Transcript Highlights:

• He said it could be somebody who decided they wanted to do something on their computer and created a
• It's just a computer. It's just bits and bytes, right?
• It's just it's just a computer. had. It's just it's just a computer.
• I serve as the state policy director for the Computer and Communications Industry Association, CCIA,
• <05:00:55.440> and of protections on um computers and of protections on um computers and iPhones

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 146, which would remove the requirement that a medical examiner physically view a body before issuing a cremation certificate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Suprentice, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jenny Duval explained that the bill would not change the death certificate process or the existing waiting period before cremation; it would only eliminate the in-person viewing step. They said the current review of death certificates already catches the vast majority of cases that should be reported to the medical examiner, and that the physical view changes outcomes in less than 1% of cremation cases. The witnesses emphasized that the bill is intended to improve efficiency and reduce delays for families and funeral homes, while freeing deputy medical examiners to focus on homicides, suicides, accidents, and unexpected natural deaths. Dr. Duval cited an example where review of a death certificate, not the body, uncovered a long-ago strangulation-related homicide, arguing that the key safeguard is review of records and cause of death, not the physical view. She also said the change would save travel time and some costs for the department. Committee members asked about how death certificates list primary and contributing causes of death, whether the low percentage of findings means the current process has a deterrent effect, why cremation is treated differently from burial, and whether identification concerns are adequately addressed. The sponsors responded that identification is handled earlier by hospitals, families, and funeral directors, and that any questionable identification would already fall under medical examiner jurisdiction. They also said the bill would not alter the two-day cremation delay or other existing safeguards. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have a brand new computer? Yes? True.
• And that's no problem for us to administer because of our computer system.
• You have a brand new computer? Yes? True.
• And that's no problem for us to administer because of our computer system.
• And that's no problem for us to administer because of our computer system.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, offering more classes in areas like science, technology, engineering, and math could really help
• back to something we've talked about on this committee as long as I've been here: the art versus the science
• districts have licenses through the Department of Education and the two vendors, and you take it—it’s a computer

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our children are in school, we do not charge them to use district-owned books, laptops, tablets, science
• our children are in school, we do not charge them to use district-owned books, laptops, tablets, science
• Bear with me, I'm doing it on paper because the computer is telling it wrong. Okay.

Bills: HB1623

Keywords: HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we took a hard look at the science, the science that you support by investing in our department,
• advisory committee made up of experts in marine ecology, social science, Science Advisory Committee,
• She's a science officer for the Ocean Science Trust.
• about Ocean Science Trust.
• We are using science, but we're not just sitting around waiting for the science to be perfect before

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:03 Bills for Consideration: 3:10 Adjournment: 56:19, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 1, which would have Kentucky opt into a federal education freedom tax credit program allowing donations to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) for K-12 educational expenses. The bill sponsors said it would not use Kentucky general funds, would be administered through the Secretary of State, and would let donors claim up to a $1,700 federal tax credit for contributions to SGOs. They argued the program could support public, private, religious, and homeschool-related educational needs, including tutoring, transportation, technology, special needs services, and other school expenses. Several senators raised concerns about whether the bill would favor larger districts with more school-choice options over rural counties with only one public school, creating a two-tier system. The sponsors responded that public school districts could also create SGOs and that the federal rules limit eligibility to families at or below 300% of area median gross income. They also said the program would not reduce existing state or federal school funding, but would instead redirect federal tax credit dollars that Kentucky donors might otherwise send to other states or back to the federal government. Members asked about the structure and oversight of SGOs, including whether they must be nonprofits, how broad their missions could be, and whether funds could be earmarked for specific purposes. The sponsors said SGOs must be certified, serve at least two schools and 10 students, spend at least 90% of receipts on scholarships, and cannot be directed to a specific student, though they can be targeted to categories such as elementary students or special needs services. They also said homeschool families would need to organize through a co-op or existing approved SGO. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent a science industry. And all of our, uh, things are made based on science and chemistry.
• We are regulated based on science, and we want to be regulated based on science.
• I, I would, I would argue that it's more political science than science.
• I go, I trust science a lot.
• on the science.

Bills: HB25, HB38

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, interest rate, ad valorem taxes, homesteads, property tax, tax deferral

Transcript Highlights:

• Aiden Downey with the Computer and Communications Industry Association, in respectful opposition.
• Aiden Downey, with the Computer Communications Industry Association, opposed unless amended.
• Aiden Downey with the Computer Communications Industry Association and opposed and less amended position
• environment, outside of the shell or the root of your own computer, your own network environment.
• Fundamental level of control in your computer, for example.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I'm going to run and get my computer. Mr. Chair, while Mr.
• Chair, I'm going to run and<00:32:02.720> get<00:32:02.840> my<00:32:02.920> computer
• and get my computer. and get my computer.
• Stanley's getting his<00:32:09.960> computer,<00:32:10.440> it<00:32:10.520> seems
• like you know, his computer, it seems like you know, this<00:32:12.080> is<00:32:12.640> um

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wasn't sure if that—I don't have my computer in front.
• I wasn't sure if that—I don't have my computer in front.
• I wasn't sure if that—I don't have my computer in front.
• I wasn't sure if that—I don't have my computer in front.
• >> Okay. >> I wish I had my computer with me.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it's not telling me on my computer what line that is, but I think that within the county where the
• Uh, it's not telling me on my computer what line that is, but I think that within the county where the
• Uh, it's not telling me on my computer what line that is, but I think that within the county where the
• Uh, it's not telling me on my computer what line that is, but I think that within the county where the
• You're going to sit at your desk in your own home and you're going to put data into your computer.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this isn't my bill, but I was concerned what information is in that barcode and once it goes into a computer
• this isn't my bill, but I was concerned what information is in that barcode and once it goes into a computer
• <00:51:37.599> goes<00:51:37.839> into<00:51:38.000> a<00:51:38.240> computer
• <00:51:38.640> system<00:51:39.359> for once it goes into a computer system for once
• it goes into a computer system for that<00:51:40.000> store,<00:51:40.480> where<00:51

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to public engagement with science.
• And her engagement with science.
• Engagement with Science. And be it Engagement with Science.
• <00:10:55.680> or themes: excellence in science or themes: excellence in science or innovation
• bridging disciplines, especially science bridging disciplines, especially science with<00:11:07.480

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who reflected on the Sermon on the Mount as a call to resist exclusion, greed, and coercion and to focus on blessing and care for those in need. After the devotional, the chamber suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career and technical education system, and committed it to the Committee on Education. The House also adopted HCR 241, a concurrent resolution congratulating University of Vermont Distinguished Professor and Vermont State Climatologist Dr. Leslie Ann Dupigny-Giroux on receiving the Manny L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, with members offering remarks about her climate work and public service. On the action calendar, the House passed Senate Bill 157 on recovery residence certification in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and Senate Bill 239 on the child abuse and neglect reporting working group in concurrence with proposal of amendment. During discussion of S. 239, a member explained that the House amendment was a technical correction adding the Vermont School Counselor Association and the Agency of Education as stakeholders for the working group to consult. The House also concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 410, which concerns the calculation of recidivism and other criminology measures; the Judiciary Committee said the Senate change was a clarifying wording revision and supported it. The chamber then moved through announcements, including recognition of visiting family members, a UVM intern, and notice of a caucus discussion on permitting modernization. A member also invited colleagues to view Vermont Railways’ train in Montpelier. The House completed its orders of the day and adjourned until the next morning at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• is science specific that evidence-based is science of<00:03:13.640> reading<00:03:14.239>
• <00:06:46.280> of they are able to teach the science of they are able to teach the science
• The science of reading is informed by many branches of science, but may be too broad for the targeted
• The science of reading is informed by many branches of science, but may be too broad for the targeted
• The science of reading is informed by many branches of science, but may be too broad for the targeted

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members and guests are prohibited from using computers, phones, or any type of electronic device.
• Members and guests are prohibited from Members and guests are prohibited from using<00:48:44.320> computers
• 46.280> or<00:48:46.720> any<00:48:47.000> type<00:48:47.400> of using computers
• , phones, or any type of using computers, phones, or any type of an<00:48:47.640> electronic<00

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first passed H.953, an act approving an amendment to the charter of the town of Panton, on third reading by voice vote. It then took up S.325 on regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction, where a Lowell member offered an amendment to redefine conserved land for purposes of the conserved land inventory and Vermont’s conservation goals. The Speaker ruled that amendment not germane, and the House sustained that ruling. A separate Williamstown amendment to expand interim housing exemptions was then debated; supporters said it would help housing growth in already developed areas, including rural towns, while opponents from the Environment Committee and Ways and Means said it remained unfavorable and could affect towns that rely on Act 250 review. The House rejected that amendment by voice vote. A Barre City member then offered a wetlands amendment to limit Class 2 wetland buffers in targeted housing areas, arguing it would support housing in designated growth areas while still protecting most wetlands; after discussion, the member withdrew the amendment. The House then passed S.325 in concurrence with proposal of amendment by voice vote. The House next postponed action on S.208, relating to standards for law enforcement identification, for two legislative days. It then considered S.209, prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations. The Judiciary Committee explained that the bill expands existing civil-arrest protections beyond court proceedings to include schools, government buildings, DMV offices, libraries, polling places, social service sites, places of worship, camps, and health care facilities, while preserving exceptions for judicial warrants, court orders, contempt, and court security. The committee also described changes to remedies and definitions, including exclusions for temporary custody during a mental health crisis. Testimony cited included representatives from medical, immigrant justice, legal, library, municipal, faith, education, and civil rights groups; the bill was reported favorably by Judiciary on a 6-5 vote. A Bennington member offered an amendment to S.209 that would remove the governor’s statutory exemption to authorize 287(g) agreements, arguing such agreements can undermine due process, public safety, and trust in law enforcement. The Judiciary Committee had already found the amendment not germane, and the member withdrew it. Debate then continued on the committee-recommended bill, with a Sheldon member speaking from a law-enforcement perspective to argue Vermont already does not conduct civil immigration arrests and warning the bill could create confusion and liability for officers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before final action on S.209 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot, or compute a top-tier public cloud by 2029.
• probably most cost-effective to keep that in-house, but where we have to cycle or vary the amount of compute
• And the second one is that we need to move to 100% cloud computing.
• it's so prescriptive in saying a strategy in detail plan to migrate or move state applications and compute

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But she texted me this, which we downloaded into the computer here, which we printed out. >> because
• 31:29.760> downloaded<00:31:30.320> into<00:31:30.720> the<00:31:30.960> computer
• which we downloaded into the computer which we downloaded into the computer here<00:31:31.600>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and discussed how to proceed with its family court review work. The chair said preliminary, unofficial reports could be circulated and voted on by email, and noted that next year the work might continue as a full committee rather than a subcommittee. Members also discussed carrying unresolved issues into next year, including the long-standing “one judge, one case” concept. Later, the committee received additional materials from a member who could not attend, including a packet on state-funded transcript requests and background information on how different states structure family court systems. A major presentation focused on improving New Hampshire family court pre-trial and mediation practices. The presenters said current rules give judges broad discretion, which can lead to inconsistent discovery, evidence, and timelines, especially for self-represented parties. They raised concerns about uneven mediator training and oversight, lack of uniform domestic violence screening, and unclear information for families about their rights and how to exit mediation. They recommended standardized pre-trial case management orders, clearer plain-language deadlines, mandatory domestic violence screening, stronger mediator certification and continuing education, a mentorship program, an independent oversight board, and a pilot program in a few counties before any statewide rollout. Members and presenters also discussed existing court forms and practices, including mediation agreements, mediator preparation forms, first appearances, and the use of Zoom for mediation. One participant argued that mediation can work better when parties are better prepared and when cases are not sent too early, and suggested that neutral case evaluation is another useful alternative dispute resolution tool. The discussion also touched on the need for better educational materials for pro se litigants, with one member describing efforts to create a more accessible guide for people going to court. No votes were taken, and the session ended with plans to continue reviewing materials and refine recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And second, workers can go through the program without having to have stable access to a computer.
• without having to have stable access to without having to have stable access to a<00:42:43.839> computer
• 44.880> in<00:42:45.119> other<00:42:45.280> words,<00:42:45.920> this a computer
• So in other words, this a computer.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what science is about. It's not.
• Modern biomedical science fails this basic test.
• Dissent is the very essence of science.
• That's what the role of science is.
• Well Senator, I think that science is...

Keywords: NIH funding, healthcare research, chronic diseases, scientific integrity, public trust, pandemic response

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on various healthcare and scientific issues, with significant discussions surrounding the impact of recent administrative actions on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its research agenda. Senators expressed concerns over funding cuts and personnel reductions, particularly the reported termination of over 1,200 NIH staff members, which could jeopardize ongoing and future research projects. The session included testimonies on the importance of supporting early-stage researchers and restoring public trust in scientific institutions following pandemic-related controversies. Additionally, the potential for future healthcare management based on diverse scientific ideas was emphasized as crucial to tackle chronic diseases effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he had questions about CAWs, or computer-assisted wagering, and noted that it seems to be a hot
• CAWs are computer-automated wagering, and they get dumped in at the last minute before the pools are
• a four to five to one, and then find out it pays 9 to 5 because a ton of money came in from some computer
• c><00:31:20.240> some ton of money that came in at some ton of money that came in at some computer
• <00:31:21.200> algorithm computer algorithm computer algorithm uh<00:31:22.960> group<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its August 21 meeting and then received an update from Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation leadership on implementation of Senate Bill 299 and House Bill 566. Jamie Eids and staff described the agency’s new structure after charitable gaming was brought under the corporation, including new divisions, staffing, banking, payroll, insurance, procurement, and reporting systems. They also unveiled the corporation’s new logo and tagline, and said the transition had been designed to avoid interruption for charities, licensees, and racing operations. A major focus was the fee structure required by House Bill 566. Eids outlined current licensing fees across racing, sports wagering, and charitable gaming, compared Kentucky’s fees with other states, and recommended keeping the status quo for one more year because the agency has only recently brought all three components fully in-house. Members asked about whether charitable gaming had harmed veterans’ groups or other nonprofits, whether any revenue should be transferred back to the state, and whether the charitable gaming licenses cover one-off raffles as well as standing operations. Eids said she had not heard complaints, said the licenses include all such activity with some exemptions, and agreed to look at the question of future transfers. The committee then heard from Melissa Combs Wright on pari-mutuel wagering and Hannah Sims on sports wagering. They reported continued growth in historical horse racing, more than $11 billion in total pari-mutuel wagering in fiscal year 2025, over $10.5 billion in HHR wagers, and about $161 million in pari-mutuel tax revenue, with most of that supporting the general fund and horse-breeding development funds. They also said sports wagering has generated nearly $5 billion in wagers since launch, $73 million for the public pension fund, and more than $2 million for problem gambling services, while expanding to 13 retail locations and 92 additional sports events. Members raised concerns about players being cut off after winning, the lack of local government revenue sharing from gaming facilities, and the growth of computer-assisted wagering; the witnesses said they were reviewing CAWs and that Kentucky does not license poker rooms through the corporation.