Transcript Highlights:

• IT JUST GIVES MORE EFFICIENCY IS TRACKING CAPABILITIES FOR PARTNERS.
• WE ARE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY AND AND OPERABILITY IS ALWAYS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The efficiency of that is not to be lost on anybody.
• The<00:59:45.480> efficiency<00:59:46.080> of<00:59:46.200> that<00:59:46.880>
• of that is not to be lost The efficiency of that is not to be lost in<00:59:47.800> anybody.
• To take on all this stuff in a very operationally efficient way.
• And then on the Green Fee proposal, um operationally efficient way. operationally efficient way.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the sections of our division varies considerably, but our division’s common purpose is to support efficient
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:33.920> And<01:25:34.159> so<01:25:34.560> our being as efficient as
• And so our being as efficient as we can.
• Um, and we want to make for efficiency.
• And we're always looking for ways that we can reduce costs, create efficiencies, and still provide the
• And we're always looking for ways that we can reduce costs, create efficiencies, and still provide the

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Select Subcommittee first took up adoption of three previously prepared nonpartisan committee summary reports dated October 15, November 13, and November 21. Senator Rasmusson objected to the lack of advance notice about the day’s testifiers and criticized the practice of having nonpartisan staff summarize what he described as a partisan agenda. The chair responded that the committee’s purpose is to gather information, not hear bills, and that the summaries were intended as neutral resources for the Senate. Senator Coopek moved adoption, the motion was opposed by Rasmusson and another member, and the motion passed. The committee then turned to the day’s hearing on federal impacts on Minnesota, with the chair focusing on federal funding threats and the effect of congressional budget actions on health care, especially in greater Minnesota. The first presentation came from the Minnesota Department of Health on the state’s rural health transformation work. Assistant Commissioner Carol Broom introduced the team and described the rural hospital transformation program as a major opportunity to invest in rural health, while acknowledging longstanding challenges such as demographics, transportation barriers, and the financing of care. Nitha Moibi outlined the state’s rural health chart book and data showing an aging population, workforce shortages, and many health professional shortage areas, and described proposed strategies including workforce pipelines, bridge payments for low-volume birth hospitals, telehealth access points, mental health urgent care, and chronic disease prevention. Acting Assistant Commissioner Anna Ashby of the Minnesota Management and Budget office explained the state’s application to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created in federal law and awarded Minnesota just over $193 million for federal fiscal year 2026. She said the application was shaped by public comments, stakeholder meetings, and legislative outreach, and included initiatives on preventive care, workforce, care access, behavioral health, and provider financial stability. She also reviewed implementation constraints, including a January 30 revised budget deadline, limits on administrative spending, restrictions on using funds to offset Medicaid losses, and the need to show measurable progress to remain eligible for future funding. The presentation noted that most year-one funding would go to rural hospitals, with additional support for federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, tribal partners, and technical assistance.

Transcript Highlights:

• phasing out clean energy production and investment tax credits, ending longstanding home energy efficiency
• You invest millions of dollars to modernize your operations, improve efficiency, and reduce emissions
• ,<02:44:26.479> and<02:44:26.800> reduce efficiency, and reduce efficiency, and reduce
• emissions and operate more efficiently emissions and operate more efficiently efficiently.<02:46
• And it's not just a problem efficiently.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That may be the most efficient use of the time here, if you like. Thank you, Mr. Shman.
• <00:59:09.520> be<00:59:09.720> the<00:59:09.880> most<00:59:10.160> efficient
• use of of that may be the most efficient use of of the<00:59:11.799> time<00:59:12.119> here
• Concurrent enrollment is a much more efficient way of getting students the college options.
• Concurrent enrollment is a much more efficient way of getting students the college options.

Bills: HF984, HF921, HF922

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• , so I think you should all be very proud of the amazing work we do on efficiency here. indirect costs
• your University is here in the efficient your University is here in the state<00:46:43.760> of
• here um so the uh the the efficiency here um so the uh the the funds<00:46:55.200> that<00:46
• Through that, you also need to have an efficient medical practice that provides the revenues, but first
• Medical Practice uh that efficient Medical Practice uh that provides<01:08:47.400> the<01:08:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our intention is for them to be able to be more effective and efficient in their student-facing work.
• Our intention is for them to be able to be more effective and efficient in their student-facing work.
• able to be more effective and efficient able to be more effective and efficient and<01:11:50.760
• This bill reinforces the importance of shared services in optimizing efficiency and equity across all
• This bill reinforces the importance of shared services in optimizing efficiency and equity across all

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• ACOs or they're separate, like with CPs, we're hoping that this incentivizes health plans to more efficiently
• We're hoping that this incentivizes health plans to more efficiently target and reach MassHealth recipients
• So on the state side, we are trying to get those dollars out the door in a quick, efficient manner, and
• As a result, DMH is seeking to maximize the efficiency of services by consolidating emergency diversion
• in fact it's Assistant Secretary Bridell that has done this work, to make our operations far more efficient

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• , we effectively combined solid waste processing, wastewater treatment, organics recovery, high-efficiency
• So we don’t want to throw out the proverbial efficiency baby with the bathwater, and we feel that that
• Senator Rubio's point and take a comprehensive, big-picture look and figure out if there's a more efficient
• It does not regulate emissions or vehicle efficiency.
• Some of the ones I can think of are energy efficiency costs, research and development.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 919, SB 931, SB 1215, SB 1359, SB 1125, and SB 1098, with authors and witnesses presenting each measure and the committee taking up amendments on several bills. SB 919 would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and encourage CPUC action on reducing renewable natural gas interconnection costs; supporters said it would help methane reduction and RNG development, while opponents warned about ratepayer costs and the use of public funds. The author said the amended bill removed the rate-basing direction and instead urged CPUC action. SB 931 would extend Diablo Canyon’s Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030; supporters said local communities and schools rely on the funding, while opponents argued it would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E revenues. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill was tied to a broader Diablo Canyon extension package, and the author said it was intended to cover the five-year extension period already enacted. The committee also heard SB 1215, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. The author and supporters said renters are largely shut out of home charging and that existing utility pilots have been successful but insufficient; the bill’s amendments would require consideration of ratepayer benefits, non-ratepayer funding, and system constraints. SB 1359 would require utilities to more carefully justify new gas infrastructure investments and consider electrification and non-pipeline alternatives first; supporters framed it as a guardrail against stranded gas assets, while gas utilities and other opponents said it could undermine safety, the obligation to serve, and ongoing CPUC proceedings. SB 1125 would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation; supporters emphasized widespread household water debt and the lack of statewide aid, while one member raised concerns about the lack of a funding source and the limits of Proposition 218. The bill was moved and the roll was opened, with several ayes and at least one no recorded. Finally, SB 1098 would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, more commission review, cost-sharing or lower returns, and sunset dates. Supporters said these accounts have proliferated and allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little oversight, while utilities and business groups argued the accounts are needed for hard-to-forecast costs such as wildfire mitigation and emergencies, and that the CPUC already reviews them. The committee also heard brief introductory remarks on SB 1295, which would promote more targeted use of distributed batteries on the distribution grid to save money and improve reliability, with utilities and environmental groups expressing support and saying they would continue working on the details.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal is to conduct these proceedings efficiently while ensuring everyone the opportunity to observe
• Our goal is to conduct these proceedings efficiently while ensuring everyone the opportunity to observe
• Our goal is to conduct these proceedings efficiently while ensuring everyone the opportunity to observe
• Our goal is to conduct these proceedings efficiently while ensuring everyone the opportunity to observe
• Our goal is to conduct these proceedings efficiently while ensuring everyone the opportunity to observe

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3415, a bill aimed at limiting immigration enforcement activity at child care centers. House Research explained the DE1 amendment, which defined key terms and barred child care employees from consenting to civil immigration enforcement entry without a judicial warrant, while requiring officials to identify themselves and state their purpose; the amendment also clarified that it would not block officials administering child care programs. After brief debate, members adopted the DE1 amendment. The bill author, Representative Sensor Mura, said the measure was intended to address fear and disruption in child care settings caused by recent immigration enforcement activity and to keep those spaces safe for children and families. Supporters, including a pastor, a Children’s Defense Fund representative, parents, child care workers, and an ACLU policy counsel, testified that immigration enforcement near daycares has caused fear, staff absences, lockdowns, and emotional harm to children. They argued the bill would not stop lawful enforcement but would require warrants and basic identification before entry, protecting children from witnessing raids or arrests and giving providers clear rules. Several witnesses described specific incidents involving ICE activity near Spanish immersion daycares in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including staff members being detained, parents organizing safety watches, and children showing distress. Testimony emphasized that many affected children are U.S. citizens in immigrant families and that visible enforcement can create toxic stress and separation anxiety. No final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided beyond adoption of the DE1 amendment and continuation of testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• residential stock or refers broadly to any home equipped with distributed energy resources or energy efficiency
• 56.160> energy distributed energy resources or energy distributed energy resources or energy efficiency
• efficiency technology. efficiency technology.
• It's about allowing for a more efficient... >> Well, that's okay.
• It's about allowing for a more efficient... >> Making sure the electrical can receive the PV on the roof

Bills: SB2033, SB2487, SB2497, SB2471, SB2829

Keywords: renewable energy, grid-ready homes, interconnection process, electric utility, energy independence, surcharge, customer access, energy storage, smart inverters, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, electric utility rates, ratemaking, performance-based regulation, performance-based incentives, performance incentive mechanisms, revenue adjustment mechanisms, cost control mechanisms, reward and penalty mechanisms, alternative ratemaking

Summary: The committee first reconvened on SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons. After discussion with the Attorney General’s office and a prior Q&A period, the chair said the committee would defer decision-making again, with the intent to return with amended versions of both bills that could gain support from the administration and its lawyers. The measures were deferred to Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Conference Room 229 at 9:30 a.m. The committee then took up SB 2180, relating to deposits of public funds. Members noted late testimony from the prior day’s joint hearing with the Housing Committee and moved to pass the bill out with amendments, including a defective effective date. The motion carried unanimously among those voting: the chair, vice chair, Senator Lamosao, and Senator Awa voted aye; Senator McKelvey was excused. The measure was adopted. A joint hearing followed on SB 2033, relating to renewable energy and a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. The PUC supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the time, resources, and stakeholder input needed to establish the proposed process, and asked for clarification of terms such as “grid-ready homes” and the role of HERA. Hawaiian Electric said it supported the intent but opposed the proposed process and HERA funding use. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association strongly supported the bill, arguing that faster interconnection is needed to meet rooftop solar goals and lower costs over time. Testimony totaled 27 in support, two in opposition, and four with comments. Members questioned costs, consumer protections, and whether the bill would burden low- and moderate-income households; the bill’s supporters said amendments could clarify the definition of grid-ready homes and add guardrails, while acknowledging that upfront costs and interconnection costs would still need to be addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• and more transparency as to the number of dollars received into the fund, whether they are being efficiently
• are<00:53:44.000> being whether or not they are being whether or not they are being efficiently
• being<00:53:46.240> uh<00:53:46.480> distributed<00:53:47.520> and efficiently
• being uh distributed and efficiently being uh distributed and whether<00:53:48.000> or<00:53:
• There's even a more efficient way than creating legislative study committees, which I know the House

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 155, which drew a lengthy debate over an amendment to delay implementation until tax year 2027. Supporters said the delay would give lawmakers time to see whether projected revenues materialize and to reconsider the policy if needed; opponents argued it would reduce money available to services and local governments at a time of tightening revenues. Members also discussed broader revenue trends, including tobacco, rooms-and-meals, real estate transfer, and lottery revenues, and disagreed over whether tax cuts tend to increase revenue. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2983H on an 11-9 vote, then voted 11-9 to report HB 155 ought to pass as amended. The bill was sent to the consent calendar, with a majority and minority report to be filed. The committee then considered HB 224, with members expressing concern that the bill would redirect money collected for one purpose to another and should receive more study. A motion for interim study was made and seconded, and the committee approved interim study unanimously, 20-0, sending HB 224 to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up SB 83, which the Lottery described as a vehicle for technical corrections to gaming law. The Lottery requested changes to remove a bond cap, reconcile inconsistent free-play/promotional-play language, redirect problem-gambling funds to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention, and revise background-check language after the FBI declined to conduct checks under the existing wording. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2984 unanimously, 20-0, then voted 20-0 to report SB 83 ought to pass as amended and placed it on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began work on HB 524, a bill to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Representative Yuli said members had received many emails and calls both supporting and opposing the program and that he had questions about transparency and the dollars involved. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 524.

Transcript Highlights:

• They enable businesses to reach markets quickly, transport goods efficiently, and attract new investment
• ,<00:04:54.880> and<00:04:55.040> attract transport goods efficiently, and attract
• transport goods efficiently, and attract new<00:04:55.680> investment<00:04:56.240> and
• Critical to safety, critical to the efficient and effective use and movement of our aircraft.
• Critical to safety, critical to the efficient and effective use and movement of our aircraft.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the other thing is we're working on creating efficiencies through our process.
• As we achieve those efficiencies, we can continue to look at what the number of workers is so that we
• <00:29:22.320> that<00:29:22.480> we will result in more efficiency that we will result
• in more efficiency that we cannot<00:29:23.159> take<00:29:23.679> advantage<00:29:24.120
• She added that simplifying the process would help the state move forward more efficiently and better

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Human Services and Homelessness heard two SNAP-related bills on March 13, 2025. SB 960 SD1 would appropriate funds to DHS to improve SNAP administration, including additional positions. Testimony from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Food Industry Association, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed, and many others strongly supported the measure, emphasizing high food insecurity, the importance of SNAP federal dollars, and the need to reduce delays and improve access. DHS said vacancies and retention are the main barriers, with staffing shortages statewide across processing centers. The department described efforts such as wikiwiki hiring, bringing back retired workers, using interns, and improving call center efficiency, and said it had requested a 5% performance incentive package estimated at about $1.1 million per year, though that request did not make the governor’s budget. Members asked about vacancy counts, staffing distribution, and how the bill would interact with other SNAP funding; DHS said some funding was tied to the new eligibility system and that staffing requests would need to be separate. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion heard. The committee then heard SB 961 SD1, which would require DHS to adjust minimum certification periods and participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project. Supporters, including AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and additional organizations and individuals, said the bill would reduce red tape, help kūpuna, and ease administrative burden. DHS supported the concept but said the current legacy system cannot automate these changes and that any implementation would require manual processing until the new system is in place. DHS and committee members discussed the risk of higher error rates and timeliness problems with manual processing, noting the department had recently been assessed a $1 million penalty for high payment error rates and was already in corrective action for timeliness. Members also discussed the anticipated fall 2026 rollout of the new system and whether the bill should be delayed until then; DHS said it preferred to assess the new system first before pursuing waivers and related changes. The committee then moved on to the next measure after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• around the state, which is consolidating a lot of these small departments, making them far more efficient
• <00:03:14.319> and<00:03:14.560> far<00:03:14.760> more them far more efficient
• and far more them far more efficient and far more affordable<00:03:16.080> uh<00:03:16.200>
• <00:08:25.159> and<00:08:25.360> sustainable<00:08:25.879> service efficient and
• sustainable service efficient and sustainable service throughout<00:08:27.039> a<00:08:27.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows us to become more efficient and effective, a school community that is better equipped to meet
• ><01:20:00.600> to<01:20:00.800> become<01:20:01.040> more<01:20:01.280> efficient
• <01:20:01.600> and allows us to become more efficient and allows us to become more efficient
• I can be more efficient in my work and focus on teaching.
• in my work and focus on efficient in my work and focus on teaching<01:24:18.600> having<01:24

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generated by fossil fuels when accounting for feedstock, the fossil fuel replaced, and combustion efficiency
• industry—to 100% electricity powered by wind, water, and solar with backup storage, we would achieve efficiencies
• It's not as efficient. There are many, many examples of how this would be a more efficient process.
• It's not as efficient. There are many, many examples of how this would be a more efficient process.
• I've implemented as much energy efficiency as I can, and yet my power bills continue to rise, and at

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• focusing on minimizing disruption and ensuring a smooth transition, and trying to build upon the efficient
• transition and trying to build upon um transition and trying to build upon um the<00:03:46.959> efficient
• and<00:03:47.519> quality<00:03:47.959> service<00:03:48.360> that the efficient
• and quality service that the efficient and quality service that had<00:03:48.720> really<00:03
• chair up there have such an efficient chair up there right<01:16:07.520> now<01:16:07.760>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 11, which outline many of the partnerships we have with employers, to pages 12 and 13—12 is the efficiency
• Page 12 is the efficiency budget that we submitted, and the one note that I'd want to draw attention
• <01:24:56.119> budget 13 12 is the efficiency budget 13 12 is the efficiency budget we<01:
• 12<01:25:05.760> is<01:25:05.920> the<01:25:06.360> E<01:25:06.840> efficiency
• thank P page 12 is the E efficiency thank P page 12 is the E efficiency budget<01:25:07.880>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.