Transcript Highlights:

• YOU WEREN'T HANDED THE MANUAL THAT SAYS YOU ARE 18 YEARS OLD NOW, HERE ARE THE ANSWERS TO LIFE.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• systems requires ongoing investment, and losing that support would force California to revert to manual

Transcript Highlights:

• when I calculated some of this, I did not include the increased health insurance because this was a manual

Committee: House Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2399, concerning therapeutic leave days for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). Sarah Aker from the Department of Health and Human Services explained the current Medicaid rate-setting methodology, how occupancy affects rates, and why paying the full rate for leave days would create additional fiscal impact. Members debated whether the bill should pay the full Medicaid rate, a flat reduced rate, or a tiered rate, and discussed whether a cap or department authorization should be used to control use of leave days. The department said it was not supporting the change as it was not in the governor’s budget, though it supported family engagement in care. After discussion, the committee settled on a compromise motion to set therapeutic leave days at a $500 daily rate and require department authorization of the number of leave days. The motion passed 6-2, with Representative Anderson voting no and the rest of the recorded members voting yes. The committee then moved on to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget materials, where Michelle Zander walked through detailed population and rate calculations for women’s and men’s facilities, county holds, deferred admissions, transitional facilities, work release, and proposed reentry, man camp, and Grand Forks-related costs. Members asked about the county jail reimbursement rates and the overall pool of funds, and Zander explained the calculations and noted the proposal was roughly break-even depending on assumptions. The committee also heard an overview of DOCR IT requests from Amy and NDIT staff, including data processing, medical modules, a new client management system, body scanners, data management tools, facility management software, medical software upgrades, college solutions, and body cameras/tasers. Staff explained that the new client management system would likely be a multi-phase project with a wide cost range based on vendor selection and scope, and that the current request was for phase one. Members emphasized the importance of better data tracking, staff safety tools, and information that could help explain programming and release outcomes to the public. The committee planned to continue with Veterans Affairs the next day and then return to Senate Bill 2015.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is House File 2242, the Medical Assistance Single PBM Prescription Drug Manual. management model

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• MANUAL HARTMAN WAIVE AGAINST. MICHAEL -- WAIVE AGAINST. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it causes this situation where paperwork is manually being transferred back and forth.
• causes this situation where<00:35:57.680><c> paperwork</c><00:35:58.160><c> is</c><00:35:58.320><c> manually
• </c><00:35:58.800><c> being</c> where paperwork is manually being where paperwork is manually being transferred
• Is this something where reducing that cost of the manual process is going to be offset by the cost of

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it causes this situation where paperwork is manually being transferred back and forth.
• causes this situation where<00:35:57.680><c> paperwork</c><00:35:58.160><c> is</c><00:35:58.320><c> manually
• </c><00:35:58.800><c> being</c> where paperwork is manually being where paperwork is manually being transferred
• Is this something where reducing that cost of the manual process is going to be offset by the cost of

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Kids don't come with an owner's manual; you've got to figure it out as you go.
• Kids don't come with an owner's manual; you've got to figure it out as you go.
• c><00:26:03.000><c> with</c><00:26:03.440><c> a</c><00:26:04.440><c> owner's</c><00:26:04.960><c> manual
• </c><00:26:05.480><c> you</c><00:26:05.600><c> got</c> don't come with a owner's manual you got don't
• come with a owner's manual you got to<00:26:05.840><c> figure</c><00:26:06.080><c> it</c><00:26:06.200

Bills: HF25 , HF4

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• an exact match, or if you have a John Smith, there could be several matches, so there has to be a manual
• responses, and then there is no way for our system to just send a notice; we'd have to do those notices manually
• an exact match, or if you have a John Smith, there could be several matches, so there has to be a manual
• responses, and then there is no way for our system to just send a notice; we'd have to do those notices manually
• We'd have to do those notices manually. So that's where that position comes into play.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. Department of Education testimony said the bill’s definition would conflict with the federal definition and be unusually restrictive, potentially affecting curriculum, educator training, and many existing state requirements. The department said it could force a broad overhaul of school programs and create a need for at least one new state position, with local districts likely facing significant unbudgeted costs. Members raised concerns about impacts on federal pass-through funding, curriculum materials, and whether the bill was workable at all. Several members said the proposal would be too costly and difficult to implement, especially during a tight budget cycle. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. Members who supported retention said they wanted to set the bill aside because of the scale of the concerns, while also stating they did not support the bill as written. The committee then opened HB 133, dealing with DMV follow-up on residency and licensing issues tied to voting and other interactions. Department of Safety/DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology update plus a full-time position to handle manual correspondence and review of possible matches, and that postage was not included in the fiscal note. They said the bill’s 60-day residency trigger is vague, that the DMV would be acting outside its normal role by investigating status after the fact, and that the measure could create privacy and operational problems. Members questioned whether the bill would effectively force people to buy a driver’s license to vote, whether non-driver and voter ID options would avoid that concern, and whether the Secretary of State rather than DMV would be the more appropriate agency to handle any follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Send instantly and all relevant partner dispatch centers with no repeated questions, manual delay, faster
• :20.560><c> no</c><01:48:20.720><c> repeated</c><01:48:21.200><c> questions,</c><01:48:22.160><c> manual
• </c> with no repeated questions, manual with no repeated questions, manual delay,<01:48:23.560><c> faster

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Workers were manually checking, cross-checking whether a voter had previously registered in New Hampshire
• Workers were manually checking, cross-checking whether a voter had previously registered in New Hampshire
• Workers were manually checking, cross-checking whether a voter had previously registered in New Hampshire
• Workers were manually checking, cross-checking whether a voter had previously registered in New Hampshire

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• confusing for law enforcement officers who want to abide by the law, by state law, by their own police manuals
• ><00:47:45.599><c> police</c> by state law, by their own police by state law, by their own police manuals
• 47:47.920><c> fair</c><00:47:48.160><c> to</c><00:47:48.319><c> put</c><00:47:48.480><c> them</c> manuals
• , and that's not fair to put them manuals, and that's not fair to put them in<00:47:48.800><c> that</

Bills: HF3405 , HF3413 , HF3769 , HF3768 , HF3771 , HF3465

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We've updated our provider manual. We've notified providers through emails.
• Um but we've updated our<00:28:48.480><c> provider</c><00:28:48.880><c> manual.
• </c><00:28:49.360><c> We've</c><00:28:49.600><c> notified</c> our provider manual.
• We've notified our provider manual.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the USDA has a manual called the Food Buying Guide.
• So, the USDA has um a manual<00:40:19.920><c> called</c><00:40:20.160><c> the</c><00:40:20.400><c> food
• </c><00:40:22.079><c> And</c> manual called the food buying guide.
• And manual called the food buying guide.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at some of the building construction manuals, you'll see that there's also some issues in
• 48:59.359><c> you</c><00:48:59.520><c> know</c><00:48:59.680><c> construction</c><00:49:00.319><c> manuals
• </c> building you know construction manuals building you know construction manuals you'll<00:49:01.119

Summary: The subcommittee began its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion around broader questions about how school building aid should work, noting the state’s limited available funding, the existing debt service obligations, and whether the current formula should continue or be changed. He also raised concerns about the state’s overall revenue constraints and the need to consider renovation, new construction, and possibly leasing within any future program. Members and the Department of Education representative discussed whether school building aid is a state or local responsibility, the current backlog of projects, and the condition of school facilities statewide. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities described his background and answered technical questions about current programs. Representative Luno argued that under the ConVal decision the state has responsibility for school buildings, including construction and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property-tax capacity. Representative Papich urged the committee to focus on policy structure and fairness rather than just available dollars, saying the current system creates winners and losers and suggesting a simpler per-capita or similar allocation model, while acknowledging a possible transition for projects already in the pipeline. The discussion also covered CTE facilities and leasing. Carney explained that charter schools, and possibly CTE centers, can receive limited leasing aid, and that CTE capital requests are funded through a state capital process, while federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction. He and others described a separate rotational funding approach for CTE centers, but several members said that model can leave programs waiting too long and may not match changing workforce needs. The chair and others noted that a report from a related study group on CTE policy and funding was still pending, and that its absence could affect legislation for FY28. No votes were taken and no bill was acted on in the portion of the meeting provided; the discussion ended with interest in modeling alternatives, reviewing the waiting list, and examining the tradeoffs of reducing upfront state aid versus funding more projects overall.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that decrease in manual labor can go a long way in time savings and could reduce the number of
• And so that that decrease in that<01:39:54.000><c> manual</c><01:39:54.320><c> labor</c><01:39:54.719
• :54.960><c> a</c><01:39:55.199><c> long</c><01:39:55.360><c> way</c><01:39:55.520><c> in</c> that manual
• labor can go a long way in that manual labor can go a long way in time<01:39:56.000><c> savings</c><

Summary: The committee first approved the July 9 minutes without objection and heard from Jay Hartz and Jonathan Harris of the Legislative Research Commission. Members asked about Capitol and legislator security in light of recent targeted shootings in other states. Hartz said LRC had removed members’ home addresses from its website, was reviewing other state-government records for similar information, and was working with the Speaker, Senate President, Kentucky State Police, and outside security experts on broader safety measures. He also said LRC is exploring commercial products to help block personal contact information from public view, but declined to name vendors publicly. Harris added that driver’s license scans at the Capitol are handled by Kentucky State Police, while LRC has a process for flagging high-volume or concerning contacts for police review. The LRC also reported that redistricting work has already begun, with census coordination underway, evaluation of redistricting software including Mapitude and open-source tools, and plans to make the same tools available to the public in the LRC library. The committee then heard from Kentucky Wired Operations Company CEO Robert Morphonius, COO Tom Snyder, and counsel Patrick Hughes about the Kentucky Wired network. They explained the corporate structure: Kentucky Wired Operations Company is a private for-profit special purpose entity that designs, builds, operates, and maintains the network; Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Company is a nonprofit instrumentality used for financing; and Open Fiber Kentucky handles commercialization of excess capacity under a wholesale agreement. They said Kentucky Wired Operations is in the operations and maintenance phase, with those obligations continuing until 2045, and that technical changes to the network generally require KCNA approval through formal change-order processes. They also said the company conducted a market test in June 2023 under Schedule 19 of its contract, considered proposals including Open Fiber and the incumbent service provider, and retained the existing provider. Members asked about KCNA’s role, procurement, network customers, and revenue. The witnesses said Quac operates outside normal state procurement because its process is governed by contract, while KCNA acts as the Commonwealth’s oversight authority and filter for changes. They identified current network users as including AOC, KCTCS, postsecondary education, and other Commonwealth agencies, with all requests routed through KCNA; they also said a separate change process for Exceliccom is in litigation. On funding, they said the operation is paid through monthly appropriations, with roughly a million dollars a month for the service provider and a couple hundred thousand for Quac’s oversight, not including debt service, which is bundled into the availability payment. The discussion ended as members began asking about responsibility for damage-related costs such as squirrel-related outages.

Transcript Highlights:

• one-time appropriation of $218,000 from the DVS operating account for changes to the driver's license manual
• to the operating account for changes to the driver's<01:54:59.280><c> license</c><01:54:59.679><c> manual
• </c><01:55:00.800><c> This</c> driver's license manual and exam.
• This driver's license manual and exam.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii Insurance Division, table, we will submit underwriting guidelines, policy forms, and a rating manual
• forms,<00:05:07.520><c> and</c><00:05:07.680><c> a</c><00:05:07.840><c> rating</c><00:05:08.160><c> manual
• </c><00:05:08.880><c> to</c><00:05:09.120><c> the</c> forms, and a rating manual to the forms, and a
• rating manual to the division<00:05:09.759><c> for</c><00:05:10.000><c> approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• the county recorders on figuring out because I don't know any other way for them to do this but manually
• any other way for them to do<01:09:22.719><c> this</c><01:09:22.960><c> but</c><01:09:23.159><c> manually
• > So,</c><01:09:24.640><c> um,</c><01:09:24.880><c> to</c><01:09:25.199><c> have</c> do this but manually
• So, um, to have do this but manually.

Bills: HF2233 , HF1999 , HF1995 , HF1614 , HF2781 , HF1775 , HF1316 , HF2127 , HF2521 , HF689 , HF2380 , HF1273

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• because there was not an immediate safety need, but that's not a standard that appears in any DHS manual
• appears</c><00:57:09.079><c> in</c><00:57:09.280><c> any</c><00:57:09.520><c> DH</c><00:57:09.960><c> manual
• </c><00:57:10.559><c> or</c><00:57:10.839><c> in</c> that appears in any DH manual or in that appears
• in any DH manual or in statute<00:57:12.039><c> so</c><00:57:12.319><c> disability</c><00:57:12.760>

Bills: HF1937 , HF2407 , HF1678 , HF1477 , HF2040 , HF1840 , HF257

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy