Video & Transcript : '911 surcharge' :

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MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 9th, 2026

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • environmental data, and address information that agencies, municipalities, and the public use for planning, 911
  • And so we assessed a $10,000 surcharge because of their inability to pay and the prescribed dates from
Summary: The hearing in Barnstable opened with remarks from the House and Senate co-chairs about the importance of holding Ways and Means budget hearings on the Cape, especially given the region’s seasonal economy and infrastructure needs. The committee then heard testimony from Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones on the governor’s FY27 budget proposal. She highlighted funding for workforce programs including the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, registered apprenticeship, YouthWorks, reentry workforce programs, and services for young adults with disabilities. She also discussed MassHire career centers, the MassHire Innovation Project, and the Department of Unemployment Assistance modernization effort, noting improved call wait times and claims processing, but acknowledging continued challenges and federal funding uncertainty. Members asked about job-seeker barriers such as child care, housing, and transportation; domestic outmigration of young workers; youth work permits; unemployment insurance costs and the COVID assessment on employers; and the state’s unemployment rate and UI trust fund solvency. Jones and Undersecretary Josh Cutler explained the difference between workforce training funds and the unemployment trust fund, described the statewide trigger that extends unemployment benefits from 26 to 30 weeks when regional unemployment averages 5.2 percent, and said the administration is reviewing the trust fund with labor and business stakeholders. They also said the administration is trying to preserve front-line DUA staffing while shifting resources to customer service and adjudication, including a Friday adjudication pilot and seasonal hires. Senators and representatives also pressed the administration on regional equity in workforce funding, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, which was described as serving a large rural area with fewer resources than other regions. Administration officials said they are reviewing MassHire funding formulas and modernizing the system with a policy committee and state workforce board input, but did not offer an immediate fix. The committee also heard that early childhood education apprenticeships are expanding quickly, with state funding leveraged to secure federal grants and support new Grow Awards. The hearing then moved to the Executive Office of Economic Development, where Secretary Eric Paley outlined House 2 proposals for economic development, including support for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, workforce partnerships, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, AI, small business assistance, tourism, and tax incentives. Undersecretary Leila D’Amilia followed with testimony on consumer affairs and business regulation, describing funding for consumer protection, banking oversight, occupational licensure, and public safety inspections.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 9th, 2026

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • environmental data, and address information that agencies, municipalities, and the public use for planning, 911
  • And so we assessed a $10,000 surcharge because of their inability to pay and the prescribed dates from
Keywords: 1212, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Taxes - 03/18/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • together courts, court administration, the county attorney, community corrections, the sheriff's office, 911
  • corrections, the attorney, community corrections, the sheriff's<00:32:28.320><c> office,</c><00:32:28.799><c> 911
  • </c><00:32:29.440><c> dispatch</c><00:32:30.480><c> and</c> sheriff's office, 911 dispatch and sheriff's
  • office, 911 dispatch and emergency<00:32:31.120><c> management,</c><00:32:31.679><c> and</c><00:32:31.840
Committee: Senate Taxes
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/17/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We'll also have the report and legislation recommended by the probation officers and 911 dispatch pension
  • c> recommended by the probation officers recommended by the probation officers and<01:20:16.440><c> 911
  • > dispatch</c><01:20:17.720><c> pension</c><01:20:18.120><c> plan</c><01:20:18.440><c> work</c> and 911
  • dispatch pension plan work and 911 dispatch pension plan work group.<01:20:19.280><c> There</c><01:20
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/04/26

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • That was about as scary as you can get, and we called 911 because that's too high.
  • about as scary as you can get and<01:18:36.120><c> we</c><01:18:36.240><c> called</c><01:18:36.600><c> 911
  • /c><01:18:37.320><c> because</c><01:18:38.320><c> that's</c><01:18:38.760><c> too</c> and we called 911
  • because that's too and we called 911 because that's too high. high. high.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, February 27, 2026

Labor, Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • was just wondering if this would also, if you're in an emergency situation where somebody has to dial 911
  • somebody</c><00:53:44.400><c> has</c><00:53:44.640><c> to</c><00:53:44.720><c> dial</c><00:53:45.040><c> 911
  • </c> situation where somebody has to dial 911 situation where somebody has to dial 911 and<00:53:45.760
Bills: SF0023 , SF0057
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session 2/19/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , where hundreds of children are being held, where there's been a measles outbreak, where there are 911
  • outbreak, where there can read<01:20:02.960><c> about</c><01:20:03.199><c> the</c><01:20:03.360><c> 911
  • calls,</c><01:20:04.320><c> the</c><01:20:04.400><c> the</c><01:20:04.800><c> health</c> read about the 911
  • calls, the the health read about the 911 calls, the the health conditions<01:20:05.520><c> there.
Keywords: 1183, house
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • The amendments he's taken in this committee, personally, I, having worked so deeply on 911 and 988, understood
  • that we needed to give more flexibility to... ...on 911 and 988, understood that we needed to give more
  • You can't have a human deciding every time 911 uses an ADS. That would make 911 fall apart, right?
Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/34

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • human trafficking, invest in prevention and intervention activities, fund victim services, support 911
  • 05.680><c> support</c> activities fund victim Services support activities fund victim Services support 911
  • call</c><00:50:07.359><c> centers</c><00:50:08.359><c> firefighter</c><00:50:09.040><c> training</c> 911
  • call centers firefighter training 911 call centers firefighter training and<00:50:09.799><c> much</c
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Apr 30, 2025, 9:00AM HST - Day 59

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This budget also commits $7.6 million for collective bargaining for contracted services for 911 emergency
  • ground ambulance and 911 emergency ambulance services for the county of Maui.
  • Funding for an additional ambulance will improve response time to 911 calls in an area increasingly likely
  • access</c><01:12:22.400><c> to</c> Funding for an additional ambulance will improve response time to 911
  • budget supports modernizing Hawaii's emergency and financial systems with investments in expanding 911
Keywords: 910, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Judiciary (03/05/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • It may be requested from, say, a 911 operator or the local police department may have a phone number,
  • It may be requested from, say, a 911 operator or the local police department may have a phone number,
  • It may be requested from, say, a 911 operator or the local police department may have a phone number,
  • It may be requested from, say, a 911 operator or the local police department may have a phone number,
  • There's an exception for 911 calls.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met to hear House Bill 520, which would authorize the Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and hearings involving the code of conduct for New Hampshire educators. Representative Lynn, the bill sponsor, said the measure was intended to give the department standard subpoena power during investigations and in later adjudicatory proceedings, with a process for challenging overbroad subpoenas. He argued that agencies with investigative and hearing authority should also have the power to compel witnesses and documents, and said the bill was narrowed from an earlier broader draft to focus on teacher credentialing and address concerns about scope. Members raised several concerns about whether the department already has enough authority, whether the Attorney General could handle subpoenas instead, and whether the bill creates an imbalance by giving subpoena power mainly to the investigating side. Representative Burroughs said she did not feel she had enough information and was uncomfortable with the bill, especially regarding who bears subpoena costs. Representative Biron questioned the trial analogy and whether both sides truly have equal subpoena rights. Lynn responded that the investigative stage is like a grand jury process, where only the investigating body subpoenas witnesses, while the adjudicatory stage allows both sides to seek subpoenas through the hearing officer. Other questions focused on the bill’s scope. Representative Andreos asked what investigative authority the Department of Education already has, and Representative Organ questioned why the bill is limited to educators rather than also covering vendors, charter school boards, or the EFA scholarship organization. Lynn said the limitation to educators was deliberate, because earlier broader versions drew objections for being too expansive. Representative Tur asked whether the Attorney General could already handle such matters, and Lynn said that while the AG might be able to pursue some investigations or court subpoenas, agencies should be able to conduct their own internal investigations. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
NY

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York State Senate Session - 06/04/2026

New York Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, when somebody calls 911, it is usually at the worst moments of their life.
  • Before there were 911 centers, we had to rotate through the front desk when the police assistant was
  • Last year in the City of Poughkeepsie, they had 130,000 phone calls into their 911 center: 33,000 were
  • for the police, 6,000 for fire, 9,100 for EMS, and everything else is people just calling 911 wanting
  • realized that, in the news every day, I read about small fires that where tenants ran out and called 911
Keywords: 993, senate, all
Summary: The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games. The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually. The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/10/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • , the first proposal we'll review is increasing the HMO, or the health maintenance organization, surcharge
  • So currently the surcharge in current law is up 6% of the total premium revenue, um, for HMOs, and this
  • Currently, the surcharge in current law is up 6% of the total premium revenue for HMOs, and this budget
Keywords: 1183, house
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • research institutions, education, and technology providers for the state's critical infrastructure, like 911
  • research institutions, education, and technology providers for the state's critical infrastructure, like 911
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard SB 1259, which would require refineries to provide advance closure and remediation planning information, and SB 1425, which would authorize the High-Speed Rail Authority to create a permit process for encroachments in its right of way. The committee also held an informational hearing on California electricity reliability and the future of the Strategic Reliability Reserve. The chair opened by noting the hearing room change, testimony limits, and that the committee would proceed without a quorum at first, then later established quorum for votes. On SB 1259, Senator Blake Spear argued the bill would give communities and state agencies needed information to plan for refinery closures, cleanup, and land reuse, comparing the requirement to estate planning. Supporters, including Benicia City Councilmember Carrie Birdseye and UC Santa Barbara professor Ranjit Schmook, said the bill would help communities facing refinery closures avoid being left without information and better prepare for redevelopment and remediation. Opponents, including the Western States Petroleum Association, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, and business groups, argued the bill could send negative market signals, create conflicts with federal reporting, and potentially accelerate refinery closures. The committee passed SB 1259 on a 7-3 vote, later reopening the roll and recording additional votes before moving it out as amended to Appropriations. On SB 1425, Senator Cortese and sponsor Robert Pearsall said the bill would help the High-Speed Rail Authority manage utility, broadband, drainage, and vegetation encroachments along the project corridor and reduce delays. Labor and construction groups supported the measure as a way to add certainty and speed project delivery. Utilities and local agencies, including LADWP, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison, PG&E, and others, opposed unless amended, saying the bill needed clearer language on emergencies, existing agreements, and potential impacts on their own rights of way and service obligations. After discussion about emergency language and utility coordination, the committee passed SB 1425 as amended to Appropriations on a 10-3 vote. In the oversight hearing, CEC, CPUC, CAISO, and DWR officials reported that California’s summer reliability outlook is better than in prior years, with substantial new procurement, storage, and demand-response resources added since 2020. They said the state is projected to meet its summer reliability standard and has not needed a flex alert for three straight years, but cautioned that extreme heat, fire, hydro conditions, and federal policy uncertainty still pose risks. Officials emphasized that the current Strategic Reliability Reserve remains important as a backstop, while longer-term planning must address rising demand from electrification and data centers and the eventual retirement of emergency resources.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jul 1st, 2026

Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • research institutions, education, and technology providers for the state's critical infrastructure, like 911
  • research institutions, education, and technology providers for the state's critical infrastructure, like 911
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Human Services Committee Jun 29th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • We brought her a cell phone so she could at least call 911 if she went into labor.
  • In another instance, we found... ...at least call 911 if she went into labor.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on AB 262, which would direct the new California Housing and Homelessness Agency to study the needs of pregnant people experiencing homelessness and evaluate a voluntary “Pink Alert” notification system. Supporters, including the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and a mutual-aid volunteer, said the bill would help identify gaps in housing and prenatal services for a highly vulnerable population. Members generally supported the study concept, though one senator cautioned that the “Pink Alert” name could imply a missing-person alert. The bill was moved to Appropriations on a 3-0 vote and placed on call. Members then heard AB 673, creating the Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program for 16- and 17-year-old homeless students not in a parent or guardian’s custody. The Superintendent of Public Instruction and advocates said the bill would help connect youth to housing, basic needs, tutoring, employment readiness, and mental health services, while opponents raised concerns about duplication with existing school and county services and staffing shortages. The author and supporters argued the program would fill gaps for youth who often fall through existing systems. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 3-0 vote and was held on call. The committee also approved AB 1575, which updates the Lanterman Act to replace the term “consumer” with person-first language for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and AB 2510, which would expand CalWORKs family reunification aid so families do not lose support when only some children are removed from the home. AB 1688, requiring broader notice when abuse or neglect is alleged in foster placements so attorneys for other children in the placement can check on their safety, also passed to Appropriations. AB 2304, “Gabriel’s Law,” requiring a child in immediate medical need to be seen by a medical professional and clarifying penalties for falsifying child welfare records, passed to Public Safety after testimony from the author, Gabriel Fernandez’s aunt, prosecutors, and a dependency lawyer who opposed parts of the penalty language. The committee then heard AB 1746 on faster county processing of CalWORKs child care requests, with support from the author, advocates, and county welfare directors who said they were still working on amendments; it was moved to Appropriations and held on call.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • patient being treated at their own facilities, like an animal going into respiratory distress, there's no 911
  • patient being treated at their own facilities, like an animal going into respiratory distress, there's no 911
Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1921 on video game shutdowns. The author and Consumer Reports supported requiring game operators to give 60 days’ notice before ending server support and to offer a menu of remedies, including refunds or playable/offline alternatives, while the Entertainment Software Association opposed the bill as an unwarranted new standard for digital products and raised safety and legal concerns about community servers. Members questioned the scope of refunds, copyright, and community-server issues, and the author said he was open to further amendments. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. AB 1965, dealing with cannabis testing, was presented as a measure to strengthen the Department of Cannabis Control’s authority over testing labs and improve product safety and transparency. The California Cannabis Operators Association supported the bill, saying it would help ensure consistent standards and protect consumers in a market with a large illicit component. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2141, which would allow the Board of Pharmacy to resolve certain disciplinary matters through a voluntary pre-accusation settlement process. The author and a supporting pharmacist said it would speed resolution of smaller, technical cases and reduce costs, while a member raised concerns about transparency and whether the public would have less information about licensee misconduct. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, with Senator Menjivar voting no, and was placed on call. AB 2163, creating strategic clean energy and critical mineral development zones, was supported by the author and Imperial County as a way to prioritize geothermal and lithium development in areas like the Salton Sea region; it passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, AB 1990 on compounded weight-loss drug advertising drew significant debate. Supporters argued it would curb misleading ads and require disclosures about risks and non-FDA approval, while opponents from the compounding pharmacy community said it would create burdens, duplicate existing false-advertising law, and could harm patient access. Members questioned whether the bill actually addressed targeting minors and whether it would force use of FDA-approved labeling; the author said the bill was meant to add specificity and guardrails. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Judiciary, with some no votes, and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2783 on court reporters, which would add a national certification pathway and extend a remote reporting pilot; it drew support from court reporting stakeholders and passed unanimously on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, placed on call. Finally, AB 2771, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education sunset bill, and AB 2772, the interior design certification sunset bill, were presented and heard with mixed testimony: AB 2771 received support from student and borrower advocates and was moved to Senate Education, while AB 2772 drew both support and strong opposition over CCIDC governance and accountability, with the committee hearing extensive public comment before the transcript ended.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Redcom basically said that we were getting call 911 calls from all over the place.
  • necessarily going to capture everybody that might be in the area and seeing it and panicking and calling 911
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I can tell you from the front lines there's nothing discretionary about a 911 call.
  • That means answering 911 calls.
Summary: The hearing began with a vote-only agenda and then focused first on San Mateo County’s request to restore in-lieu vehicle license fee (VLF) funding. County officials, city leaders, labor representatives, nonprofits, and public safety advocates argued that the loss of roughly $157 million would force major cuts to homelessness services, housing assistance, mental health programs, libraries, parks, fire and police staffing, and other local services. They described the current formula as outdated and unfair, tied to school funding and basic-aid dynamics that no longer work for San Mateo County, and urged both an immediate budget restoration and a permanent legislative fix. The Department of Finance said the payments are discretionary, not statutorily required, and noted the administration does not view the expenditure as sustainable in the current fiscal climate. Committee members expressed sympathy, questioned the formula, and said they would keep the issue under consideration; the committee later voted to move the two vote-only items on the agenda. The committee then received an update from the Department of General Services on state property redevelopment, including the Hillcrest DMV site in San Diego, the Fell Street DMV site in San Francisco, and other state-owned properties. DGS explained that Hillcrest is not currently an active project, while the Fell Street project shifted from an integrated DMV-housing plan to a more feasible relocation of the DMV into leased commercial space, with a budget change proposal pending. Members pressed DGS on the slow pace of redevelopment, the potential for housing on state sites, and the costs and feasibility of adaptive reuse. DGS said many state buildings are aging and that adaptive reuse depends heavily on building design, floorplate depth, light, and risk from unknown conditions behind walls. The Government Operations portion then turned to the California Education Learning Lab, which supports intersegmental higher education innovation grants. The Lab asked for permanent restoration of $4 million in ongoing funding and a move of its home agency from the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps, along with technical trailer bill changes. Supporters said the program has funded more than 120 projects reaching thousands of faculty and hundreds of thousands of students, including work on generative AI in higher education. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the restoration and continuing the wind-down, citing the state’s projected deficit and suggesting the California Education Interagency Council could pursue non-state-funded grant opportunities instead. The committee held the item open. Finally, GovOps presented the new California Education Interagency Council staffing request, seeking four ongoing positions to support the council, with funding already included in last year’s budget. The department said the governor has appointed Debbie Cochran as executive officer and that the remaining positions are being recruited. Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee began questions about how the council will be staffed and organized.
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 73 Mar 25th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bills 873, 889, 890, 898, 900, and 911, and Senate Bills 1422 and 1423, and recommend they do pass
  • Having received a due pass recommendation, House Bills 873, 889, 890, 898, 900, and 911, and Senate Bills
Summary: The Senate convened with 34 members present, later noting all 35 present, and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the March 24 journal. The body then moved through committee reports and messages from the House and Governor, referring a number of bills and memorials to committees, enrolling and transmitting several measures, and advancing to floor consideration of legislation. Among the early actions, House Bill 928 was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment, and multiple House and Senate bills were introduced, read, and referred to standing committees. The chamber first took up House Bill 760 on reconsideration after it had previously failed on a tie vote. After debate over whether the bill would create an optional low-income housing tax credit program that supporters described as a workforce housing tool and opponents criticized as a tax shift and government-subsidized housing, the motion to reconsider passed 24-11. On final passage, however, the bill failed again, 15-20, and was returned to the House. The Senate also debated and passed Senate Bill 1397, which extends utility-style consumer protections to certain privately held wastewater systems; supporters said it addresses captive customers and stranded property, while opponents warned against expanding regulation. The bill passed 21-14. The Senate then passed Senate Bill 1398, which returns Idaho to a presidential primary system and sets the primary for the Tuesday after the first Monday in May; supporters cited low caucus turnout and broader voter access, while opponents worried about shortening the campaign season. Senate Bill 1396 also passed as a cleanup measure repealing obsolete Pacific Fisheries Task Force language. In addition, House Bill 630, on airborne control of predatory animals, failed 6-28 after debate over whether the measure merely codified existing permit rules or could harm livestock protection efforts. Later, the Senate passed House Bills 631, 826, 585, 648, 773, 787, and 790. These measures dealt respectively with certificates of free sale for Idaho agricultural products, eliminating the Idaho Honey Commission, expanding inspection requirements to help speed housing-related permits, parity for oral cancer medication coverage, repeal of obsolete credit union and cemetery code sections, moving podiatry under the Board of Medicine, and allowing certified interior designers to sign certain nonstructural technical submissions. Several of these bills were described as cleanup or efficiency measures, while HB 648 drew especially personal testimony about the cost of oral chemotherapy. The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 31, honoring the late Lyndon B. Bateman, with members sharing personal recollections of his teaching, handwriting, and service. The day ended with additional committee reports, referrals, announcements, and a recess.