Transcript Highlights:

• This certainly does not require a full-time DHHS employee.
• If there was a provision put in there that if somebody breaks the agreement, that DHHS would hold some
• federal after publication of a federal application<04:03:10.239> template,<04:03:11.120> DHHS
• ,<04:03:12.399> she'll application template, DHHS, she'll application template, DHHS, she'll
• The bill does not include a fiscal note for DHHS to collect this information because the bill passes

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care, not all of them do, but to answer your question, um, they are not required to be licensed by DHHS
• c> the<00:14:06.560> state<00:14:06.720> of<00:14:06.880> New licensed by DHHS
• in the state of New licensed by DHHS in the state of New Hampshire<00:14:08.000> some<00:14:08.160
• And so then DHHS can start implementing agency rules that start to force these pregnancy resource centers
• And so then DHHS can start implementing agency rules that start to force these pregnancy resource centers

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• put $15 million remind everyone that we put $15 million for<02:58:58.720> uh<02:58:58.880> DHH
• <02:58:59.760> We've<02:59:00.000> authorized<02:59:00.760> DHHS<02:59:01.760
• > to for uh DHH.
• We've authorized DHHS to for uh DHH.
• We've authorized DHHS to fund<02:59:03.200> um<02:59:03.439> child<02:59:03.760> the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had DHH gel do [clears throat] give the and<01:02:39.200> Vice<01:02:39.440> Chair<01
• We had DHH<01:05:17.599> gel<01:05:18.400> do<01:05:19.565> [clears throat]<01:05

Bills: HB1924, HB2121, HB1928, HB1979, HB1650, HB1543, HB1981, HB1982

Keywords: mattress recycling, waste management, producer responsibility, environmental health, steafardship program, electronic cigarettes, disposable devices, environmental protection, plastic pollution, lithium batteries, pollution control, public health, deposit beverage container, bottle bill, container deposit law, container redemption, recycling refund, extended producer responsibility, EPR, deposit return system

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to waste, recycling, and environmental review. On HB 1924, which would establish a mattress stewardship program, the Department of Health said it stood on written testimony and offered comments, while Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and one individual supported the bill and the International Sleep Products Association opposed it. No questions were raised and the committee moved on. A large portion of the hearing focused on HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale of disposable vapes in Hawaii. The Department of Health supported the measure but suggested the bill may be better placed in a different part of state law because the cited waste-management section regulates products after consumption, while still praising the effort to remove disposable vapes from the market and environment. Testimony in strong support came from the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii Youth Council, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii COPD Coalition, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, the City and County of Honolulu, and many individuals; supporters emphasized youth vaping, toxic waste, lithium battery fire risks, and environmental harm. There was at least one opposing individual and the International Sleep Products Association was listed in opposition. The committee noted there were many written testimonies and no immediate vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 1928 on the deposit beverage container recycling program. The Department of Health stood on written testimony. The Solid Waste Task Force of Hawaii Environmental Change Agents and Upstream supported the bill but urged amendments to better integrate reuse and reusables, strengthen enforcement, clarify definitions, and protect existing redemption centers. The Hawaii Food Industry Association supported the concept of a backdrop program but preferred strengthening the existing program and raised concerns about undefined fees, existing infrastructure, and future audit costs. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported the bill, and the chair said the measure needs work and that decision-making would occur in a few days. Finally, the committee took up HB 979 on environmental review and HB 1650 on environmental assessments. For HB 979, OPSD offered amendments, HCDA supported the bill but suggested clarifying the affordable-housing definition, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative supported it, and Earthjustice was asked about the court process for environmental challenges; the chair asked about shortening the challenge period and the relationship between environmental court, the intermediate court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. For HB 1650, OPSD and the State Historic Preservation Division stood on written testimony, OHA asked to retain historic sites, and several groups and individuals testified in support or opposition. Opponents argued that removing Wiki special district and historic sites from Chapter 343 trigger language would weaken environmental review and risk impacts to iwi kūpuna and historic resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's something that DHHS is working on separately.
• But, you know, this is from the new New Hampshire DHHS, by the way. Thank you.
• But, you know, this is from the new New Hampshire DHHS, by the way.
• But, you know, this is from the new New Hampshire DHHS, by the way.
• /c> know this is from the new HDH New know this is from the new HDH New Hampshire<02:07:35.800> DHHS

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• At a time when New Hampshire is facing budget cuts across agencies, particularly DHHS, which serves the
• :47.520> in<02:57:47.760> particular agencies, in particular agencies, in particular DHHS
• 50.560> serves<02:57:50.880> our<02:57:51.120> state's<02:57:51.520> most DHHS
• , which serves our state's most DHHS, which serves our state's most vulnerable<02:57:52.319> citizens

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So not only did the legislature pass that in 2023, they also put in HB 2 a directive that DHHS include
• 08:49.800> that they also put in hb2 a directive that they also put in hb2 a directive that DHHS
• 51.920> its<04:08:52.239> next<04:08:52.760> banian<04:08:53.279> budget DHHS
• included in its next banian budget DHHS included in its next banian budget 2627<04:08:55.399> and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both are TC DHH and EFI cvi include the provision of specialized in excess of construction materials,

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• created their own policies for masking students, following guidance and recommendations from the DOE and DHHS
• To my knowledge, no one did. from the doe and from the doe and DHHS<04:30:23.720> if<04:30:23.880
• > district<04:30:24.560> decided<04:30:25.479> that<04:30:25.640> they DHHS
• if a district decided that they DHHS if a district decided that they wanted<04:30:26.119> to<
• They're just deferring to the, you know, DHHS or whatever.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 184, which would create a committee to study changing school start times. Members discussed Amendment 0394, which made the study committee’s duties more investigative and adjusted reporting recipients, including the Governor. Several members raised questions about whether the committee should review evidence-based studies, local district decisions, and existing district reports; supporters said the amendment would better allow the committee to gather information and recognize local control. The amendment passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Representative Litchfield noted that no one had testified in opposition and encouraged the future study committee to review an Oyster River School District report on school start times. The committee then took up House Bill 394, concerning cooperative school district budget committees and board member representatives. Amendment 0476 was adopted 17-0 after discussion that it clarified the bill’s language and reflected work with the School Boards Association. The committee then voted OTPA on the bill, which also passed 17-0. House Bill 738, requiring background checks for employees and volunteers at certain non-public schools or education service providers receiving public funds, was moved inexpedient to legislate. Supporters said the bill would create practical and legal problems for private citizens and homeschooling families, and the motion passed 15-2 with no minority report, placing the bill on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 235, which would amend the educator code of ethics and conduct to add responsibilities to parents. Supporters argued parents should be explicitly included in the code, while opponents said parents were already covered in existing ethics language and statute. The bill passed narrowly, 9-8. The committee then returned to House Bill 532 on alternate dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. Amendment 0480H clarified that different rules would apply separately to neutral conference, mediation, and IEP facilitation; it passed 17-0, and the bill as amended also passed 17-0. Finally, the committee moved to House Bill 564, concerning adoption of school administrative unit budgets, and voted to retain the bill for further review because members said there was still confusion about how it would apply to single-district and multi-district SAUs.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, there's an OOU with DHHS between the family division and DHS for child support orders that
• deviation that you know there's a an oou deviation that you know there's a an oou with<05:37:17.200> DHHS
• between<05:37:18.320> the<05:37:18.480> family<05:37:18.718> division with DHHS
• between the family division with DHHS between the family division and<05:37:19.200> DHS<05:37

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is DHHS, and I believe it was 2022. So this is before I was a rep.
• So this<03:43:39.359> is<03:43:39.439> DHHS this is DHHS this is DHHS and<03:43:41.120>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Uh, we have attorneys Francesca Hennessy and Rob Barry from DHHS.
• 11:50.399> from Francesca Hennessy and Rob Barry from Francesca Hennessy and Rob Barry from DHHS
• 00:11:51.839> come<00:11:52.000> on<00:11:52.160> up<00:11:52.320> and DHHS
• So come on up and DHHS.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I essentially laterally transferred over from DHHS.
• transferred over<01:20:10.000> I<01:20:10.159> see<01:20:11.120> from<01:20:11.560> DHHS
• Jack<01:20:13.040> can<01:20:13.159> we<01:20:13.360> find over I see from DHHS
• so Jack can we find over I see from DHHS so Jack can we find out<01:20:14.800> if<01:20:14.960

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Personnel Appeals Board, which explained that it became an independent state agency after Senate Bill 487 and was presenting its first standalone operating budget. The board described its quasi-judicial role in hearing appeals from classified state employees over disciplinary actions such as warnings, suspensions, and terminations, and said it handles about 25 to 35 cases a year, with some cases lasting longer because of their complexity. Members also outlined the need for a chair and vice chair who are attorneys, the board’s current staffing and space needs, and its plan to move away from reliance on Administrative Services for office support and website functions. The board requested about $353,500 for fiscal year 2026, including startup costs, routine operating expenses, and two new part-time positions: a program director and a paralegal. Members said the budget reflects the new independent status, includes funding for only four board members rather than the authorized five, and is designed to avoid full-time staffing costs and benefits. Legislators asked about the cost per case, the board’s relationship to DAS, whether appeals must go through the board before court, and how often cases are appealed further. The board said appeals must first go through it, that court appeals are infrequent but have increased recently, and that the board’s process is intended to resolve disputes more quickly and less expensively than court litigation. Committee members also asked about the board’s caseload, outcomes, and staffing. The board said that in the prior year there were 22 cases, with four decisions overturned in favor of employees, nine dismissals, and nine settlements, and that many disputes are resolved before reaching the board through a multi-step internal process. A member noted the governor and council had recently approved a new board member and were expected to approve a fifth soon. The discussion ended with questions about the board’s website and records access, which members said would need to be moved from Administrative Services as part of the agency’s transition. The committee then moved to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. The executive director explained that the council is 100 percent federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and develops a five-year plan to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said the council works with state agencies and advocacy organizations on quality-of-life issues, accessibility, voter rights training, and plain-language or easy-to-read materials, and that 60 percent of its membership must be individuals with disabilities or family members/guardians. She also described the council’s funding structure, including reimbursement to the state for operating costs, and noted that it currently has three full-time and three part-time positions, with no new positions requested but one full-time position being eliminated and replaced after a pandemic-era staffing change did not work out as planned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked at one time for DHHS helping to write policy, worked with some really good folks who drafted
• at<01:27:38.960> one<01:27:39.159> time<01:27:39.360> for<01:27:39.600> DHHS
• board I worked at one time for DHHS board I worked at one time for DHHS helping<01:27:40.719>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on HB 222, which would repeal the requirement that a chartered public school and the resident school district sign a memorandum of understanding on how students with disabilities will receive special education services. The prime sponsor, Rep. Peggy Balboni, said the bill was requested by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators and the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She argued that federal and state law already require districts to provide FAPE and that the MOU requirement has created extra work, legal costs, and delays without improving services. She said many MOUs remain unsigned, but students are still receiving services and complaint numbers have not changed. Rep. Mooney also supported repeal, calling the MOU duplicative and impractical because IEPs and 504 plans already govern services. Testimony from Jane B. Brulu of the special education administrators’ association and Beth McLure of the charter schools alliance echoed that view, saying the MOU has not helped students, has added hours of work and legal fees, and has mostly been a source of disputes over funding and service costs. McLure said her school has worked with more than 15 districts and has always been able to reach agreements, though the first year of the requirement took substantial time and money. Committee members asked about the original purpose of the law, unsigned MOUs, and whether disputes could be resolved without the requirement. A representative from the Department of Education said the MOU was originally proposed to address reports that some students were not getting services on time and to provide some oversight, but the department has no authority to order charter schools or districts to agree and no appeal process if they cannot. The department also said it does not currently audit charter school special education services because it lacks authority to monitor charter schools directly, and it urged the committee to consider some alternative oversight if the MOU requirement is repealed. The hearing on HB 222 was then closed, and the committee announced it would begin the hearing on HB 699 after a short break.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Uh so one thing I want to bring up um so DHHS has asked to uh amend the bill to make it a study
• there were some uh spots just enough to get stuck on. >> Uh so one thing I want to bring up um so DHHS
• there were some uh spots just enough to get stuck on. >> Uh so one thing I want to bring up um so DHHS
• 11:47.279> amend<00:11:47.600> the<00:11:47.760> bill<00:11:47.920> to DHHS
• has asked to uh amend the bill to DHHS has asked to uh amend the bill to make<00:11:48.160> it

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am in my third 2-year term chairing the DHHS Oversight Committee.
• third<00:03:02.920> 2-year<00:03:03.519> term<00:03:03.920> chairing ...the DHHS
• He said you might think federal law is going to cover it, because DHHS and the DOJ came in, but once
• it because federal law is going to cover it because you<01:22:26.040> know<01:22:26.199> DHHS
• came in and the doj came you know DHHS came in and the doj came in<01:22:29.199> but<01:22:29.320

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• to put money into the lead paint hazard remediation fund, which we administer and work closely with DHHS
• <00:09:18.480> work<00:09:18.680> closely<00:09:19.040> with<00:09:19.640> DHHS
• <00:09:20.640> on administer and work closely with DHHS on administer and work closely with
• DHHS on this<00:09:21.079> we<00:09:21.240> also<00:09:21.480> administer<00:09
• They are getting referrals sometimes from DHHS because DHHS has a program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was working at DHHS as a director in 2005 and 2006 when the state enacted an agency fee, and I had
• I was working at DHHS as a director in 2005 and 2006 when the state enacted an agency fee.
• When I was working at DHHS, it was when they were closing many of the mills in Lancaster and in Berlin
• When I was working at DHHS, it was when they were closing many of the mills in Lancaster and in Berlin
• When I was working at DHHS, it was when they were closing many of the mills in Lancaster and in Berlin

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Bills: LB764, LB815A, LB839, LB888, LB955, LB972A, LB1029, LB1087, LB1091, LB1126A, LB1181A, LB1237A, LB1261A, LB304A, LB762, LB889, LB929, LB966, LB1022, LB1187, LR508

Keywords: law enforcement, correctional services, Department of Correctional Services, corrections officers, state prison employees, peace officer, certification, police standards, training academy, Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Council, criminal justice, correctional staff, conditional officer, law enforcement authority, public safety, LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill

Transcript Highlights:

• David Weeders, Chief Operating Officer for DHHS. >> Nathan White, Chief Financial Officer with HHS. >

Keywords: 928, house, all