Transcript Highlights:

• <01:20:20.159> component<01:20:20.560> for to the differentiated aid component for
• to the differentiated aid component for special<01:20:21.040> education<01:20:21.760> and
• <04:19:39.040> payments payments and catastrophic aid payments payments and catastrophic aid
• House-passed section 251 has to do with the grant and aid. No change between the two.
• <04:31:54.159> Uh,<04:31:54.479> we aid. No change between the two. Uh, we aid.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• $68 million for differentiated aid $68 million for differentiated aid that's<00:22:36.320> in
• , So with this special education aid, So with this special education aid, remember<00:22:46.480><
• So, you'll get that differential aid every year. >> And I think also for the differential aid under,
• <00:49:12.720> and pay out for a differentiate aid and pay out for a differentiate aid and
• <00:49:58.079> under, aid under, aid under, for<00:50:00.079> lack<00:50:00.240> of<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• system and the municipal state aid system and the municipal state aid Street<00:13:22.880> fund
• So, of the dollars that flow into the state aid, the two state aid funds, those then flow out to the
• So, of the dollars that flow into the state aid, the two state aid funds, those then flow out to the
• Local road aid includes county state-aid highways and municipal state-aid streets, along with revenue
• appropriation the municipal state aid appropriation the municipal state aid<00:54:35.240> Street<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Working Group met on January 15, 2025, with Chair John Kosnik opening by saying the committee expected to pass a transportation bill this year and emphasizing efficient use of transportation revenues, maintenance of roads and transit, and safety. Members and staff introduced themselves, and several representatives noted their interest in roads, bridges, and regional transportation needs. Kosnik also said he had spoken with Representative Kel about leadership arrangements and stressed that bipartisan support would be needed for a transportation bill. House Fiscal Staff’s Andrew Lee and House Research’s Matt Burus then gave an overview of transportation finance, focusing mainly on highways and transit. Burus explained Minnesota’s highway funding structure, including the constitutional Highway User Tax Distribution Fund and the related Trunk Highway Fund, County State-Aid Highway Fund, and Municipal State-Aid Street Fund. He reviewed the main revenue sources: the motor fuels tax, motor vehicle registration tax, motor vehicle sales tax, portions of the general sales tax tied to auto parts, vehicle rentals and leases, and the retail delivery fee. He noted several changes from 2023 legislation, including indexing of the gas tax, creation of the Transportation Advancement Account, and the retail delivery fee, which began in July 2024 and therefore would affect fiscal year 2025 rather than the fiscal 2024 data shown. The presentation also covered how highway dollars flow through constitutional formulas, including the 95/5 split from the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, with the 5 percent set-aside used for town roads, town bridges, and flexible highway purposes such as turnbacks. Burus distinguished trunk highway bonds from general obligation bonds and explained that both are debt-financing tools for transportation projects, but with different repayment sources and uses. No votes or formal actions were taken at this informational meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section four, the taconite municipal aid Section four, the taconite municipal aid account.<00:08
• Of of state aid over the last 5 years.
• <00:24:48.720> was their retirement as the state aid was their retirement as the state aid
• providing police aid providing police aid and and and has<00:26:20.560> um has um has um
• <00:32:41.080> would be my understanding that the aid would be my understanding that the aid

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This money is not differentiated aid.
• They receive differentiated aid.
• differentiated aid for those students. differentiated aid for those students.
• whether it's ELLL, differentiated aid whether it's ELLL, differentiated aid for<00:27:14.960>
• They receive differentiated aid. Yes. They receive differentiated aid. Yes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to consider eight bills, beginning with HB 443 on the terms of appointment for members of the Higher Education Commission. Department of Education Director Steve Applebee explained that the commission supported a language change to address a holdover issue, but members raised concerns that the bill did not solve the problem of inactive members and might not address the broader question of whether the commission should continue to exist. The committee agreed to retain HB 443 for further work and voted 18-0 to do so. The committee then voted on HB 137, which would allocate excess statewide education property tax funds for local school and municipal purposes. Supporters of ITL argued that using the statewide property tax to reduce the state’s school funding obligation could create a slippery slope and shift more burden to property taxpayers. The committee voted 15-3 to ITL the bill, with a minority report to be written. HB 237, which would prohibit the use of special education and differentiated aid funds on students not receiving special education services, was also ITL’d after members said federal law already governs how IDEA-related funds may be used and that the bill was unnecessary. That motion passed 16-0, with some members not voting because they were out for medical reasons. The committee next advanced HB 354, creating alternative certification pathways for career and technical education instructors. Members said the bill could help recruit qualified tradespeople and retirees to teach in CTE programs, and it was approved 18-0 and placed on the consent calendar. HB 491, establishing a committee to study alternative public education funding methods and reduce reliance on local property taxes, was retained for further study after members said the committee or a subcommittee could continue the work over the year; it passed 18-0. HB 656, concerning local school districts’ authority to accept federal grants, was also retained after discussion focused on transparency, grant conditions, and the need to avoid delays in services; it passed 18-0. The committee then moved on to HB 729, an appropriation for an attorney to recodify education laws, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• These initiatives aim to expand financial aid, increase student support, and secure the long-term stability
• of the state's higher education system to ensure that financial aid keeps pace with the real cost of
• that will support nonprofits in increasing the number of high school seniors applying for financial aid
• speakers and underrepresented communities have the tools they need to navigate college and financial aid
• navigate college and financial aid navigate college and financial aid systems<00:02:21.879> additionally

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS service organization.
• Vermont Department of Health AIDS Vermont Department of Health AIDS Program<00:04:04.120> Chief
• Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS Vermont Cares, the state's first AIDS service<00:04:08.240
• , Advisory Council on HIV AIDS, Advisory Council on HIV AIDS, and<00:04:30.120> eventually
• serving as executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with a moment of silence and read two adopted House Concurrent Resolutions. HCR 298 recognized the importance of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fish culture program and hatcheries to aquatic sustainability, recreational fishing, education, and the economy. HCR 300 honored the life and work of Terry Anderson, a Vermont AIDS advocate, Democratic Party leader, and longtime activist; members offered personal tributes to his compassion, mentorship, and political leadership, and the resolution was sent to his family and the Vermont Democratic Party. The chamber then took up several bills returned from the Senate. H. 583, relating to clinical decision-making, was explained as having minor Senate amendments adjusting dates and adding collaboration language for Green Mountain Care Board reporting; the House Health Care Committee recommended concurrence, and the House agreed. H. 657, relating to Department for Children and Families programming, was also amended in small ways, including changes to language on Social Security benefits for youth in foster care, certification forms for unaccompanied youth, and an effective date; after debate about whether the bill could affect family separation, the House adopted the Senate changes by roll call vote, 133-2. The House next considered S. 202 on portable solar energy generation devices. The Senate’s changes narrowed landlord-related language and updated appliance efficiency standards; the House Energy Committee then proposed a further amendment striking the Senate’s addition of electric motors from the efficiency list, citing conflicting testimony, and the House concurred with that further amendment. Members also discussed notice procedures between tenants and landlords and the safety rationale for the bill. Finally, the House passed S. 208 on standards for law enforcement identification and S. 212 on potable water supply and wastewater system connections, both in concurrence with proposals of amendment. The House then recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• of their library aid that we had allocated.
• As well as removing the telecommunication access aid.
• That cross-subsidy aid before 2019 used to only be 7%.
• Remaining cost difference in aid from the general fund. We reduced that aid from 10% to 6% instead.
• We were also able to provide some additional compensatory aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• those are for the second parts, for municipal state aid streets, MSAS, and county state aid highways
• aid streets msas and County state aid aid streets msas and County state aid highways<01:30:27.679
• It also met all current state aid standards, but when our staff went to state aid and presented their
• they choose to put on their state aid they choose to put on their state aid system<01:42:50.000>
• <01:42:55.599> design return must meet state aid design return must meet state aid design

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Public charter schools are left out of the safety aid funding.
• You know, I presented a bill earlier in session to increase that aid.
• Um I have deep concerns around aid.
• earlier in session to increase that aid. earlier in session to increase that aid.
• And moving those support personnel aid.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3493, the Safe Schools Revenue Increase bill, and first adopted the DE amendment before moving the bill on for re-referral to Ways and Means. Representative Lawrence described the bill as a multi-layered school safety package for all students and schools, including public, nonpublic, charter, and tribal schools, with increased safety funding, mental health support, anonymous threat reporting, school safety plans, and student discipline changes. Several supporters emphasized the need for flexible safety funding and cited real-world safety concerns, including anonymous tip systems that had generated many reports, classroom evacuations, staff injuries, and the need for more resources for mental health and safety infrastructure. Some supporters, including charter school leaders and Catholic Conference testimony, argued the bill’s flexibility and broader safety approach were important, while others supported the K-3 suspension language as a needed tool in severe cases. Opponents focused heavily on the bill’s repeal of Minnesota’s K-3 suspension ban and non-exclusionary discipline requirements. Legal aid, disability advocates, and education groups argued that suspensions harm young children, worsen disparities, and disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities, and they urged the committee to keep restorative and non-exclusionary practices in place. Disability advocates also asked that any safety planning explicitly account for students with disabilities and that the bill remain aligned with IDEA protections and individualized education decisions. Several testifiers opposed using public funds for private schools, saying public money should stay in public programs. Other testimony came from school administrators and staff who supported restoring limited suspension discretion, describing serious elementary incidents, classroom evacuations, and injuries that they said required a short-term removal option to stabilize classrooms and plan for students’ return. Mental health and school support personnel witnesses stressed that safety and mental health funding should remain distinct and that more counselors, social workers, and related staff are needed to address student crises. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided beyond adoption of the DE amendment and the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• about three years ago, we started building a collaborative of state agencies, including the Student Aid
• inclusion of additional funds in the governor's proposed budget to continue offering aid to aspiring
• As also noted in your agenda, we at the Student Aid Commission Just grown year over year.
• Only that it is a very high priority for us at the Student Aid Commission.
• Jake Bruner with the Student Aid Commission.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an extended discussion on state efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers, with a focus on whether current programs are sustainable and well targeted. Testimony from the Learning Policy Institute, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Department of Education, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office described persistent shortages, especially in special education, math, science, bilingual education, and high-need schools. Speakers emphasized that residency programs, Golden State Teacher Grants, National Board incentives, classified employee pathways, and undergraduate teacher pipelines have helped increase preparation and retention, but many of these efforts rely on one-time funding and lack long-term certainty. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns about the “leaky pipeline,” working conditions, the burden of student debt, and whether the state should simplify and institutionalize support for aspiring teachers rather than rely on a patchwork of grants. The agencies presented data showing continuing shortages and uneven distribution of fully credentialed teachers. CTC reported projected hiring needs of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 teachers annually, with the highest needs in self-contained classrooms, special education, and certain regions of the state. It also noted that emergency permits, waivers, and intern credentials remain high, and that teachers entering through those routes have higher turnover. LPI cited research showing residency-prepared teachers are more effective and more likely to stay, and argued that Golden State Teacher Grants attract candidates who might not otherwise enter teaching and help them complete preparation. CDE stressed that most new demand comes from attrition and urged support for multiple entry points, tuition assistance, and campus-based coursework. Several members also discussed the role of community college pathways, dual credentialing, and support for school leaders as part of retention. The LAO recommended rejecting the educator pipeline proposals under discussion, citing limited evidence of effectiveness and suggesting that any new spending should be more narrowly targeted to the highest-need schools and long-standing shortage subjects. The LAO also said that if the Legislature funds new programs this year, Proposition 98 would be preferable given the state’s fiscal condition. Committee members pushed back on the idea that declining enrollment or layoffs would solve shortages, noting that shortages and layoffs can coexist in different subject areas and regions. The discussion ended with agreement that staff would continue working with agencies on how to make teacher pipeline investments more consistent, coherent, and easier for candidates to navigate. The committee then turned to the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. Finance proposed $50 million in one-time General Fund support to extend the program for one additional year, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal because the first CSAC evaluation is not due until later in the year and because the funding would be non-Proposition 98. CSAC supported the extension, saying demand has been strong, over 20,000 aspiring educators have been served since 2021, and the agency had to pause applications after receiving more than 9,200 this year; it also said more than 2,500 candidates had already expressed interest for next year. Members asked how many students the new funding would serve, and CSAC estimated just under 5,000 awards at $10,000 each. The discussion also covered whether the grant could be moved into Proposition 98 and how the one-time nature of the funding affects confidence among prospective teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um that seems like a withhold state aid.
• be notwithstanding for the building aid be notwithstanding for the building aid and<00:46:01.520
• The bill says that before you apply for school building aid, you... Building aid.
• granted the building aid.
• <01:22:05.040> And we're granted the building aid. And we're granted the building aid.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All states have voter registration systems that are not created equal.
• At the same time, it is equally essential that policies designed to protect election integrity do not
• At the same time, it is equally essential that policies designed to protect election integrity do not
• Equal access must exist.
• They say these can be good hearing aids now. I'm trying it out. That works. Is what I said correct?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, teacher's aides, I mean, I might have misspoke.
• Uh, teacher's aides, I mean, I might have misspoke.
• Uh, teacher's aides, I mean, I might have misspoke.
• Uh, teacher's aides, I mean, I might have misspoke.
• Uh, teacher's aides, I mean, I might have misspoke.

Bills: HB0150

Keywords: Wyoming business council, economic development, task force, evaluation, policy reform, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's it's mutual<00:03:32.879> aid<00:03:33.519> responders.
• mutual aid responders. It's MetroFE. mutual aid responders. It's MetroFE.
• Now to get goes into it in mutual aid.
• The scene, um, that's the mutual aid, the firefighters in a terminal.
• ,<00:09:27.680> the um, that's the mutual aid, the um, that's the mutual aid, the firefighters

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met, called the roll, and approved the November 4, 2025 meeting minutes. The main presentation came from Dan Mann, executive director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, who gave a recovery update on the November 4 aircraft incident at UPS Worldport/Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. He described the airport layout, FAA safety requirements, staffing, and the extensive emergency training and mutual-aid coordination that had taken place before the incident, including a full exercise two weeks earlier. Mann then walked through the response timeline, saying the tower reported the incident at 5:13 p.m. Airport firefighters responded within a minute, with Air National Guard support and mutual aid arriving quickly; by about 6:15 p.m. the airport emergency operations center was activated and agencies including Metro, Red Cross, FBI, UPS, and airline partners were coordinating. He said more than 50 companies and over 200 firefighters were on scene within two hours, and credited the prior training and close working relationships among responders for the effectiveness of the response. He also explained the operational impact on the airport: all runways were closed, five departures were canceled, 16 arrivals were unable to land, and officials were working with TSA, UPS, and the NTSB on messaging and next steps. Mann said debris and fire damage on multiple runways meant the airfield had to remain closed while investigators determined what was evidence and what was debris from the fire. No votes or other formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 164, an act relating to coverage for hearing aids and related services.
• House Bill 164 is an act relating to coverage for hearing aids.
• House Bill 164 does the following: It modifies the definition of hearing aid.
• It also increases the cap on hearing aids and hearing aid-related services under the state employee health
• related hearing aids and hearing aid related hearing aids and hearing aid related services<00:09:

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:04 Orders of the Day 06:01 HB 143 06:11 HB 164 08:07 HB 314 11:07 HB 398 21:17 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 29:02 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 34:01 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 35:40 ConC/Rules Report 40:15 Floor Amendments 41:15 Adjournment 41:26, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call showing 95 members present. The chamber approved the prior journal, received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 20 and 68 and requested concurrence, and then moved to floor action on several bills. House Bill 143, relating to fiduciary bonds, was explained as removing the requirement that a fiduciary sign a bond in the presence of a court clerk or notary public; it passed 94-0. House Bill 164, relating to hearing aid coverage and related services, was described as increasing the coverage cap from $1,400 to $2,500, updating the definition of hearing aid, and adding network adequacy requirements; it passed 93-0 with one abstention. The House then considered House Bill 314, relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declared an emergency. Supporters said the bill was intended to address long-standing concerns about KentuckyWired management and oversight. A committee substitute and floor amendment were adopted, and the bill was explained as moving KCNA into the Finance and Administration Cabinet, transferring its functions to the Commonwealth Office of Technology, abolishing the separate executive director position, and reconstituting the board with new members and appointments. The bill passed 80-13. House Bill 398, relating to decommissioning costs for electric generating units, was presented as allowing terminal net salvage to be included in rates so utilities can recover end-of-life plant costs over time rather than through larger future spikes; after questions about PSC authority and safeguards, it passed 78-15. After the orders of the day concluded, members made announcements about upcoming committee meetings and a birthday recognition. House Resolution 7, recognizing guiding principles for elections in Kentucky, was reported as having passed unanimously in committee and was adopted without objection. The House also received the report of the Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee, which referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees and posted House Bills 194 and 393 for the next regular orders. The chamber then adjourned until 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• differentiated aid is $68 million. differentiated aid is $68 million.
• We reimbursing of special education aid.
• Subtract out the 890 kids special education aid.
• Don't forget those other education aid.
• When I category special education aid.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the special education circuit breaker, both tuition and transportation, $150 minimum per pupil aid
• We've never $50 minimum per pupil aid, which is unprecedented.
• We've never, in my recollection, ever provided that much minimum aid.
• We're also continuing to provide funding through other streams: rural school aid, our transportation
• , minimum aid, reimbursements for regional school transportation, special education circuit breaker.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of FY26 budget amendments during debate on the Ways and Means budget bill. Early on, an amendment on debt service and the Debt Affordability Committee was rejected. A major education amendment offered by Senator Lewis and supported by Senator Comerford was then adopted; it directs DESE to begin a public process, with $200,000 in funding, to review and recommend updates to the Chapter 70 municipal contribution formula and related school funding structures as the Student Opportunity Act nears full implementation. Senators argued that school districts across the Commonwealth are under severe fiscal strain, citing rising special education, transportation, health insurance, and Proposition 2 1/2 pressures, and that the current formulas are increasingly out of alignment with local needs. The chamber also considered and voted on many other amendments, with several adopted and several rejected. Adopted amendments included measures on public payroll transparency, regional EMS, a small business group purchasing cooperative pilot, simplifying Medicaid eligibility determinations, and early education background checks. Rejected amendments included proposals on first-time homebuyer savings accounts, population change studies, competitiveness studies, emergency contract reform, natural gas cost containment, a $200 per pupil aid increase, regional school reimbursement increases, a Foundation Budget Review Commission-related study, special education service studies, welfare benefit audits, short-term capital gains, and an MBTA sustainability plan. Senator Durant also spoke in support of Amendment 766, which would create a crumbling concrete assistance fund for homeowners affected by pyrrhotite, with tax-exempt aid, federal funding applications, audits, and a stakeholder working group. Near the end of debate, Senator D. DiDomenico praised the Shannon Grant program for gang violence prevention, and the Senate adopted a final corrective amendment containing technical fixes and local earmarks. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and, after a roll call on engrossment, passed to be engrossed by a vote of 38-2. The Senate also approved a motion to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and recessed in memory of Yaron Lashinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgram, and Leslie A. Feeney.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the brand program financial aid—there's been some changes and some good things happening.
• I know the brand program financial<00:53:46.560> aid financial aid financial aid there's<00:53
• 02:21:48.600> a<02:21:48.640> behavioral<02:21:49.120> health<02:21:49.440> aide
• <02:21:50.400> There tech, a behavioral health aide.
• There tech, a behavioral health aide.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 11:31.639> declined<00:11:32.279> our<00:11:32.519> financial<00:11:33.040> aid
• and fees has declined our financial aid and fees has declined our financial aid has has has increased
• resources for their grant and aid resources for their grant and aid program<04:17:48.239> as<
• Everything else remained equal. Of course, it's the Fish and Game fund.
• Everything else remained equal. Yes, which, you know, that's suitable. I mean, it makes sense.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.