Video & Transcript Research : 'Commerce Department'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We have the Minnesota Department of Commerce and MEnUre presentation on the state of the private insurance
- I'm the deputy commissioner of insurance at the Department of Commerce, and I'm joined here by my colleague
- I'm the deputy commissioner of insurance at the Department of Commerce, and I'm joined here by my colleague
- that the department evaluates as well? that the department evaluates as well?
- The health department does a survey of the uninsured market, and then commerce, they—so other people
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Jan 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And Indian Affairs Committee, then the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
- The bill provides that the Children, Youth, and Families Department and the Corrections Department have
- Friedman and Connor Boyle from the New Mexico Public Education Department.
- Friedman and Connor Boyle from the New Mexico Public Education Department.
- House Commerce and Economic Development, Ranking Member. N.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm Jade Bhai, Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
- This is even for boards at head departments.
- The department opposes this bill and respectfully asks that it be held.
- This is even for boards at head departments.
- <00:36:35.599>
of Hayashi superintendent for Department of Hayashi superintendent for Department
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/02/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- This is from the Department of Commerce, one of their policy bills from the governor this year.
- I would ask if there's somebody in the room from the Department of Health and also from the Department
- Yes, I'd like the Department of Commerce to present the bill. Oh, okay.
- of Commerce um we have the Department of Commerce um we have two<00:01:51.399>
policy <00:01:52.119 - So, the Department of Health had some related Commerce provisions that were amended in the Commerce Committee
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (01/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- be my third term on the Commerce be my third term on the Commerce Committee<00:13:49.399>
uh< - <00:13:55.680>
uh we're going to do here in Commerce uh we're going to do here in Commerce - She really enjoys Commerce.
- We are a self-funded department.
- department and the banking department—you would say, gee, how did it come to be that these are Commerce
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.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Jan 27th, 2026 at 11:17 am
New Mexico House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Artesia Chamber of Commerce is proud to represent our community in Eddy County.
- Please join Artesia and Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce at the Eddy County reception tonight at La Fonda
- Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce in my car.
- Commerce in my car.
- House Bill 178, introduced by Representative Mason, an act making an appropriation to the Department
Bills:
HM19
Keywords:
New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- 19:39.760>
one <00:19:40.000>risk department testified that only one risk department testified - funds as explained by the department. funds as explained by the department.
- So, the certifying the department.
- <00:25:11.440>
of commissioner from the Department of commissioner from the Department of - on commerce and economic development? on commerce and economic development?
Summary:
The House opened with devotional remarks from Representative Greer focused on perspective, kindness, and the idea that people “earn” respect and love through shared humanity. After that, the chamber suspended rules to introduce 17 House bills by number only, and adopted JRS 3 in concurrence, setting a joint assembly for Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. to receive the governor’s budget message. Several announcements followed, including birthday wishes, a note about the new federal whole milk for schools law, guest introductions, and caucus notices.
The House also approved committee transfers for H.393, an act relating to the prohibition of requiring face masks in schools, moving it from Education to Healthcare, and H.334, an act relating to limiting employer restrictions on individuals separating from employment, moving it from General and Housing to Commerce and Economic Development. The chamber then took up H.649 on captive insurance companies. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee explained that the bill, based on Department of Financial Regulation proposals, would prohibit risk retention groups from lending to or investing in members or affiliates, require annual and quarterly filings in NAIC form with a jurat page and actuarial certificate, and create new filing requirements for sponsored captive protected cells. The committee reported unanimous support, and the House amended the bill and ordered third reading.
The House next considered S.60, establishing a Farm Security Special Fund. The Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee and Appropriations described the bill as a response to repeated weather-related losses affecting farms and forestry operations, including flooding, freezes, drought, and other extreme events. The House version adds forestry and changes assistance from grants to payments to make aid faster and less cumbersome. The program would be administered by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, with a review board and payments of up to 50% of uncovered losses, capped at 5% of annual appropriations and $150,000 per application. The committee testimony emphasized the need for a permanent, predictable state relief mechanism, and the bill was advanced with strong support.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 119 May 12th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This reinforces the conclusion that the measure is not a neutral tax on digital commerce, but a targeted
- surcharge on commerce, but a targeted surcharge on a particular category of activity.
- This reflects a deliberate policy choice to maintain neutrality between physical and digital commerce
- House Bill 1418 and digital commerce.
- The bill departs from basic principles of sound tax policy. principles of sound tax policy.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, July 14, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- also direct the Secretary of Commerce also direct the Secretary of Commerce and<03:20:48.880>
- The bill also requires the Department of Commerce and other agencies to study blockchain technology in
- <03:40:58.560>
of <03:40:58.720>Commerce <03:40:59.439>and and the Department - of Commerce and and the Department of Commerce and oversees<03:41:00.239>
cutting <03:41:00.560 - <03:41:38.160>
for assistant secretary of commerce for assistant secretary of commerce for
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Housing Sep 16th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And we are going to have Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce.
- Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce.
- Okay, and now we have the Department of Commerce again.
- They have to report their performance to the Department of Commerce, and we compile a report and publish
- One of the things that that committee that I served on as well with the Department of Commerce commissioned
Summary:
The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations.
The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices.
Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- In response, the department created two advisory committees: the California BIPOC producer advisory committee
- It's up to the Department of Food and Agriculture seed law to make sure everyone from major industrial
- It's up to the Department of Food and Agriculture seed law to make sure everyone from major industrial
- Any one of us could go right now to an e-commerce site and buy one within minutes.
- As e-commerce moves online, our protections have to evolve to address a digital marketplace.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Veterans’ & Military Affairs Jun 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I appreciate the program manager for the Department of Commerce, Mike Cahill, joining us.
- I am the DCCA program manager for the Washington State Department of Commerce.
- I appreciate the program manager for the Department of Commerce. Mike Cahill joining us.
- I am the DCCA program manager for the Washington State Department of Commerce.
- A note about commerce.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners.
The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing.
The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The Department of Commerce, I thank them for working with me on this bill, and they have no concerns
- The Department of Commerce, I insurance.
- It was a recommendation from the Department of Commerce when we were working with them on the bill.
- So, just a recommendation from the Department of Commerce.
- <02:30:03.400>
So, the Department of Commerce. So, the Department of Commerce.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem, then established a quorum and approved the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine business including second readings of several Senate files, first readings of House files 5067 through 5073, and messages from the Senate transmitting bills and requesting concurrence on House File 3437 and House File 1410. The House concurred in Senate amendments to HF 3437, a commerce bill with a technical cross-reference correction, and passed it 133-0. It also concurred in Senate amendments to HF 1410, a public safety bill on correctional officer procedures, and passed it 132-2 after members described the changes as clarifying and balanced for labor and management.
The chamber then took up House File 3404, which increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer. The bill would raise the base offense from a gross misdemeanor to a felony, create aggravated offenses for impersonation involving unauthorized access, misleading orders, law-enforcement-style vehicles, or possession of a firearm, and add a duty for officers to identify themselves while protecting undercover work. Supporters, including the author and several members, tied the bill to the June 14, 2025 killings and said it was needed to restore public trust and protect both the public and legitimate law enforcement. The House passed HF 3404 134-0 after a moment of silence.
The House also passed House File 3155, which closes a loophole in gift card fraud law by allowing prosecution based on the value stored on the card rather than just the plastic card itself. Supporters described organized retail crime schemes in which stolen gift cards are drained after activation and said the bill would help retailers, consumers, and law enforcement. The bill passed 134-0. Senate File 3958, which changes the deadline for a disaster assistance contingency account report from January 15 to January 31, also passed 134-0.
Finally, the House considered House File 3875, the judiciary policy bill. An author’s amendment removed a section that had been unintentionally left in the bill, and members then discussed provisions allowing courts more flexibility in publishing notices, streamlining some notification requirements in dissolution cases, and making restitution orders permanent unless rescinded by court order. The transcript cuts off during discussion of the bill, before any final vote is shown.
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- Legislation reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce with amendments.
- Reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce with an amendment and substitute.
- Legislation reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce with amendments.
- Senate Bill 220 is legislation that would direct the Department of Department of I would move the committee
- Senate Bell 220 is legislation under direct the Department of Department of The bill passes.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- >> to commerce and economic development. >> to commerce and economic development.
- H. >> To Commerce and Economic Development. H804. >> To Commerce and Economic Development.
- 42.000>
the The Burlington Fire Department, the The Burlington Fire Department, the Vermont<00 - In subchapter 10, section 103 changes the Department of Real Estate Appraisal to the Department of Assessment
- 29:05.279>
have <00:29:05.440>the department of assessment shall have the department of
Summary:
The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day.
The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal.
In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 18, 2025 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- It also requires the Department of Commerce to share information related to fraudulent claims with other
- law enforcement and U.S. departments for further investigation and requires the Department of Commerce
- law enforcement and U.S. departments for further investigation and requires the Department of Commerce
- The amendment removes Section 4, removing the requirement for Department of Commerce to get a new job
- And yes, I believe even the Department of Commerce will admit that when the pandemic hit, their system
Summary:
The Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee heard and advanced several bills. HB 615, allowing landlords to send required notices electronically with tenant written consent, was amended to allow either landlords or tenants to send messages electronically and passed favorably after testimony from legal aid and tenant advocates urging stronger opt-in, opt-out, and notice protections. HB 665, dealing with local government impact fees and development permits, would limit certain art-related impact fees, define “extraordinary circumstances,” and require more public process before fee increases; it passed after local government and industry testimony focused on refining the extraordinary-circumstances definition and concerns about public art funding. HB 365, a tenant protection bill for affordable housing units receiving public incentives, was amended to apply only to leases of 13 months or less and to take effect in July 2026; it passed with support from housing advocates and AARP and was described as preventing mid-lease rent increases while preserving renewal-time adjustments. HB 381, requiring issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers within a set timeframe, was amended to extend the deadline to 20 business days and shift the fee consequence to the address fee rather than the building permit fee; it passed after discussion about delays affecting developers and local government responsibility.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I am the managing director of the Growth Management Program here at the Department of Commerce, and I'm
- Do you have Commerce? I don't have any numbers on those.
- Those are numbers from the Washington Department of Commerce. We have unaffordable rents.
- We also received a coordinated low-income housing planning grant from the Department of Commerce, and
- There's somewhere you can point us or information, if it's you or in Department of Commerce, as far as
Summary:
The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly.
Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties.
The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation.
In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 Apr 25th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Paul Police Department.
- of Commerce.
- The Department of Commerce must then make a referral to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and they
- We spent almost one full day on a bill that required the Commerce Fraud Bureau to be in the Department
- of Commerce.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing counseling services.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing counseling services.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing counseling services.
- Maui Chamber of Commerce in support, and several individuals in support: Andrew Crossland, Judy Luella
- I'm from the Department of Taxation.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Housing heard three bills. HB 1428 would appropriate funds for HHFC to distribute to HUD-certified housing counseling agencies and require a report to the Legislature. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including HHFC, the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development, and individual testifiers who said housing counseling, financial education, and one-on-one guidance can help keep residents housed. In response to a question, HHFC said there are five certified agencies in the state and requested $1.5 million for one year, noting uncertainty around federal funding. The chair recommended passage with amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously.
HB 833 would create a five-year Community Land Trust Equity pilot program through HHFC, using Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund money to provide lines of credit for acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, or construction of housing for certain households. Multiple organizations and individuals testified in support. HHFC said the needed funding depends on the size of the pilot and estimated that 50 homes at $500,000 each would require about $25 million; members discussed how the funds would revolve as loans are repaid. The chair recommended passage with amendments, including replacing the income restriction with qualified residents under HRS 20-32 and prioritizing applications requiring the lowest funds per unit per year. The recommendation was adopted.
HB 286 would increase the maximum annual deduction and account limits for Individual Housing Accounts. The Department of Taxation testified, with support also noted from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and several individuals, and one individual in opposition. In response to questions, DOTAX said the change would likely have limited impact because fewer than 100 IHAs have been reported and suggested the deduction would need to be above the Roth IRA limit to matter. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments and reported the proposed limits as $10,000 for single filers and $20,000 for married filing jointly. The committee adopted the recommendation, and the hearing adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on HB 155, HB 1102, HB 1109, HB 1356, HB 1469, HB 1323, HB 1376 (05/26/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- Um there was a department running.
- strictly an alignment of the department strictly an alignment of the department administrative<01
- <01:45:44.320>
of other questions for the Department of other questions for the Department - of each department?
- Is it department of each department? Is it department of personnel?
Summary:
The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate.
The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough.
Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later.
The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.