans’ disability claims assistance. Most passed with substantial majorities, though SB 1304 and SB 1305 drew some opposition. The House then moved a large group of appropriation and policy bills onto the third-reading calendar and suspended rules to immediately consider several budget bills. It passed HB 919 for the Department of Administration, HB 920 for health education programs and residency slots, HB 921 for State Department of Education enhancements, HB 922 for colleges and universities, HB 923 for Department of Administration enhancements tied to procurement and Medicaid contracting, HB 924 for the State Liquor Division, HB 925 for the judicial branch, HB 889 on state procurement reforms, and HB 931 as a trailer bill for portable benefits. Members also discussed the need for fiscal restraint, the value of guardian ad litem and drug court programs, and procurement process reforms. The House adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative Council Service this year received about 2,300 requests for direct appropriations just from
• The Legislative Finance Committee received about $2.2 billion in capital requests for the executive branch
• The solution in this piece of legislation is that capital outlay appropriations of $100,000 or more may
• and appropriated to a state agency.
• a request and we could go as legislators and lobby.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 103, which would prevent a homeowner from losing the 3% valuation cap solely because of a zoning change. The sponsor and supporters, including the New Mexico Business Coalition, Realtors, and the City of Albuquerque, said the bill would protect homeowners from unexpected tax increases when the property’s use has not changed. There was no opposition, and the committee approved HB 103 with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. The committee then considered House Bill 145, which extends the high-wage job tax credit sunset from 2026 to 2036. The sponsor and the Economic Development Secretary said the credit has been effective in attracting and retaining higher-wage jobs, especially because employers need long-term certainty. Business and economic development groups testified in support, while no one spoke in opposition. Members discussed the wage thresholds, the value of keeping a sunset for review, and the bill’s fiscal impact. The committee passed HB 145 on a 7-2 roll call vote. House Bill 247, a major capital outlay modernization bill, generated the most extensive discussion. The sponsor described the bill as a response to billions in unspent capital outlay balances and repeated reauthorizations, and proposed amendments to require ICIP inclusion for larger appropriations, limit reauthorizations, and change how water projects are handled. Public testimony was mixed: some rural and tribal representatives supported modernization but warned that the water provisions could harm small communities, fire suppression systems, flood-control dams, and other local projects. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment striking the water-related Section 2, then later passed the bill as twice amended with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no draft of any legislation.
• House Bill 875— House Bill 875 is another appropriations bill, but it's a process of the appropriations
• House Bill 905, by the Appropriations Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Office of
• House Bill 907, by the Appropriations Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Division
• House Bill 908, by the Appropriations Committee, an act relating to the appropriation to the Military

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, welcomed a substitute member, and received multiple Senate messages and committee reports. Several bills were introduced and referred, including measures on medical advanced healing, insurance/state property claims, stablecoins, solid waste, public assistance definitions, and foreign ownership of single-family homes. The chamber also advanced a number of bills to second or third reading, and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 32 on energy policy, which urged a focus on baseload energy sources, transmission, ratepayer protection, property rights, and aquifer protection; it passed by voice vote. The House passed a series of bills on the floor, including House Bills 838, 721, 817, 752, 680, 860, 875, 876, 877, 795, 826, 832, 843, and 872, along with Senate Bill 1373. The measures covered topics such as requiring draft policy bills with budget recommendations, plan review timelines for public projects, a mobile cigar business permit, restroom and changing-room restrictions, recorded investigative interviews of child abuse allegations, revisions to medical parental rights and emergency care language, vacancy-based budgeting calculations, the State Board of Education budget, vocational rehabilitation rent, a response to litigation over prior law, honey commission governance, CTE teacher recruitment, homeowners exemption proration, and ballot formatting. Most passed with comfortable margins, though House Bill 875 passed narrowly 35-34 and House Bill 752 drew substantial debate before passing 54-50-1. Debate was especially intense on House Bill 752, with supporters framing it as a protection for women’s privacy and safety and opponents arguing it would criminalize bathroom use and target transgender people. House Bill 875 also drew concern that codifying budget-calculation methods could constrain future budgeting flexibility, while supporters said it would improve transparency and prevent funding vacant positions. House Bill 876, the State Board of Education maintenance budget, prompted criticism over a 6.8% base reduction and warnings about layoffs and program cuts at colleges and universities. House Bill 826, 832, 843, and 872 were all considered under suspended rules and passed, and the House also adopted HJM 18 urging action against geoengineering, with members citing concerns about sky streaks and climate intervention. The House recessed and later returned to continue business, with additional Senate bills and House bills referred for committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a request for court interpreters. It is a request to increase that appropriation by $94,750.
• This is a request from their cash fund appropriation.
• He was requested to make an increase of $4 million appropriation. He's done it.
• request if you'll be getting actual funding request and will have both the money and the appropriation
• If I'm the legislator, I would rewrite your appropriation bill.

Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no draft of any legislation.
• There are things with when it comes to appropriations that deal with House Appropriations that will go
• House Bill 905, by the Appropriations Committee, is an act relating to the appropriation to the Office
• House Bill 906, by the Appropriations Committee, is an act relating to the appropriation to the State
• House Bill 909, by the Appropriations Committee, is an act relating to the appropriation to the Office

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with 67 members present, approved the journal, welcomed a substitute member, and received Senate messages and committee reports. Several bills were printed, referred, or advanced, including new House bills on medical advanced healing, state affairs, solid waste, public assistance, and other topics. The House also received and processed multiple committee recommendations, including bills on health and welfare, judiciary, state affairs, and commerce, along with enrollment and transmittal of previously passed bills. On the floor, the House passed a series of measures after debate. These included House Bills 838 and 721 on budget-process and plan-review issues, House Bill 817 on a mobile cigar business permit, House Bill 752 on restroom/changing-room restrictions, House Bill 680 on recording child abuse investigative interviews, House Bill 860 on medical parental rights-related fixes, House Bill 875 on vacancy-based personnel budget calculations, House Bill 876 on the State Board of Education maintenance budget, House Bill 877 on vocational rehabilitation rent, and House Bill 795 responding to litigation concerns over House Bill 710. House Joint Memorial 18, urging Congress to prohibit unauthorized solar geoengineering over Idaho, also passed. Later, the House suspended rules to take up and pass House Bill 826 on the Honey Commission, House Bill 832 on CTE professional qualification rules, House Bill 843 on the homeowners exemption, House Bill 872 on ballot formatting for constitutional amendments and initiatives, and Senate Bills 1242, 1243, and 1283 on potato commission cleanup, soil and water conservation code cleanup, and direct sales from small producers. Senate Bill 1373, a maintenance appropriation for economic development agencies, also passed. Most measures were approved with little or no debate, though several drew discussion over budget process, education funding cuts, election administration, and restroom policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General, appropriating additional monies to the Office
• So with that, I'd request your green light. So with that, I'd request your green light.
• What this legislation does is...
• So a county commissioner is not like the legislator. They are executive, like the legislator.
• Appropriation.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with a roll call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the Journal. Members then received communications from the Governor and Senate, including notice of signed bills and enrolled measures returned for signatures or referral. Committee reports advanced several bills and resolutions, and House Bill 971, an appropriation for the Attorney General’s office, was introduced and later considered. The House also took up multiple Senate bills and resolutions under suspension of the rules, using roll calls to expedite consideration. A major floor debate centered on House Bill 822, a parental notification/child transition-related bill. Supporters said it clarified that state resources could not be used in social transitioning of children and argued it protected parents’ rights. Opponents criticized its punitive damages and warned it would harm teachers, health care workers, and child care providers. The House ultimately passed the bill, and later the Speaker noted that a vote-change motion on the bill had been improper under House rules and would not stand. The House also passed Senate Bill 1430 on firearms, described as adding executive orders and policies to the state’s preemption of local firearm regulation and creating penalties and injunctive relief for violations. Senate Bill 1359, the virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention bill, drew extensive debate; supporters said it targeted scams by requiring operator registration, disclosures, fraud warnings, recordkeeping, and transaction limits for new users, while opponents called it overbroad and intrusive. The House passed that bill as amended. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1410 on community health center Medicaid reimbursement updates, Senate Bill 1439 extending a report deadline for model school/facility work, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 127 urging rejection of a medical marijuana ballot initiative; the resolution passed after debate over medical use, public safety, and federal firearms implications. House Bill 971 also passed, and the House later recessed and returned to consider additional measures, including Senate Bill 1436 on procurement clarifications, which was introduced and debated but not resolved in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 2022 incident involving a legislator. 2022 incident involving a legislator.
• Uh may I request to Please proceed.
• Uh, I stand up to object to the ruling in light of the request, the bipartisan request of this body to
• It was a request to defer for one legislative day.
• </c> a simple one legislative day deferral. a simple one legislative day deferral.

Bills: HB389, HB469, HB1510, HB1573, HB1705, HB1858, HB1875, HB1946, HB1961, HB1962, HB2001, HB2093, HB2096, HB2097

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes