Transcript Highlights:

• to</c><00:49:03.280><c> take</c><00:49:03.520><c> a</c><00:49:03.680><c> middle</c><00:49:03.920><c>
• 49:09.760><c> um</c><00:49:09.839><c> and</c><00:49:10.079><c> our</c><00:49:10.319><c> own</c> coin
• :49:11.599><c> we're</c><00:49:11.839><c> going</c><00:49:12.000><c> to</c><00:49:12.160><c> instead<
• on</c><00:49:13.280><c> rails</c><00:49:13.680><c> that</c><00:49:13.920><c> we</c><00:49:14.079><c>
• 00:49:26.480><c> the</c><00:49:26.720><c> financial</c><00:49:27.280><c> returns</c><00:49:27.760><c>

Summary: The commission met with a quorum, approved the agenda, and approved the November 12 minutes after a motion, second, and unanimous voice/online consent. The chair said the meeting would include two presentations—one from Noah Herman of Fortress Global and one from John Kicko and team from Hedera—followed by discussion of the commission’s next steps and public comment. The chair also noted he was still seeking a clerk for note-taking. Herman’s presentation focused on stablecoins, blockchain use cases, and operational considerations for states and other institutions. He described Fortress as an enterprise crypto-wallet and treasury platform serving corporates, governments, and nonprofits, and used examples such as Save the Children and a large global commodities firm to illustrate custody and treasury management on blockchain rails. He said stablecoins are designed to maintain a U.S. dollar peg, are increasingly backed by treasuries and subject to greater transparency, and are being adopted by major firms and payment companies because they can improve speed, reduce cost, and simplify payments. He also highlighted market growth, including claims that stablecoins now represent a significant share of on-chain activity and are a major holder of U.S. Treasuries. He identified custody as a key issue for state and institutional use, outlining qualified custody, managed custody, and self-custody models. He said the main practical challenge for the commodities client was moving funds safely and quickly across global time zones and that blockchain rails could solve problems that traditional banking rails could not. He framed the broader trend as one of accelerating institutional adoption, citing recent acquisitions and product launches by Visa, Stripe, Citi, and PayPal as evidence that stablecoin infrastructure is becoming mainstream.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:08.400><c> But</c><00:49:08.559><c> that's</c><00:49:08.640><c> what</c><00:49:08.800><c>
• </c><00:49:10.079><c> Well,</c><00:49:10.640><c> I</c><00:49:11.440><c> I</c><00:49:11.839><c> don't<
• </c><00:49:13.119><c> I'm</c><00:49:13.280><c> just</c><00:49:13.440><c> in</c><00:49:13.599><c> the<
• c><00:49:20.160><c> two</c><00:49:20.319><c> and</c><00:49:20.559><c> four</c><00:49:20.720><c> do</c
• <00:49:29.520><c> then</c><00:49:29.839><c> tell</c><00:49:30.000><c> us</c><00:49:30.160><c> that</c

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 25, which would allow New Hampshire state-chartered credit unions to choose, by member vote, to compensate their board members. Prime sponsor Senator Dan Innis said the bill is enabling only, does not require compensation, and is intended to align New Hampshire with other states that already permit this. He argued that credit union board service now requires more time and expertise, and that compensation could help attract stronger candidates and improve governance. Representatives from the Cooperative Credit Union Association and St. Mary’s Bank testified in support. They said the change would not create salaries, but could cover modest compensation or reimbursements such as daycare, education, cybersecurity, or accounting training. They emphasized that credit unions remain nonprofit and member-driven, that board members must be credit union members and elected by members, and that any compensation decision would be made by the membership at an annual meeting or through the credit union’s voting process. Witnesses also said the bill would help with recruitment and retention, especially as credit union operations have become more complex and digital, and noted that similar authority exists in 16 other states, including Rhode Island. Committee members asked about the historical reason credit unions were excluded, the amount and structure of compensation, whether there would be a cap, and how voting would work. Witnesses said the bill does not set a statutory maximum, but in practice the amount would be disclosed to members and set through the vote; they also described St. Mary’s Bank’s ballot process and said proxy or ballot procedures depend on each credit union’s bylaws. One witness noted that federally chartered credit unions are subject to different limits. After testimony and questions, the chair closed the public hearing on Senate Bill 25 and then moved on to Senate Bill 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• we</c><00:49:04.960><c> if</c><00:49:05.200><c> we</c><00:49:05.359><c> need</c><00:49:05.599><c> a<
• ><00:49:09.520><c> of</c><00:49:09.640><c> the</c><00:49:09.799><c> information</c><00:49:10.240><c>
• it then we would<00:49:18.760><c> we</c><00:49:18.880><c> would</c><00:49:19.079><c> deny</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:20.839><c> do</c><00:49:21.079><c> with</c><00:49:21.240><c> all</c><00:49:21.359><c> of</
• ><c> we</c><00:49:24.559><c> have</c><00:49:24.760><c> all</c><00:49:24.920><c> the</c><00:49:25.079>

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place. Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation. The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:49:22.800><c> The</c><00:49:23.040><c> intent</c><00:49:23.359><c> of</c><00:49:23.599><c> this<
• c> to</c><00:49:33.359><c> be</c><00:49:33.440><c> the</c><00:49:33.680><c> kids</c><00:49:33.839><c>
• They tend to<00:49:36.079><c> come</c><00:49:36.240><c> from</c><00:49:36.640><c> families</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:40.480><c> And</c><00:49:40.640><c> we</c><00:49:40.880><c> felt</c><00:49:41.440><c> it</
• c> them</c><00:49:47.200><c> to,</c><00:49:47.680><c> you</c><00:49:47.839><c> know,</c><00:49:48.480

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:03.920><c> you</c><00:49:04.079><c> got</c><00:49:04.160><c> to</c><00:49:04.319><c> take<
• ><c> is</c><00:49:04.960><c> capital</c><00:49:05.280><c> expense</c><00:49:05.760><c> not</c><00:49:
• All right.<00:49:08.240><c> Thank</c><00:49:08.400><c> you</c><00:49:08.480><c> very</c><00:49:08.720
• c> we'd</c><00:49:15.440><c> have</c><00:49:15.520><c> a</c><00:49:15.680><c> new</c><00:49:15.839><c
• So<00:49:16.880><c> my</c><00:49:17.040><c> motion</c><00:49:17.359><c> will</c><00:49:17.440><c> be<

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.559><c> uh</c><00:49:00.720><c> of</c><00:49:00.960><c> the</c><00:49:01.280><c> topics</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:05.040><c> Um</c><00:49:05.680><c> we</c><00:49:06.000><c> also</c><00:49:06.240><c> do</c
• </c><00:49:14.400><c> And</c><00:49:15.040><c> um</c><00:49:15.280><c> in</c><00:49:15.520><c> the</c
• explanation<00:49:22.400><c> of</c><00:49:22.559><c> it,</c><00:49:22.720><c> but</c><00:49:22.960><
• 49:25.359><c> is</c><00:49:25.760><c> highly</c><00:49:26.240><c> focused</c><00:49:26.800><c> on</c>

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The committees heard and then took action on several measures. Senate Bill 3048, relating to the State Building Code Council and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, received support from OPSD and the Chamber of Commerce, with OPSD requesting amendments tied to software licensing and a public permitting dashboard. The committees ultimately recommended passing the bill with amendments, including an effective date, and later adopted that recommendation by vote. Senate Bill 3083, relating to protective orders, drew support from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Military and Community Relations Office, and a member of the public, while the Judiciary asked that the bill be deferred or amended because a prior notification process had lapsed and a new mandate could be difficult to implement. The committees nevertheless recommended passage with amendments and an effective date, noting implementation concerns in the report, and that recommendation was adopted. The committees also considered Senate Bill 3010, which would allow law enforcement, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter unattended vehicles to rescue animals in distress. The Animal Legal Defense Fund supported the measure as a common-sense good Samaritan protection, and the Hawaii Association for Justice recommended a small amendment. The bill was recommended for passage with amendments and later adopted. Senate Bill 3187, relating to off-site construction and SPEED Task Force recommendations, received OPSD testimony in support with comments; the committees recommended passing it with amendments, deleting the dollar amount and adding an effective date, and adopted that recommendation. In a later joint hearing with the Committee on Education, Senate Bill 2138, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to graduate study, received support from the University of Hawaii, the Department of Defense, the Hawaii Army National Guard, and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office. Members asked whether the current law limited assistance to undergraduate degrees and whether the program would require new funding; witnesses said the bill would simply expand authority and could be implemented within the current budget. Senate Bill 2614, authorizing high school diplomas for certain veterans whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices, also drew support from DOE and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, with DOE explaining it had previously issued diplomas under an earlier version of the law and would verify eligibility through an application process. Senate Bill 2687, requiring a 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum plan and pilot program, drew mixed testimony: DOE said the topic is already covered in existing social studies standards and the bill was unnecessary, while supporters argued the history is not being consistently taught and should be mandated. The transcript cuts off before final action on the education bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• So<00:49:01.040><c> there's</c><00:49:01.520><c> delays</c><00:49:02.319><c> in</c><00:49:02.640><c>
• Uh well,<00:49:09.599><c> it</c><00:49:09.839><c> just</c><00:49:10.079><c> seems</c><00:49:10.319><c
• So, I hope you'll<00:49:21.680><c> I</c><00:49:21.920><c> hope</c><00:49:22.000><c> you'll</c><00:49:
• c><00:49:23.440><c> two</c><00:49:23.599><c> years</c><00:49:23.839><c> is</c><00:49:24.079><c> great
• :49:28.000><c> to</c><00:49:28.160><c> do</c><00:49:28.240><c> a</c><00:49:28.400><c> lot</c><00:49:28.559

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Message 790, the nomination of Karen T. Nakasone to serve as chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10-year term. The chair announced that no vote would be taken that day and that the committee would vote on Thursday. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with the chair reading that there were 103 supporters, zero opposed, and one comment. Supporters included current and retired judges, public defenders, bar association representatives, former elected officials, and community members. They described Nakasone as intelligent, fair, hardworking, well respected, and a strong leader with deep legal experience. Several speakers emphasized her judicial temperament, her work as an advocate and judge, and her community involvement, including leadership in civic and civil rights organizations. One pro se litigant also testified that she had been treated kindly and respectfully by Nakasone in prior interactions. The Hawaii State Bar Association reported that it had conducted an interview and review process and found her qualified for the position. In her own remarks, Nakasone introduced family and colleagues, described her 30-year legal career, and said her first job after law school was as an ICA law clerk. She highlighted the court’s backlog reduction efforts under Acting Chief Judge Katherine Leonard, saying the number of older pending appeals had dropped significantly through team-based reforms, and stated that she would continue that work if confirmed. The hearing ended without questions from the committee and with the nomination held for a later vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And most<00:49:06.400><c> good</c><00:49:06.800><c> parents</c><00:49:07.440><c> are</c><00:49:07.680
• I<00:49:17.200><c> raised</c><00:49:17.680><c> three</c><00:49:18.000><c> children</c><00:49:18.400><
• </c><00:49:26.000><c> So,</c><00:49:26.480><c> I</c><00:49:26.800><c> get</c><00:49:27.520><c> the</c
• </c><00:49:30.880><c> talk</c><00:49:31.040><c> to</c><00:49:31.280><c> parents</c><00:49:31.680><c>
• </c><00:49:40.880><c> is</c><00:49:41.119><c> a</c><00:49:41.359><c> good</c><00:49:41.599><c> parent

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:03.560><c> young</c><00:49:04.240><c> child</c><00:49:05.040><c> in</c><00:49:05.240><c> third
• <00:49:24.200><c> of</c><00:49:24.359><c> the</c><00:49:24.560><c> AI</c><00:49:25.000><c> crimes</c>
• I<00:49:35.359><c> will</c><00:49:35.520><c> be</c><00:49:35.640><c> voting</c><00:49:35.960><c> yes<
• /c><00:49:36.359><c> but</c><00:49:36.680><c> I</c><00:49:36.800><c> do</c><00:49:37.120><c> members<
• I<00:49:46.560><c> recognize</c><00:49:47.040><c> the</c><00:49:47.160><c> author</c><00:49:47.480><c

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:00.400><c> Speaker,</c><00:49:00.720><c> I'm</c><00:49:00.960><c> also</c><00:49:01.440><c
• </c><00:49:09.920><c> First</c><00:49:10.079><c> of</c><00:49:10.240><c> all,</c><00:49:10.400><c> the
• criminalize<00:49:13.599><c> the</c><00:49:13.839><c> misuse</c><00:49:14.559><c> of</c><00:49:14.800
• to own<00:49:31.040><c> or</c><00:49:31.359><c> misuse</c><00:49:32.400><c> less</c><00:49:33.200><c
• Our bill<00:49:35.599><c> does</c><00:49:35.839><c> not</c><00:49:36.079><c> change</c><00:49:36.319>

Transcript Highlights:

• :07.440><c> for</c><00:49:08.120><c> or</c><00:49:08.240><c> not</c><00:49:08.480><c> call</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:12.160><c> I</c><00:49:12.280><c> just</c><00:49:12.520><c> want</c><00:49:12.680><c> to</
• /c><00:49:15.600><c> on</c><00:49:15.720><c> a</c><00:49:15.760><c> case</c><00:49:16.400><c> that</c
• it's DCYF<00:49:18.400><c> or</c><00:49:18.560><c> what</c><00:49:18.720><c> have</c><00:49:18.960><
• :49:51.960><c> the</c><01:49:52.120><c> IEP</c><01:49:52.640><c> or</c><01:49:52.880><c> to</c><01:49

Summary: The commission on the costing of special education met to review several documents and updates, including draft materials on residential placements, an LBA dispute resolution report, prior minutes, rate-setting rules, and a letter involving Senator Hassan. The minutes from March 16 were approved by motion, second, and one abstention. Members also received an update that the LBA special education performance audit is still pending; the report is expected to be very large, NHED and the Board of Education must review and comment before release, and it likely will not be available until late summer or early fall. The separate EFA audit was also noted as still unreleased, and members said they may return later to issues involving EFA costing and differentiated aid. A major focus was HB 1099, which would create a committee to study the cost and liability of providing educational services to students placed in residential facilities. The chair explained that the House version had passed unanimously and the bill was headed to a committee of conference. Members discussed a proposed amendment to add the phrase “including but not limited to” so the study would cover not only court-ordered or treatment-related placements but also other residential placements, including those tied to school district decisions. Some members said this was a substantial expansion, while others said it would simply give the committee broader latitude. Jason Stock of the Winnisquam Regional School Board described how the issue arose during budget work at Winnisquam, where the district was trying to determine who should pay for educational services for students living at Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield. He said the district had 10 students attending Winnisquam, including three foster students and seven students connected to Spaulding, and that Spaulding-specific invoicing for 2024-2025 totaled $141,417.05 for eight students. Members also discussed rising private placement tuition costs and the difficulty of determining residency and fiscal responsibility for students placed in residential settings. Department counsel explained that under RSA 193:27 and 193:28, children placed in a home for children may attend the local district school, and that special education cost responsibility depends on whether the student is identified as disabled and on the nature of the placement. Spaulding representatives had not yet presented by the end of the excerpt, and the committee was still working through the residency and funding questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:03.760><c> frameworks</c><00:49:04.319><c> here</c><00:49:04.640><c> or</c><00:49:04.880><c> in</
• next generation<00:49:06.000><c> science</c><00:49:06.559><c> or</c><00:49:06.960><c> the</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:09.920><c> um</c><00:49:10.240><c> those</c><00:49:10.640><c> areas</c><00:49:11.040><c> I
• <00:49:15.520><c> I</c><00:49:15.760><c> going</c><00:49:15.839><c> to</c><00:49:16.000><c> look</c><
• 49:02.880><c> can</c><01:49:03.040><c> all</c><01:49:03.199><c> get</c><01:49:03.760><c> but</c><01:49

Summary: The Legislative Oversight Committee met to review statewide education improvement and assessment issues under RSA 193-C:8-a, with the chair focusing on curriculum frameworks, academic standards, and resource elements tied to the state’s adequate education statutes. The chair walked through the statutory relationship between minimum standards for public school approval, academic standards, and local control of curriculum, noting that New Hampshire law requires curriculum frameworks to guide what students should know and be able to do while leaving districts flexibility in instruction. He also raised concerns that some subject areas appear to have current frameworks or standards while others do not, and suggested the committee may need to consider an amendment creating a curriculum frameworks and academic standards coordinator at the Department of Education. Nate Green, director of the Division of Education Analytics and Resources, explained that the terms “academic standards” and “curriculum frameworks” have evolved over time and are often used interchangeably, but can mean different things depending on the subject area. He said the state’s more prescriptive standards largely developed after No Child Left Behind, especially in math, ELA, and science, while older or less-tested subjects such as arts, physical education, and health often retained looser framework-style documents. Green outlined one possible approach of standardizing terminology, but also said New Hampshire could instead define curriculum frameworks separately as a combination of standards, curriculum, and instructional approaches. He emphasized that state standards must support statewide consistency and assessment, while local districts retain control over how they teach. Committee members discussed how these distinctions affect different grade levels and subjects, using examples from math and science to show that minimum standards are broad while academic standards are more specific and grade-level based. Green described how science standards are organized by physical science, life science, and earth/space science across grade bands, while math standards are more directly tied to individual grades. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported during this portion of the meeting; the discussion remained informational and exploratory as members considered whether statutory language or departmental organization should be updated.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:01.839><c> So</c><00:49:02.160><c> not</c><00:49:02.400><c> like</c><00:49:02.960><c> I</c
• </c><00:49:04.160><c> But</c><00:49:04.319><c> if</c><00:49:04.480><c> you'll</c><00:49:04.720><c> do
• c><00:49:05.280><c> you</c><00:49:05.440><c> why</c><00:49:05.680><c> I</c><00:49:05.839><c> need</c>
• <00:49:10.720><c> a</c><00:49:11.200><c> sheet</c><00:49:11.520><c> on</c><00:49:11.680><c> my</c><00
• </c><00:49:15.440><c> So</c><00:49:15.599><c> if</c><00:49:15.760><c> you'll</c><00:49:15.920><c> do<

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber received several House messages referring local bills to the Committee on Local Legislation, including measures affecting Lawrence, Clayurn, Limestone, Shelby, and Alabaster. The Senate also recognized guests in the gallery, including local leaders, law enforcement officials, and a Jackson County Junior Leadership group. During personal privilege remarks, Senator Figures offered a tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., highlighting his civil rights legacy, political influence, and impact on Black voter participation and representation; the Senate observed a moment of silence. Senator Smitherman also thanked her for the remarks. The Senate then adopted Senate Joint Resolution 47, mourning the death and celebrating the life of John J. Guthrie Jr., and Senate Joint Resolution 48, commending Tommy Jax for emergency actions to help a sick child. The Senate considered numerous confirmations from the Committee on Confirmations, all receiving favorable reports and being confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls, including Walter Bracie and Eric Bone to the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission, Morgan Garner and Susie Beal to the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, and Joe Brown, Brian Williams, James Spears, Charles Hedrickk, and Kathy Pierce to the Alabama Board of Polygraph Examiners. Committee reports also advanced several bills, including local legislation and county/municipal government measures. On the floor, the Senate adopted a special order calendar and passed or adopted several bills: SB 239 on child custody jurisdiction enforcement, SB 190 on a sales tax exemption for an ocular eye service company, SB 252 on Governor’s Mansion Authority employees and leave benefits, SB 170 on health savings account regulatory coordination, SB 210 on the chiropractic board, SB 242 on commercial driver’s licenses, and SB 70 on crimes and offenses. SB 247 on insurance was carried over at the sponsor’s request for further work, and SB 83 on guardianships and conservatorships was taken up with discussion of a committee amendment to clarify removal of proceedings from probate to circuit court and notice requirements; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• member</c><00:49:15.520><c> of</c><00:49:15.640><c> the</c><00:49:15.760><c> Pike</c><00:49:16.040><
• Whereas<00:49:34.080><c> Marie</c><00:49:34.359><c> Childers</c><00:49:34.840><c> is</c><00:49:35.000
• her eight decades<00:49:46.240><c> of</c><00:49:46.400><c> hard</c><00:49:46.720><c> work</c><00:49:
• <00:49:52.120><c> of</c><00:49:52.280><c> the</c><00:49:52.400><c> party</c><00:49:52.800><c> of</c><
• <00:49:54.360><c> the</c><00:49:54.480><c> right</c><00:49:54.760><c> of</c><00:49:54.880><c> every</

Transcript Highlights:

• certification,<00:49:20.240><c> and</c><00:49:20.400><c> a</c><00:49:20.640><c> restricted</c><00:49
• <c> effect</c><00:49:30.720><c> regardless</c><00:49:31.119><c> of</c><00:49:31.280><c> the</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:51.440><c> the</c><00:49:51.599><c> United</c><00:49:51.839><c> States,</c><00:49:52.160><
• ><c> criminal</c><00:49:54.559><c> record</c><00:49:54.800><c> to</c><00:49:55.040><c> honor</c><00:49
• <01:49:01.760><c> No.</c><01:49:02.480><c> Eyes</c><01:49:02.800><c> have</c><01:49:02.880><c> it.

Transcript Highlights:

• before<00:49:04.640><c> age</c><00:49:05.040><c> 59</c><00:49:05.440><c> and</c><00:49:05.520><c> a<
• account</c><00:49:23.920><c> at</c><00:49:24.160><c> the</c><00:49:24.240><c> time</c><00:49:24.319><
• is realized<00:49:25.040><c> instead</c><00:49:25.280><c> of</c><00:49:25.440><c> treating</c><00:49
• was required to<00:49:52.000><c> file</c><00:49:52.559><c> form</c><00:49:52.960><c> 1099</c><00:49:
• :49:03.679><c> in</c><01:49:04.400><c> 20</c><01:49:05.679><c> um</c><01:49:06.719><c> 20</c><01:49:07.840

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:49:09.040><c> to</c><00:49:09.119><c> you</c><00:49:09.280><c> by</c><00:49:09.440><c> leadership<
• > to</c><00:49:21.520><c> make</c><00:49:21.680><c> Agri</c><00:49:22.160><c> a</c><00:49:22.319><c>
• that we dedicate<00:49:27.280><c> to</c><00:49:27.440><c> Agri</c><00:49:28.160><c> stays</c><00:49:
• We'd love<00:49:29.440><c> to</c><00:49:29.599><c> see</c><00:49:29.680><c> that</c><00:49:29.920><c>
• </c><00:49:46.800><c> We</c><00:49:46.880><c> have</c><00:49:46.960><c> a</c><00:49:47.200><c> lot</c

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> up</c><00:49:12.559><c> with</c><00:49:12.880><c> with</c><00:49:13.119><c> the</c><00:49:13.359
• state</c><00:49:16.160><c> this</c><00:49:16.319><c> leads</c><00:49:16.559><c> to</c><00:49:16.799>
• people</c><00:49:20.359><c> uh</c><00:49:20.480><c> cycling</c><00:49:20.920><c> in</c><00:49:21.040>
• ><c> uh</c><00:49:31.119><c> attended</c><00:49:31.480><c> to</c><00:49:31.640><c> address</c><00:49:
• really worked<00:49:34.200><c> hard</c><00:49:34.839><c> uh</c><00:49:35.000><c> uh</c><00:49:35.119

Summary: Division 3 Finance held a work session to move through five bills before noon, noting one member’s early departure and adjusting the order of bills accordingly. The first item, HB 54, would allow some alternative treatment centers in the medical cannabis system to operate for profit. Members discussed a fiscal note showing a one-time $133,000 cost, which was described as a Division 1 budget item to be handled through HB 2 rather than directly in Division 3. After discussion about keeping Division 1 informed and the distinction between retaining a bill versus funding it, the committee voted unanimously to retain HB 54 for further finance work and conversion into HB 2. The committee then took up HB 547, concerning reimbursement to counties for enhanced FMAP funds during the COVID period. The chair summarized the issue as federal enhanced Medicaid matching funds that were received by the state before authority existed to pass them through to counties, creating a disputed amount owed to counties. County representatives said the money should have gone to counties and clarified the relevant time period, while the department did not take a position. The chair proposed retaining the bill and moving it into HB 2, with discussion of a possible four-year repayment structure in equal annual installments. The committee agreed to retain the bill for continued work in the budget process. During the HB 547 discussion, members also clarified the fiscal and accounting details, including that the fiscal note had not been widely available and that some figures in the note should be treated as county revenue rather than county expenditure. Testimony explained that the enhanced FMAP increased from 50 percent to 56.2 percent, and that the state’s and counties’ shares of claims were affected by the timing of the federal change and the later state authorization. The committee emphasized that the issue was complex and budget-dependent, and that retaining the bill would allow further negotiation and incorporation into HB 2 rather than immediate final action.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:49:12.640><c> answer</c><00:49:12.960><c> that</c><00:49:13.079><c> up</c><00:49:13.240><c> the
• > Senator</c><00:49:15.920><c> I</c><00:49:16.079><c> we</c><00:49:16.200><c> can</c><00:49:16.359><c
• > do</c><00:49:22.559><c> you</c><00:49:22.680><c> know</c><00:49:23.000><c> on</c><00:49:23.240><c>
• <00:49:28.920><c> um</c><00:49:29.040><c> so</c><00:49:29.160><c> I</c><00:49:29.280><c> can</c> have
• </c><00:49:29.720><c> do</c><00:49:30.200><c> on</c><00:49:30.440><c> how</c><00:49:30.559><c> much</

Transcript Highlights:

• months<00:49:16.040><c> until</c><00:49:16.240><c> we</c><00:49:16.359><c> can</c><00:49:16.520><c>
• fix</c><00:49:16.839><c> it</c><00:49:17.839><c> um</c><00:49:18.079><c> and</c><00:49:18.240><c> while
• ><c> reliable</c><00:49:19.280><c> most</c><00:49:19.440><c> of</c><00:49:19.559><c> the</c><00:49:19.760
• /c><00:49:21.640><c> allow</c><00:49:21.960><c> us</c><00:49:22.520><c> um</c><00:49:22.640><c> to</c
• be able<00:49:23.079><c> to</c><00:49:23.280><c> respond</c><00:49:23.799><c> to</c><00:49:24.720><c

Summary: The Transportation Committee opened with an announcement correcting the public hearing list: House Bill 209 was mistakenly listed as a continued hearing, but the chair said that hearing had already been closed and would not be reopened. The committee then moved to House Bill 305, which would allow municipalities to install and use speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. The prime sponsor, Rep. Jones, said the bill was intended as a tool to address police staffing shortages and erratic driving, and emphasized that municipalities would pay the costs, work with DOT and the Department of Safety, and retain full control without using third-party vendors. He said the bill was meant to target speeding, red-light violations, and similar conduct, with enforcement handled locally and subject to state and federal law. Committee members raised questions about how citations would work, who would be held responsible in multi-driver or rental-car situations, whether due process would be affected, and whether cameras could identify the driver rather than just the vehicle. The sponsor and supporting witness Edward H. of Keene said municipalities would determine procedures, that an officer would still have to review and issue any summons, and that the bill was meant to be a limited enforcement tool rather than a catch-all. Edward H. also described the bill as adding guardrails such as a needs analysis, coordination with DOT, annual reporting, and public records of detections and fines. The Department of Transportation testified neutrally, saying it had no position on the bill and noting that current state systems include speed feedback signs, bridge security cameras, toll cameras that capture plates only, and traffic-signal detection cameras that do not record video. No vote was taken. The committee then held a brief hearing on House Bill 368, which would prohibit smoking tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under 16 is present and impose a $100 secondary fine. Rep. Miller introduced the bill in the sponsor’s absence, and there was no public testimony for or against it. The chair closed the hearing. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 390, which would add retired fire apparatus to the antique vehicle exemption so old fire trucks can be registered and used in parades without being stripped of their equipment. Rep. Parson explained that a strict reading of current law had led DMV to reject some antique fire engine registrations, and said the bill would fix that while preserving the ban on commercial use and on impersonating emergency vehicles. Members asked about the relationship to existing laws on emergency-vehicle impersonation, and the sponsor said the bill would not affect those laws. The hearing remained open as the transcript ended.