Transcript Highlights:

• these areas, especially neighboring residential areas if it's a commercial district, more people will compete
• these areas, especially neighboring residential areas if it's a commercial district, more people will compete
• these areas, especially neighboring residential areas if it's a commercial district, more people will compete
• these areas, especially neighboring residential areas if it's a commercial district, more people will compete
• these areas, especially neighboring residential areas if it's a commercial district, more people will compete

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mastery of general knowledge and professionalism, as well as professional preparation and education competence

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to be focusing on public safety, criminal competency, and those sorts of things.

Transcript Highlights:

• covered lives competing for those covered lives bringing<00:30:07.960> forth<00:30:08.760>
• New Hampshire, despite being a small state, has over 200 companies competing for homeowners insurance
• We now have four players competing in that market, which is great.
• We now have four players competing in that market, which is great.
• We now have four players competing in that market, which is great.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• for consideration before an investor that often makes all-cash offers that are hard for families to compete
• more specifically, give a heads up to the occupant to have a potential opportunity to purchase and compete
• Homeowners need assurance that the people managing their communities are held to basic standards of competence
• Fewer small businesses and diverse firms can compete on equal terms.
• Because you're giving incentive to businesses that can't compete with larger major businesses and trying

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had this somewhat of a conflict between these two competing versions.
• Our schools struggle to meet growing needs, and our students are being asked to compete in the 21st-century
• And our students are being asked to compete in the 21st-century economy with investments that fail to
• with this vote, Arizona takes an important step forward toward that future and positions itself to compete
• with this vote, Arizona takes an important step forward toward that future and positions itself to compete

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and ongoing to, one, support increased statewide IST bed capacity at the Placer County Jail-Based Competency
• Salkan, and I just want to make sure, I just want to say we have to remember how important cultural competence
• community-based organizations to address barriers to behavioral health care, including lack of cultural competency
• community-based organizations to address barriers to behavioral health care, including lack of cultural competency
• Including in the same market area competing for market share.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard presentations on several May Revision proposals, beginning with an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance on the state’s budget condition and the administration’s efforts to reduce out-year deficits through a mix of revenue measures, fund shifts, and program reductions. The chair expressed support for some administration proposals, such as added health IT funding, county administration support, a delay in Medi-Cal cuts for some immigrants, and additional Covered California subsidy backfill, but also criticized proposed Medi-Cal premiums, changes to senior eligibility, the lack of a Medi-Cal dental solution, and other cuts affecting counties, workforce, and rural access. The LAO said the budget still relies heavily on reserves and borrowing and urged more reserves and caution on new commitments. The Department of State Hospitals presented several proposals, including reduced county bed billing authority, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of unspent prior-year funds, additional lease revenue authority for the Metro Central Utility Plant replacement, funding for electronic health record implementation, and a shift of workforce development costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds. The department also described savings and realignments in its IST and CONREP programs, including making the Independent Placement Panel permanent and adjusting funding for jail-based competency treatment and conditional release services. Members questioned the BHSA workforce funding swap, and the administration said it was part of a broader General Fund offset strategy. The Emergency Medical Services Authority requested funding for statewide behavioral health crisis response guidance and for continued operation of its enterprise systems, and the Department of Managed Health Care sought funds to modernize its complaint system and claims settlement data systems. The largest debate centered on the administration’s proposed use of Behavioral Health Services Act revenues to offset General Fund spending and fund state-directed behavioral health programs. The Department of Finance said the proposal would support population-based prevention, workforce programs, mobile crisis services, and other state-directed uses, while the LAO said it was still reviewing whether the uses comply with Proposition 1 and whether the non-supplement and eligible-use requirements are met. The Commission for Behavioral Health strongly opposed proposed cuts to its Innovation Partnership Fund and community advocacy grants, arguing that both programs are central to community voice, culturally responsive services, and statewide innovation. Commissioners and many public commenters said the cuts would reduce grants to community-based organizations, tribal groups, veterans, LGBTQ communities, youth, and other underserved populations, and that the advocacy program helps communities participate in local planning and access services. The Department of Finance defended the reductions as a way to prioritize direct services and said the programs fit within Proposition 1, but members criticized the proposal as a midstream shift that would weaken community engagement and redirect funds away from prevention and advocacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• has to go one way or the other, we really dictate to the provider how he's supposed to spend and compete
• has to go one way or the other, we really dictate to the provider how he's supposed to spend and compete
• <00:37:09.440> to<00:37:09.599> spend<00:37:09.920> and<00:37:10.160> compete
• how he's supposed to spend and compete. how he's supposed to spend and compete.

Bills: HF3797, HF3780, HF4068, HF3935

Keywords: long-term care, insurance policy, healthcare, partnership policy, Minnesota, human services, wage increase, support workers, shared services, community first services, medical assistance, sanctions, healthcare services, monetary recovery, government accountability, assisted living, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• As a former port director myself, I can tell you I thought their plan was competent.
• As a former port director myself, I can tell you I thought their plan was competent.
• competitive secrets here today that our competitive secrets here today that our competitive competing
• 53.200> and<00:37:53.359> other<00:37:53.599> places<00:37:54.160> want competing
• states and other places want competing states and other places want to<00:37:55.040> utilize<

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), including its consolidated tourism and agency request. MDA said it has had strong recent results, citing about $65 billion in capital investment since 2020, roughly 25,000 jobs, record tourism, clean audits, and oversubscribed incentive programs. For FY27, the agency requested $26.4 million in general funds, level special-fund operating support, restoration of eight pins reduced in the LBR process, and several general-fund increases for a career ladder, a new HR system, training, and operating costs. MDA also discussed a $1.25 million request for America 250 activities, including a Mississippi event and participation in the National Mall “Great America State Fair,” plus an energy accelerator program tied to the governor’s energy initiative and a broader three-tier energy preparedness strategy. MDA also explained its incentive refill requests, saying it was not seeking additional funding for the ACE grant program this year and had shifted that support toward the governor’s port/rail/road investment fund and energy-ready sites. The agency highlighted a renewed request to restart funding for the small municipal and limited population counties grant program, which it said had previously helped smaller communities with water, sewer, downtown, and other projects. On tourism, MDA presented a breakout showing what the budget would look like if tourism were separated into its own department; officials said the current tourism budget within MDA is about $5.7 million in general funds and $7.9 million total, and estimated about $1.3 million in additional cost would be needed to stand up a separate tourism agency. A significant portion of the discussion focused on criticism from Senator Wiggins that MDA has not delivered enough economic development for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He argued that constituents believe MDA does little for the coast and objected to the agency’s role in the GCRF and coastal projects, saying the coast has not seen meaningful results in years. MDA officials responded that complaints about uneven distribution are common across the state, that MDA works with local economic development partners rather than dictating project locations, and that it has helped support major coastal projects such as Relativity Space, Lockheed Martin expansions, PCC Gulf Chem, BWC Terminals, and AWS. The exchange also touched on the Port of Pascagoula and local leadership disputes, with both sides disagreeing over whether the port and the coast have been adequately supported. No votes or formal actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• awareness of people outside of Kentucky as to what we offer and to put us in a better position to compete
• awareness of people outside of Kentucky as to what we offer and to put us in a better position to compete
• in a better we offer and to put us in a better position<00:58:22.799> to<00:58:23.119> compete
• /c><00:58:23.920> for<00:58:24.240> those<00:58:24.559> visitors position to compete
• for those visitors position to compete for those visitors with<00:58:25.280> other<00:58:25.599

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:13 Kentucky Small Business Update 00:01:50 Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit Program Update 00:14:16 State of the Tourism Industry 00:38:03, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call and approval of the August minutes, then moved to an update from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on small business conditions. Chamber representatives John Hughes and Amit Patel said Kentucky has benefited from pro-growth policies such as lower income taxes, regulatory modernization, and workforce development, but they emphasized ongoing challenges including workforce shortages, child care access, housing availability, rising insurance costs, and inflation. Patel, speaking as a hotel operator, said recruiting and retaining staff has become difficult and that his company is considering child care stipends and other benefits to help employees. Members asked about child care benefits, community involvement, and health care costs; Patel said the business is discussing additional support for employees and noted that health care costs have tripled over three years. The chamber said it will prioritize child care and housing policy in the upcoming session. The committee then received an update from the Cabinet for Economic Development on the Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit program from David Brock of KY Innovation and Matt Wingate. Brock outlined the state’s broader innovation and entrepreneurship programs, including innovation hubs, SBIR/STTR matching funds, the Kentucky Enterprise Fund, SSBCI, and STEP, and said these programs have helped create jobs, raise capital, and support exports. He explained that the angel tax credit is intended to encourage private investment in innovative Kentucky small businesses with high growth potential. The credit is generally 25% of investment in non-enhanced counties and 40% in enhanced counties, with annual and per-investor caps and eligibility rules for both businesses and investors. Brock reported that 317 businesses have been certified, 117 have received at least one investment, 445 investors have made 750 investments, $57.2 million has been invested, $19 million in credits has been awarded, and 373 new jobs have been reported since 2021. Committee members asked about the relationship between the program’s industry verticals and university research, the difference between enhanced and non-enhanced counties, and where investments are occurring geographically. Cabinet staff said the verticals align with the original Innovation Act framework, and that enhanced counties are defined by statute, including distressed and disaster-impacted areas. They said most investments and credits have been in non-enhanced counties, though some examples were cited in Bath County and Auburn. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the A3 does not include the consolidation of the dual training pipeline program and dual training competency
• She said until that happens, they will continue to compete for very limited amounts of funding, and apologized
• we continue to until that happens, we we continue to have<00:53:34.559> to<00:53:34.720> compete
• c> uh<00:53:35.520> for<00:53:35.920> very<00:53:36.319> limited have to compete
• uh for very limited have to compete uh for very limited amounts<00:53:37.440> of<00:53:37.599

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also typically farming closer to urban and suburban areas where land values are higher and they're competing
• :15:35.199> they're land values are higher and they're land values are higher and they're competing
• <01:15:36.239> uh<01:15:36.400> with<01:15:36.679> residential competing uh with
• residential competing uh with residential development<01:15:38.320> so<01:15:38.639> much<
• a day to development, and young people are actively leaving agriculture because we simply cannot compete

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a mobile home park by your rules is not going to be able to compete if the people themselves want
• <01:24:25.720> if<01:24:26.000> the not going to be able to compete if the not going
• to be able to compete if the people<01:24:26.480> themselves<01:24:27.120> want<01:24:
• This bill is not about competing interests. When farm workers succeed, the farmers succeed.
• This bill is not about competing This bill is not about competing interests. interests. interests

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with 58 members present and seven excused, establishing a quorum, and approved the April 15, 2026 journal as corrected. The chamber then moved through announcements recognizing visiting railroad workers, LIUNA Local 720, Colorado West Christian Schools, Religious Freedom Day, and several school and community groups, along with birthday acknowledgments and committee schedule notices. The House also adopted a motion to remove House Bill 1245 from special orders and returned it to the general orders second reading calendar, and set House Bills 1290, 1312, and 1321 as special orders. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 18, recognizing Nowruz and expressing support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the Women, Life, Freedom movement. Supporters described Nowruz as a holiday of renewal and resilience and tied the resolution to solidarity with Iranian communities. Representative Zokaie also spoke at length about the personal impact of war on Iranian families and urged a vote. The resolution passed 59-2 with four excused. The chamber then considered several bills in committee report. House Bill 1290, concerning assault and clarifying sentencing, was amended in Judiciary to remove the medical professional provision and passed after testimony emphasizing strangulation as a serious warning sign in domestic violence cases; it then passed the House. House Bill 1312, dealing with peace officer participation, POST Board composition, academy training, and related grants, was amended for clarity and passed the Judiciary report and then the bill. House Bill 1321, modifying the School Security Disbursement Program, had the Education Committee report defeated, but amendments were adopted to broaden eligible service providers and adjust funding language; the bill then passed as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• tells us that in order to thrive, people need to feel safe, not scared; valued, not humiliated; competent
• 10:14.719> not<01:10:14.960> humiliated valued not humiliated valued not humiliated competent
• <01:10:17.280> not<01:10:17.520> helpless<01:10:18.159> and competent not helpless
• and competent not helpless and interconnected<01:10:19.440> not<01:10:19.760> weary<01
• ways to improve public visibility into these projects without removing a tool communities rely on to compete

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• address any budget balancer in the text of a budget bill one time rather than having two potentially competing
• address any budget balancer in the text of a budget bill one time rather than having two potentially competing
• address any budget balancer in the text of a budget bill one time rather than having two potentially competing
• address any budget balancer in the text of a budget bill one time rather than having two potentially competing
• address any budget balancer in the text of a budget bill one time rather than having two potentially competing

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• now than I because I'm more competent now than I will<00:53:19.280> be<00:53:19.480> later
• I'm telling you, I'm competent. I'm stable now, at whatever medication I'm on.
• I'm telling you, I'm competent. I'm stable now, at whatever medication I'm on.
• I'm telling you, I'm competent. I'm stable now, at whatever medication I'm on.
• I'm telling you, I'm competent. I'm stable now, at whatever medication I'm on.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard Senate Bill 1322, SD2, HD1, a comprehensive measure revising Hawaii’s mental health code. The bill would clarify emergency transportation, examination, and hospitalization procedures for people who may be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and deemed imminently dangerous, expand notice requirements, allow certain information-sharing for assisted community treatment petitions, and add liability protections for emergency responders and providers. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill as a collaborative update to the law, while the Department of Health asked for a copy of provider-generated emergency transport documentation within five days for data and planning purposes. Testimony was sharply divided. Queen’s Health System, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, HHSC, and the Institute for Human Services supported the measure or parts of it but requested amendments, including clarifying whether a second psychiatric exam is required, restoring a 72-hour rather than 48-hour stabilization window, and adjusting where patients are taken when an MEO cannot be reached. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi strongly opposed the bill, arguing it weakens due process and civil liberties, especially around involuntary commitment, assisted community treatment, emergency transport by police, and reduced procedural safeguards; it urged the committee to hold the bill and consider an interim working group. Louie E.K. of the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center also opposed the bill, focusing on immunity from negligence, the use of police for transport, and the reduction of a three-provider review to one in state-hospital treatment orders. Other testimony included support from an individual who said the bill could improve mental health care delivery amid provider shortages, and a comment from Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center warning that the substance use portion of the bill lacks evidence of effectiveness and could be misused. In response to committee questions, the Attorney General’s office said the measure was developed with input from multiple stakeholders, including state agencies, hospitals, the ACLU, HHSC, and IHS, and that it aims to make assisted community treatment more accessible and effective by streamlining the legal process and improving consequences for noncompliance. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to the limited tax base, competing demands for upgraded technology, and local fire departments not
• limited with the armor system due to the limited tax<00:03:30.840> base<00:03:31.840> competing
• <00:03:32.400> demands<00:03:32.840> for<00:03:33.319> techn tax base competing
• demands for techn tax base competing demands for techn upgraded<00:03:34.280> technology<00:03
• um re-entry services this competent um re-entry services this flexibility<01:32:23.920> allows

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• preponderance of the evidence that that harm was done, and both parties have the opportunity to present competing

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on Senate Bill 2339 and worked from engrossed version 02001, which members said reflected an agreement between insurance companies and utility companies. Representative Olson moved to recommend that version to the full committee, and Representative Johnson seconded. Representative Conmy raised concerns about keeping strict liability in the bill but removing a rebuttable presumption provision on page 3, arguing it favored utilities and shifted burdens unfairly to landowners. Levi Andres, speaking for North Dakota power companies, opposed removing the language and said the bill was a negotiated, incremental step that still leaves the plaintiff with the burden of proof in court. The discussion also clarified that the bill’s language was intended to codify negligence standards and encourage wildfire mitigation plans, with the utility side noting the Public Service Commission was not yet ready for a mandatory review-and-approval process. A technical correction was noted on page 4, line 2, changing “shall” to “may,” and members confirmed that change was already reflected in the version before them. The committee did not pursue additional amendments, including a proposed Mincota-related change, and voted unanimously to recommend the bill as presented. The motion passed 4-0, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're competing with industry, and obviously there's more money in the industry side of that.
• They're competing with industry, and obviously there's more money in the industry side of that.
• For their, uh, not only to compete with other school districts, you know, Franklin to Portsmouth or,
• Rather, the work of an SAU leader involves constantly balancing these competing responsibilities.
• <03:22:35.880> responsibilities<03:22:36.880> these comp competing responsibilities

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 362, which would give the Department of Education rulemaking authority over educator licensing and testing requirements, including professional education assessments. Representative Ladd argued the bill is meant to preserve New Hampshire’s higher standards for teacher preparation and to avoid lowering requirements for licensed educators, while also allowing flexibility for career and technical education (CTE) instructors who may have strong industry experience but not traditional classroom credentials. Members discussed whether the bill should preserve industry-recognized credentials and basic academic skills testing while exempting CTE teachers from content exams; DOE Director Steven Appy said an amendment would clarify that the bill applies to initial licenses, exempt CTE teachers from the content-testing requirement, and keep current administrative practice on basic skills and industry credentials in statute. The committee also noted that an executive session would be scheduled later, likely the following week, to act on the bills and amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 90, dealing with the definition of part-time teachers. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is intended to let university and community college faculty teach limited hours in high school concurrent enrollment settings, especially in subjects like math and STEM where some schools cannot find locally certified teachers with a master’s degree. He said the measure is designed to expand student access to college-level courses, not to replace fully certified teachers or reduce standards, and emphasized that the bill is limited to faculty employed or contracted by the University System of New Hampshire or the Community College System of New Hampshire, with criminal background checks and ethics/conduct rules still applying. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the discussion ended with the understanding that further action would come in executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• of which typically result in a transfer to the Wyoming State Hospital for either evaluation of competency
• or restoration of competency.
• > both<00:07:07.199> of<00:07:07.360> which<00:07:07.680> typically competency
• . both of which typically competency. both of which typically result<00:07:08.639> in<00:07:08.960
• :07:14.960> or<00:07:15.440> restoration<00:07:16.000> of<00:07:16.319> competency

Keywords: 916, all