Transcript Highlights:

• They passed a bond.
• They passed a bond. This was the year.
• So anyways, back to this Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. I apologize.
• There’s a shift in environmental health.
• And I just want to also say that the Environmental Working Group shares that...

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> additional 34.8 million in uh GEO bond additional 34.8 million in uh GEO bond funding<05:06:54.958
• </c><05:22:53.680><c> Protection</c> Readiness and Environmental Protection Readiness and Environmental
• So, SLDF pays debt service on the Uncle Billy’s GEO bonds. >> Okay.
• </c> Uncle Billy's uh geo bonds. Uncle Billy's uh geo bonds. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c> the removal bond is one of those things. the removal bond is one of those things.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Carrie and I had a special bond.
• Carrie and I had a special bond.
• </c><00:51:58.119><c> had</c><00:51:58.280><c> a</c><00:51:58.480><c> special</c><00:51:58.799><c> bond
• </c><00:51:59.640><c> uh</c><00:51:59.760><c> we</c> Carrie and I had a special bond uh we Carrie and
• I had a special bond uh we were<00:52:00.000><c> both</c><00:52:00.240><c> elected</c><00:52:00.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next bill is Substitute Senate Bill 5965, relating to reducing environmental impacts associated with
• of the bill is to the capital budget, where the Department of Commerce cost estimate is $286,000 in bonds
• in fiscal year 2027 and $249,000 in bonds in the next biennium and ongoing.
• directly to individuals for the purchase of single-family housing, extends the length of time that bond
• directly to individuals for the purchase of single-family housing, extends the length of time that bond

Bills: SB6147, SB6082, SB5862, SB5882, SB6323, SB6346, SB6162, SB6256, SB6220, SB5650, SB6343, SB6113, SB6211, SB6114, SB5898, SB6347, SB6244, SB5868, SB5762, SB5988, SB6194, SB6246, SB6223, SB6052, SB5828, SB5954, SB5963, SB5909, SGA9306

Keywords: grocery establishments, closure notice, consumer rights, local businesses, student financial aid, financial aid fraud, higher education, college enrollment fraud, fictitious students, ghost students, enrollment fraud, aid integrity, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, AI fraud, fraud prevention, Washington State, legislative audit, JLARC, full-time equivalent

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> unenvironmental or the environmental unenvironmental or the environmental hazardous<02:38:58.240
• /c><02:47:54.960><c> uh</c> that leaving the environmental uh that leaving the environmental uh concerns
• We don't alternative forms of bonding.
• &gt;&gt; This is environmental regulation, right?
• If environmental fate is of bisphenol A.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• all these potential financial penalties in place, and if we require sponsors to secure a $1 million bond
• Whether it's medical marijuana, minimum wage, or environmental protections, these were all victories
• And I think there was a, we also don't have the bond as a paywall in this bill.
• It prohibits clinical and environmental laboratories run by the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories
• Thank you, Tom, Nathan Bond from the Judiciary Suite, and we have others in there too.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• They might be within an agency like the Department of Commerce or a Department of Environmental Protection
• So we do a long-term Treasury plus 25 or 50 basis points, and that gives bond-type ratings or a bond-type
• So we do a light-term treasury plus 25 or 50 basis points, and that gives bond-type readings or a bond-type
• And so... the health department, now the Department of Environmental Quality.
• And then that would trigger environmental reviews, and it would trigger stakeholder engagement.

Summary: The committee met to review advanced nuclear energy issues in North Dakota, beginning with approval of the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon presented an overview of the advanced reactor landscape, distinguishing light-water SMRs, advanced Gen 4 reactors, and microreactors. The presentation emphasized that light-water SMRs are the most near-term deployable and use familiar low-enriched uranium fuel, while many Gen 4 designs may require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALU), which is not yet supported by a mature U.S. supply chain. Nucleon also noted that advanced reactors are being developed primarily for industrial heat applications, while microreactors are niche, higher-cost systems for remote or mission-critical uses. Committee members asked about fuel availability, safety, recycling, and whether large reactors such as AP-1000s were evaluated; the presenter said fuel development is proceeding in parallel but remains a bottleneck, and that siting and grid capacity often make SMRs more practical than gigawatt-scale plants in North Dakota. Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, regional coordination, grants, tax incentives, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and pilot programs. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and said states are focusing on multi-state coordination, demand aggregation, regulatory coordination, waste management, workforce readiness, and community engagement. They also discussed affordability tools such as construction work in progress (CWIP), financing incentives, and consumer protections, citing examples from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Tennessee, and others. In response to questions, they explained that pilot programs often involve site-readiness and feasibility studies, and that the federal Nuclear Innovation Campus process is moving forward with multiple submissions while broader waste and recycling policy may require congressional action. The Public Service Commission said it would likely have a major role in any North Dakota nuclear project through certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted gaps in current law for small reactors, co-located facilities, NRC coordination, and long-term site stewardship. The commissioner said the commission has no authority over a private, self-contained reactor not connected to the grid. The Department of Environmental Quality explained that the state regulates radioactive materials under its agreement-state authority, but NRC retains primacy over fission reactors; DEQ would likely assist with emergency planning and could have a larger role if fusion reactors emerge. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, requiring a dedicated radiological emergency preparedness program, training, drills, public outreach, and likely additional funding and staffing, with industry expected to bear much of the cost. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota’s water laws and prior-appropriation system are adequate for nuclear siting, that the Missouri River is the best likely source, and that no statutory or budget changes are currently needed from a water perspective. The committee recessed for lunch after these agency presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• As much of the pushback, big difference, y'all, the pushback that I got, Joe, the bond that you and I
• This bill is the Department of Environmental Protection package that oversees water quality environmental
• It removes the Environmental Regulatory Commission and gives rulemaking power to DEP while expanding
• House Bill 1417, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Department of Environmental Protection.
• . ...bond application and appointment process by eliminating redundant requirements, and also update

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have bonded, whether it's in the lunchroom or the hallways.

Bills: HJR 138, HB 42, HB 104, HB 129, HB 677, HB 426, HB 668, HB 1699, HB 2017, HB 2128, HB 2038, HB 3783, HB 3717, HB 2316, HB 3686, HB 2563, HB 3883, HB 4021, HB 2788, HB 2663, HB 3305, HB 3173, HB 3474, HB 1105, HB 3531, HB 3490, HB 3597, HB 1295, HB 3512, HB 3010, HB 3112, HB 4215, HB 3223, HB 3464, HB 3120, HB 4214, HB 4511, HB 3704, HB 4081, HB 4783, HB 4063, HB 2783, HB 4937, HB 5085, HB 2510, HB 3426, HB 4361, HB 1169, HB 2516, HB 2347, HB 4034, HB 4700, HB 3560, HB 5150, HB 3860, HB 3146, HB 3924, HCR 98, HCR 92, HB 1520, HB 1545, HB 5265, HB 1887, HB 1914, HB 2402, HB 2306, HB 2350, HB 3000, HB 3237, HB 3326, HB 3211, HB 1056, HB 2081, HB 2187, HB 3092, HB 3308, HB 3526, HB 3750, HB 4219, HB 4230, HB 4290, HB 5238, HB 4804, HB 4749, HB 245, HB 1465, HB 294, HB 793, HB 809, HB 3928, HB 334, HB 2037, HB 1973, HB 285, HB 4341, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB 1729, HB 2498, HB 1314, HB 1353, HB 3960, HB 3923, HB 2221, HB 2517, HB 2518, HB 2213, HB 5092, HB 3748, HB 5246, HB 4344, HB 1482, HB 4044, HB 2702, HB 4264, HB 2807, HB 2898, HB 3181, HB 3250, HB 2091, HB 2115, HB 2542, HB 2768, HB 3349, HB 4406, HB 1593, HB 1899, HB 3133, HB 3133, HB 4960, HB 3214, HB 2145, HB 1201, HB 5061, SB 29, SB 879, SB 65, SB 1745, SB 412, SB 412, SB 1746, SB 1238, SB 1341, SB 522, SB 1532, SB 1378, SB 1062, SB 2066, SB 1963, SB 2204, SB 1366, SB 2077, SB 1967, SB 1151, HB 1618, HB 2156, HB 2615, HB 2615, HB 2349, HB 1926, HB 569, HB 1762, HB 38, HJR 138, HB 42, HB 104, HB 104, HB 129, HB 677, HB 426, HB 668, HB 1699, HB 2017, HB 2128, HB 2038, HB 3783, HB 3717, HB 2316, HB 3686, HB 2563, HB 3883, HB 4021, HB 2788, HB 2663, HB 2663, HB 3305, HB 3173, HB 3474, HB 1105, HB 3531, HB 3531, HB 3490, HB 3490, HB 3597, HB 1295, HB 3512, HB 3010, HB 3112, HB 4215, HB 3223, HB 3223, HB 3464, HB 3120, HB 4214, HB 4511, HB 3704, HB 4081, HB 4783, HB 4063, HB 2783, HB 4937, HB 5085, HB 2510, HB 3426, HB 4361, HB 1169, HB 2516, HB 2347, HB 4034, HB 4700, HB 3560, HB 5150, HB 3860, HB 3146, HB 3924, HCR 98, HCR 92

Keywords: carbon tax, carbon emissions, greenhouse gas, climate policy, fuel tax, emissions tax, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax limitation, environmental tax, fossil fuels, energy policy, legislative taxing authority, ballot proposition, constitutional amendment, higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3526 by Capriglione, relating to fiscal transparency for bonds issued by local governmental
• Speaker, I move that the House grant permission to the Committee on Environmental Regulation to meet
• The Committee on Environmental Regulation will meet today at 12:30 p.m. in room 3W15 in a formal meeting
• costs associated with a weather-related event or other natural disaster, granting authority to issue bonds
• Quality for the Committee on Environmental Regulation.

Bills: HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92, HB1520, HB1545, HB5265, HB1887, HB1914, HB2402, HB2306, HB2350, HB3000, HB3237, HB3326, HB3211, HB 1056, HB2081, HB2187, HB3092, HB3308, HB3526, HB3750, HB4219, HB4230, HB4290, HB5238, HB4804, HB4749, HB245, HB1465, HB294, HB793, HB809, HB3928, HB334, HB2037, HB1973, HB285, HB4341, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB1729, HB2498, HB1314, HB1353, HB3960, HB3923, HB2221, HB2517, HB2518, HB2213, HB5092, HB3748, HB5246, HB4344, HB1482, HB4044, HB2702, HB4264, HB2807, HB2898, HB3181, HB3250, HB2091, HB2115, HB2542, HB2768, HB3349, HB4406, HB1593, HB1899, HB3133, HB3133, HB4960, HB3214, HB2145, HB 1201, HB5061, SB29, SB879, SB65, SB1745, SB412, SB412, SB1746, SB1238, SB1341, SB522, SB1532, SB1378, SB1062, SB2066, SB1963, SB2204, SB1366, SB2077, SB1967, SB1151, HB1618, HB2156, HB2615, HB2615, HB2349, HB1926, HB569, HB1762, HB38, HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3531, HB3490, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92

Keywords: carbon tax, carbon emissions, greenhouse gas, climate policy, fuel tax, emissions tax, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax limitation, environmental tax, fossil fuels, energy policy, legislative taxing authority, ballot proposition, constitutional amendment, higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> social workers our environmental social workers our environmental environmental<00:08:16.599><c>
• Care Professionals and pay environmental Care Professionals and pay them<00:08:18.520><c> fairly</c>
• We borrowed $54 million in bond financing from Wall Street to finance that project.
• We are current with our bond payments, but we are not current.
• In the future, we are current with our bond payments, but we are not current.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a private activity bond.
• bond um utilizing<01:29:59.440><c> private</c><01:29:59.760><c> activity</c><01:30:00.080><c> bonds</
• c><01:30:00.480><c> for</c> utilizing private activity bonds for utilizing private activity bonds for
• So for say for the Mayfield bond.
• </c><01:30:52.480><c> And</c> is if you use the bond proceeds. And is if you use the bond proceeds.

Keywords: 0:00:07 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:47 Approval of Minutes 0:01:05 Correspondence and Information Items 0:54:15 Lease Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:56:19 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:08:46 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:13:00 Rpt from Office of Financial Mgmt - KIA 1:20:00 Office of Financial Management 1:35:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will there be any measures in place to help us balance environmental impact as we continue to grow agriculturally
• statutes, ...how do these provisions correlate with procurement statutes for public projects and also bond
• bill effectively ends the Class B land application program without creating a sustainable and environmentally
• bill effectively ends the Class B land application program without creating a sustainable and environmental
• protective, program without creating a sustainable and environmental protective framework for regulating

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and approved two bills. First, it took up CS for SB 290, an agriculture and consumer services bill, and adopted a strike-all amendment that covered a wide range of issues: density limits for certain small municipalities, a delay in biosolids rule changes from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028, higher insurance and penalty requirements for fumigation businesses, longer payment timeframes for contractors to pay subcontractors and suppliers, restrictions on county agritourism permitting ordinances, and renaming the Bonifay Forestry Station. Senators raised concerns about the contractor penalty increase, local government preemption, and the biosolids provisions. Audubon Florida testified in opposition to the state lands and biosolids sections, while several industry and agriculture groups waved in support. The committee then voted the bill favorably, with Senator Bracey Davis voting no. The committee next heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools. The bill would reduce district-level requirements in areas such as assessments, personnel, facilities, and budgeting; expand teacher apprenticeship and multi-year contracts; streamline salary supplements and testing calendars; give districts more flexibility with Title I and capital funds; update facility planning rules; and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs. Supporters from several school districts and education groups waved in favor. Senators generally supported the goal of reducing administrative burdens, though one question was raised about remedies if charter schools fail to respond directly to Department of Education inquiries. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a more direct reporting path and reduce unnecessary layers of regulation. SB 320 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an environmentally friendly option for locations without access to central sewer.
• They do environmental policy discussions.
• There is no requirement for a bond in this bill. There is no requirement for a bond in this bill.
• Suggestions in an earlier committee about the difficulty of obtaining a million-dollar bond.
• You could say that a million-dollar bond costs as little as $10,000.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation, adopting a substitute amendment that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and fund a traffic signal modernization program with $10 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales tax transfer to the trust fund, a bid protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for SB 628, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety, which would strengthen penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless vessel operation. Lucy’s parents gave emotional testimony in support, describing the fatal 2022 boating crash and urging stronger accountability. The sponsor withdrew pending amendments, and the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, was next; the strike-all amendment covered a broad range of agriculture-related changes, including water fluoridation restrictions, labeling rules, drone restrictions over farmland, disaster recovery programs, an honest services registry, FFA-related provisions, and agricultural land preservation. Testimony included support from agricultural and gun-rights groups, opposition from banking, dental, and local-government advocates, and a lengthy public debate over fluoridation and financial discrimination. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems was reported favorably with little debate. The committee then took up CS for SB 1618 on K-12 education, adopting a delete-all amendment that combined a wide range of education provisions, including VPK flexibility, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention requirements, teacher assignment reporting, restrictions on spending public funds on political or social activism, postsecondary and workforce-related changes, and other school and college system updates. Several speakers opposed the activism-related funding restriction, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to keep publicly funded schools focused on education; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 7016 on initiative petitions, adopting a strike-all amendment that would sharply tighten petition circulation rules and increase penalties. The proposal would require circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose training and registration requirements, shorten petition submission deadlines, require more identifying information on petition forms, limit sponsors to one amendment per election cycle, and create new enforcement and investigation triggers, including a 25% invalid-signature threshold. Sponsors argued the changes were needed to address fraud and protect the integrity of constitutional amendment petitions, while senators raised concerns about due process, public-records issues, burdens on volunteers, and the impact on voters and sponsors. The bill was not reported in the portion provided, and the discussion remained ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1017 by Blanco, relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds for certain capital
• Senate Bill 1020 by Huffman, relating to personal bond offices, to Criminal Justice.
• Senate Bill 1066 by Perry, relating to requiring payment and performance bonds for certain public works
• Senate Bill 1095 by Blanco, relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds for...
• Senate Bill 1096 by Blanco, relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds for certain capital

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 13, you will find language that's related to a protest bond.
• So for contracts with a value of up to $10 million, that protest bond is 1%.
• Contract values over $10 million, that protest bond is 0.5% up to a total cap of $10 million.
• Think of the generations of families that have bonded over racing in that place.
• You have environmental compliance. You may have Endangered Species Act review.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 16 and March 17 minutes, then introduced RS 33798, a Department of Administration procurement-related bill from Senator Van Orden. The committee next heard Senate Bill 1422, a major rewrite of Idaho campaign finance law sponsored by Senator Harris and Secretary of State Phil McGrane. The bill would move campaign finance provisions from Title 67 to Title 74, reorganize the law into clearer parts, add disclosure and reporting requirements, prohibit foreign contributions, require “paid for by” language, add pre-primary and pre-general reports, create a more graduated fine structure, and clarify rules for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, and donation timing. Questions focused on enforcement, reporting thresholds, and whether the bill addressed ad truthfulness; McGrane said it did not regulate speech content, only spending and disclosure. The committee voted to send SB 1422 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 889, a broad overhaul of the State Procurement Act presented by Representative Britt Raibolt. The bill updates procurement definitions, clarifies best-and-final-offer procedures, requires use of agency subject-matter experts, allows multiple-award contracts, clarifies bid scoring and analysis, lets prior state contract performance be considered, requires vendor agreement before federal contracts are sent to CMS, protects certain technical information while requiring disclosure if a vendor later bids, adds a debarment process for bad-faith conduct, creates a cooling-off period for certain former officials and employees, establishes a protest bond for bid challenges, and requires reporting of procurement-related spending over $50. Raibolt said the bill was prompted by practical procurement problems and aimed to improve consistency, transparency, and cost savings. The committee sent HB 889 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Two additional bills related to the ITD building and surplus property were also advanced. House Bill 890 would repeal a special surplus-property disposal provision and return disposal of administrative property to the regular process under the State Board of Land Commissioners. House Bill 900 would set procedures for insurance claims over $100,000, require an appraisal opportunity for affected agencies, require public notice of settlement offers, and mandate a public hearing and legislative notice if an agency relocates services or sells property after a damage-related claim. Both bills were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. The longest discussion was on House Bill 898, which would move the State Historic Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society into the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination. Sponsor Senator Den Hartog said the move would improve coordination on federal permitting, strengthen Idaho’s voice with federal agencies, and preserve all federally required SHPO functions, with funding and staff continuing. Many preservation professionals, local officials, and citizens testified in opposition, arguing the current structure works well, that SHIPO benefits from being housed with the Historical Society, and that moving it under an office focused on energy and minerals could create conflicts of interest or pressure to weaken preservation review. Supporters, including water and utility representatives, argued the change would improve coordination, reduce delays, and help small entities navigate complex federal processes. The sponsor closed by saying the bill complies with federal law and would not change the underlying preservation review process, though the committee had not yet taken final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 13, you will find language that's related to a protest bond.
• And the protest bond essentially says we consider the actions that we're taking to be serious enough
• So for contracts with a value of up to $10 million, that protest bond is 1%.
• Think of the generations of families that have bonded over racing in that place.
• You have environmental compliance. You may have Endangered Species Act review.

Summary: The committee first approved the March 16 and March 17, 2026 minutes. It then introduced RS 33798, a proposal related to cooperative and group discount purchasing in the Department of Administration procurement division, and sent it for printing. The main policy item was Senate Bill 1422, a major rewrite of Idaho campaign finance law. Senator Harris and Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the bill would move the laws into Title 74, reorganize reporting rules, prohibit foreign contributions, require new disclosures for signature-gathering and independent expenditures, add pre-primary and pre-general reports, increase contribution limits modestly, and create a graduated fine structure. Questions focused on reporting thresholds, commercial recordkeeping, and the distinction between reporting violations and other violations. The committee voted to send SB 1422 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 889, a broad update to the State Procurement Act. Representative Britt Raibolt said the bill clarifies procurement definitions, best-and-final-offer procedures, use of subject-matter experts, multiple-award contracts, bid scoring, prior performance, federal CMS approval timing, confidentiality of technical information, debarment, cooling-off periods, protest bonds, and disclosure of procurement-related spending. He said the goal was to improve consistency, transparency, and efficiency in large state procurements. After brief questions about the need for the overhaul and the definition of frivolous protests, the committee voted to send HB 889 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 890, also presented by Raibolt, would repeal a surplus-property carve-out used in the ITD building sale and return disposal of surplus administrative property to the regular process under the State Board of Land Commissioners. The committee also advanced HB 900, which sets procedures for private insurance claims over $100,000 involving state property damage, requires appraisal opportunities, public notice of settlement offers, and a public hearing plus legislative notice if an agency relocates services or sells property after such a claim. Both bills received due pass recommendations. The longest discussion was on House Bill 898, which would move the State Historic Preservation Office from the Idaho State Historical Society into the new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination. Senator Den Hartog said the move would improve coordination on federal permitting and preserve SHPO’s functions, while opponents argued the current placement supports preservation work, grants, archives, and Section 106 review, and that moving SHPO into an office focused on energy and minerals could create conflicts of interest and weaken preservation outcomes. Testimony came from historians, preservation professionals, local commission members, utility and water industry representatives, and a youth witness, with supporters emphasizing streamlined permitting and opponents emphasizing mission alignment and public trust. The sponsor closed by saying the bill complies with federal law and that federal law allows states flexibility in where to house the office; the transcript ends before any final committee action on HB 898.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Commissioner Environmental Quality. The chair recognizes and calls up AJ.
• Recommendations include no appropriations from the general revenue dedicated environmental.
• Chief of Budget and Efficiency Officer in our environmental quality. Welcome. Thank you, Chairman.
• bond issuance cap is close to being reached.
• My written testimony outlines how that process works, but basically, it's at environmental... environmental

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I may also add, when we go to our bonding agencies, they point to the stabilization fund as maintaining
• our AAA bond rating, which gives us a better interest rate when we're borrowing funds.
• I started to become aware of the many health and environmental benefits of EV school buses and advocated
• So every new purchase that can be made with an EV instead of, instead, has a long-term environmental
• Others today will speak about the health and environmental benefits of the proposed bills.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and policy measures. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would make permanent a temporary tax classification adjustment allowing the city to maintain a 50% minimum residential factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and legislators said the change is needed because the city’s commercial growth has triggered an old statutory formula that would otherwise push a larger share of the tax burden onto homeowners, especially seniors and fixed-income residents. They said the current temporary relief expires in fiscal 2027 and warned that, without permanent action, residential tax bills could rise sharply; committee members asked about the regional business impact, commercial taxpayers such as Alexandria Real Estate, and Watertown’s stabilization and free cash balances. The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the measure would help a small rural town with a large tourism and recreation economy cover increased police, fire, and EMS costs caused by visitors, while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers. A committee member questioned whether the proposal fit within existing tax law and whether it was more like a tax on entry than on services; town witnesses responded that it would apply to recreation-related services such as guides and lifts and was modeled on the meals and rooms tax. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, which would promote fair tax treatment for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses and trucks, by capping sales and excise taxes at the level of comparable diesel vehicles. Supporters said the bill would remove an unintended tax penalty, help school districts and transportation providers afford electrification, and remain revenue-neutral. Representative Gentile also testified in support of H. 4722 and H. 4755, a Sudbury bill to amend the town’s means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption so the local program can continue without requiring a new special act if it lapses. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• committee on public health HB 156 by Raymond relating to the study of the Texas Commission on environmental
• committee on natural resources HB 157 by Raymond relating to the production by Texas Commission on environmental
• relating to the eligibility for grants and alternative fuel facilities refer to the committee on environmental
• regulation HB 206 by Craddock relating to limitations on a county's authority to require cash bonds
• Against through the private activity bond program referred to the committee on intergovernmental affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all