Transcript Highlights:

• This bill basically requires a sunrise analysis and the passage of a concurrent resolution because it's
• However, according to the rules, a sunrise analysis is required, so we are deferring it indefinitely,
• 00:32:25.679> Sunrise according to the rules of Sunrise according to the rules of Sunrise analysis
• 27.440> so<00:32:27.600> we<00:32:27.679> are<00:32:27.960> deferring analysis
• is required so we are deferring analysis is required so we are deferring it<00:32:28.760> indefinitely

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services began by explaining strict one-minute testimony limits, reliance on written testimony, and that it had quorum and would move directly to decision making on deferred measures. It first adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 8 with amendments, creating a five-year trial period for a jury-duty exemption for actively practicing APRNs, delaying implementation to January 1, 2027, and adding a defective date. It then adopted amendments to SB 189 on breast cancer screening, replacing references to “woman” with “patient,” clarifying that supplemental imaging and mammograms must be medically necessary and ordered by the patient’s provider, deleting one subsection, and adding a defective date. The committee then heard testimony on several bills. SB 46 on insurance/mental health coverage drew support from a member of the public and others, but later the chair said it would be deferred indefinitely pending a required sunrise analysis and a concurrent resolution. SB 642 on fertility preservation services received broad support from providers, advocacy groups, and an individual who described facing cancer treatment and high out-of-pocket costs; the chair later amended it to make coverage optional, limit it to those over 26, and add a defective date. SB 49 on terminal illness had limited testimony and was later passed with amendments incorporating agency and professional association changes plus a defective date. The committee also heard strong support for SNAP-related bills. SB 53, expanding SNAP eligibility to 300% of poverty, drew testimony about the “benefits cliff,” but the chair later deferred it indefinitely, citing uncertainty about costs and system issues. SB 58 on public assistance had no testimony. SB 960 and SB 961, both SNAP-related, drew extensive support from nonprofits, health groups, and others; DHS said its modernization work would not be ready until fall 2026 and that current systems could not automatically extend certification periods. SB 963 on SNAP also received support, including testimony from a volunteer reentry advocate and a public health advocate, but the chair later said it would be deferred indefinitely because the committee could not determine the fiscal impact and wanted to wait until next year. Finally, the committee heard SB 798 on child welfare and SB 974 on foster care. Testimony on SB 798 included support from child welfare and advocacy organizations, but also criticism from a witness who said the bill lacked voices of those harmed by the system and another who emphasized the need for independence, implementation, and accountability. The committee then recessed to regain quorum and later returned to decision making, where it deferred SB 46 indefinitely, passed SB 642 with amendments, passed SB 49 with amendments, and deferred SB 53 indefinitely. The transcript ends while the chair is continuing through the remaining measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• In an analysis that we did of a similar situation, we looked at a $400,000 home, one that was in Gainesville
• So could you provide some analysis or reasonings why there is no.
• So could you provide some analysis or reasonings why there is no premium credit when we see an absolute
• Are you able to provide any analysis or understanding as to why we continue to raise that attachment
• a market conduct exam, it's a forensic-level review of the books of the company, claim-by-claim analysis

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an economic analysis.
• Do they not connect to the grid. 3115 It's an economic analysis. 3116 So I think you're going to find
• Moving on, so what we're planning to do and what we would like to do is perform some analysis of the
• We use a hypothesis-testing framework for our analysis.
• I used to be an interconnect engineer in a previous job also, where we would do the analysis of what

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say a recent cost-benefit analysis shows that civil legal services deliver $4 back to Minnesotans
• I will say a recent cost-benefit analysis shows that civil legal services deliver $4 back to Minnesotans
• shows that civil Legal benefit analysis shows that civil Legal Services<00:31:16.720> deliver
• and data analysis.
• and data analysis.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• whole package isn't adopted, or if people want to pick and choose different components, the fiscal analysis
• whole package isn't adopted, or if people want to pick and choose different components, the fiscal analysis
• here to have today, and look forward to hearing your thoughts just to understand that the fiscal analysis
• The potential change to our financial match, um, that's kind of an easier analysis to do to give you
• <01:37:37.320> do<01:37:38.080> to<01:37:38.320> give kind of an easier analysis

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency contracted with Management Analysis and Development, as I said.
• Management Analysis and Development engaged county agencies in guided conversation as well as through
• We strongly advocate for a comprehensive analysis of child welfare financing in the state of Minnesota
• We strongly advocate for a comprehensive analysis of child welfare financing in the state of Minnesota
• We strongly advocate for a comprehensive analysis of child welfare financing in the state of Minnesota

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025. A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone. The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, that's more of a subjective analysis of what someone's intent would be.
• Has there been any analysis of potential First Amendment challenges to restricting government speech
• I'm pulling up the latest bill analysis.
• I'm pulling up the latest bill analysis.
• Beyond what we have in the bill analysis, I have not seen any other analysis with regard to any of the

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and memorial remarks, including a moment of silence for service members killed in the conflict in Iran. The chamber then moved to special orders and took up a series of bills, with many measures passing unanimously after brief explanations and, in several cases, substitution of House companions. Early bills included CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, which drew extensive supportive debate about the civic value of debate programs and passed 37-0, and SB 1072 on an anti-Semitism task force, which was amended to clarify that criticism of Israel is not prohibited and then passed 37-0. The Senate also approved CS/CS/SB 1230/HB 1019 on PFAS chemicals and firefighting foam, with discussion focused on phasing out AFFF, testing requirements, exceptions for federal aviation and military uses, and support for firefighters and water quality; the bill passed 37-0. Other measures passed without opposition included SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 186 on student health and safety and seizure response training, SB 598 on funeral and cemetery services, SB 990/HB 883 on protected cell captive insurance companies, SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, SB 560 on child welfare and foster care medication procedures, SB 684/HB 961 on electronic signatures for salvage titles, and SB 778/HB 569 on forensic client services. Two bills, SB 432 on intoxicating substances and SB 928 on dangerous crimes, were temporarily postponed. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to SB 1134 on official actions of local governments and DEI-related activities. The sponsor argued the bill would prevent counties and municipalities from funding or promoting DEI efforts he described as discriminatory or indoctrinating, while opponents offered amendments to narrow the bill to spending only, add an intent requirement for penalties, and preserve local proclamations and observances. Those amendments were debated at length but were not adopted. The sponsor then continued explaining the bill’s exceptions, including references to holidays, heritage sites, and the Pulse Memorial, and the chamber was still in debate on the underlying measure when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:27:23.039> that<00:27:23.159> would The last slide I have here is kind of an analysis
• <00:58:20.839> a software it takes detailed analysis a software it takes detailed analysis
• Recent economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the State Science and Technology Institute
• Recent economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the State Science and Technology Institute
• Recent economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the State Science and Technology Institute

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><01:06:57.480> the<01:06:57.640> 2022<01:06:58.839> season We also do some analysis
• We do a little bit of heterogeneity analysis, and I'll get to that in a second, but the first thing I
• um so niers is the national our analysis um so niers is the national incident-based<01:11:06.120>
• and I'll get to heterogeneity analysis and I'll get to that<01:14:57.679> in<01:14:57.760>
• we look at the difference and analysis we look at the difference and this<01:15:38.080> has<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the basis of that study that was done, the answer is yes, we have done an analysis. >> On the
• Was there an economic development analysis done with regard to the project and its economic impacts on
• Was there an economic development analysis done with regard to the project and its economic impacts on
• WAS THERE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS DONE WITH REGARD TO THE PROJECT AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON
• SO, PRESENTED PLANS AND OBVIOUROBSDEIS SUBJECT TO AN E E An analysis and factors that are relevant for

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, then approved the prior day’s Journal and moved into motions, resolutions, and budget-related business. Senator Gianaris called up Senate Print 5898A for reconsideration; the Senate voted 59 ayes to restore the bill to the third reading calendar. Several amendments were also received on third-reading bills, and the Finance Committee was called into session while the chamber proceeded with resolutions. The Senate adopted Resolution J.2106 recognizing Second Chance Month and the mental health impacts of incarceration, with Senator Brisport speaking in support and a guest from the community recognized in the chamber. The body also adopted Resolution J.1492 designating May 27, 2026, as Taiwan Heritage Day, with remarks from Senators Sepúlveda, Stavisky, and Liu highlighting Taiwanese contributions to New York and expressing support for Taiwan amid current geopolitical tensions. The Finance Committee then reported several budget bills, including Senate Prints 9003D, 9004D, 9007C, and 9009C, which were moved to third reading. The remainder of the session focused on the supplemental and controversial budget calendars, especially tax and spending provisions. Senators debated the “Protecting Our Wallets” energy rebate, with supporters describing it as a one-time check for eligible taxpayers and critics arguing it was too small and not tied directly to utility bills; the chamber accepted the message of necessity and laid the bills aside. Members also debated extensions and changes to tax provisions affecting corporations, alternative fuel exemptions, Broadway and theatrical production tax credits, charitable deductions for certain 501(c)(3)s, nicotine pouch taxes, a new New York City pied-à-terre tax, and a standardbred horse-racing testing fee. Several senators criticized the budget as raising costs or favoring certain industries, while supporters defended the measures as revenue-raising, affordability, or public-health policies. No final votes on the controversial budget bills are shown in the excerpt beyond procedural rulings, adoption of the resolution calendar, and acceptance of committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eugene Tien, Administrator of the Research and Economic Analysis Division.
• :35.879> research<00:02:36.280> and<00:02:36.879> economic<00:02:37.319> analysis
• of the research and economic analysis of the research and economic analysis division<00:02:40.720
• These three sectors were carefully analyzed in Research and Economic Analysis Division's 2024 targeted
• <01:52:11.520> to through the uh system uh analysis to through the uh system uh analysis to

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was done harvest analysis.
• A model was used for that analysis called the Woodstock model.
• And that they said that the model that during the analysis had little to do with forestry ecology and
• There was not anything like any kind of comprehensive analysis done at this time.
• This is back analysis done at this time.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A good portion of New Hampshire providers had already done that analysis.
• Already done that analysis.
• So, part of already done that analysis.
• What was left then was used for all of the analysis.
• What was left then was used for all of the analysis.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You don’t have the sales leading up to April 1 yet, so you have to do your analysis after April 1.
• You do not have the sales leading up to April 1 yet, so analysis has to happen after April 1.
• You do not have the sales leading up to April 1 yet, so you have to do your analysis after April 1.
• <00:50:54.720> after<00:50:55.000> April of got to do your analysis after April of
• got to do your analysis after April 1st<00:50:55.920> and<00:50:56.040> if<00:50:56.119

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And<00:29:55.160> that's<00:29:55.960> an<00:29:56.120> analysis.
• Is that a fair And that's an analysis. Is that a fair analysis? analysis? analysis? >> No.
• >> Okay.<00:30:18.560> Is<00:30:18.800> that<00:30:19.080> analysis<00:30:
• Is that analysis ever show up in >> Okay.
• Is that analysis ever show up in the<00:30:21.200> structural<00:30:21.680> deficit,<00

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first handled routine announcements, including welcoming a new group of pages and noting donations of donuts and chicken from local businesses, along with a citation planned for Mr. Herman’s Bakery, which is closing after 103 years. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 858, establishing a Department of Budget and Management Audit and Finance Compliance Unit. A senator moved to send the bill back to second reading to add an amendment, which was adopted without objection, and the bill was reprinted for third reading. The Finance Committee then reported several bills. Senate Bill 84, concerning collective bargaining for graduate assistants at UMCP and UMBC, was laid over after questions about whether graduate assistants are employees or students. Senate Bill 455, creating a transformational project financing program tied to tax increment financing districts, had two committee amendments adopted and was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, also received two committee amendments and was ordered up, but a later Howard County amendment was proposed and the bill was laid over. Senate Bill 777, directing workforce development support in hospital closures and related events, was adopted and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 831, addressing child labor penalties, private-sector labor relations, and state labor standards, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 932, requiring social media platforms to display users’ general geographic location, was laid over after questions. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 340, requiring at least $2 million annually for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, with two amendments adopted and the bill sent to third reading. Senate Bill 489, creating a limited license pathway for physicians trained abroad and repealing the fifth pathway program, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 496, expanding Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, prompted extended debate over the fiscal note and who would bear the costs; the sponsor argued the estimate was overstated and did not account for likely lower utilization or health-care savings, while an opponent pressed concerns about the state share and structural deficit. The discussion continued without a final vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hiring of an actuarial firm to both assist with analysis and survey results to get the data for that
• analysis to present for you.
• <01:38:22.000> for data for that analysis to present for data for that analysis to present
• <02:03:17.760> that<02:03:18.080> you able to conduct the analysis that you able to
• that was put think, the helpful analysis that was put together<02:03:47.280> in<02:03:47.520>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The DCCA supported a sunrise analysis.
• I worry that the sunrise analysis needs to be strengthened with the verbiage, and we're happy to work
• I will caution you that unless analysis I will caution you that unless there<01:38:40.360> is
• What we do differently is when we looked at our analysis and through, like, Six Sigma, and trying to
• <02:50:17.239> of treating psychiatrist's uh analysis of treating psychiatrist's uh analysis

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Y'all should use that in your analysis, I think, because that's the proper metric, volume of universe
• Are you kind of running different analysis or just kind of estimating where that would go?
• This data indicates a need for analysis on the factors affecting these changes.
• outreach, economic analysis.
• We have a couple of options that we're doing that analysis I just mentioned to figure out. Okay.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to just say what's on page three of the bill analysis, that this protected information will be
• What’s on page three of the bill analysis is that this protected information will be used by fraudulent

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to consider three proposed committee bills under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, each aimed at preserving a public records exemption that would otherwise repeal on October 2. PCB GOS 25-01, presented by Rep. Nix, would keep confidential property photos and personal identifying information tied to applicants or participants in housing assistance programs used for disaster recovery after a presidentially declared disaster. Members discussed the need to prevent fraud and protect distressed property owners from being targeted after disasters. The bill was reported favorably. PCB GOS 25-03, presented by Rep. Sapp, would preserve the exemption for certain sensitive business information submitted to the Office of Financial Regulation for the Financial Technology Sandbox. Supporters said the confidentiality is necessary to encourage companies to submit proprietary information and participate in the program. The bill was also reported favorably. PCB GOS 25-02, presented by Rep. Weinberger on behalf of Rep. Basabe, would continue the exemption for site-specific location information concerning endangered or threatened species. Members noted the importance of protecting Florida’s unique ecosystem and preventing poaching of both animals and rare plants. This bill was likewise reported favorably. Each bill received no amendments or public testimony, and the meeting adjourned after all three were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have transferred the cost into the S cap analysis. Oh, okay. All right.
• oh okay all into the S cap analysis oh okay all right<03:26:22.800> and<03:26:22.920> then
• Now lies with the office to do fee analysis.
• It's in the middle of a fiscal impact analysis presently.
• That has not been in balance for a number of reasons, and there's some analysis.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.