Transcript Highlights:

• It does not capture that number. contracted programs. Very few are in contracted programs.
• Is Dartmouth in compliance with the contract on that issue?
• Is Dartmouth in compliance with the contract on that issue?
• Is Dartmouth in compliance with the contract on that issue?
• > the The program contracts with the The program contracts with the University<01:45:56.000>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes from September 26. Senator Gray then raised the idea of creating a continuing subcommittee or recurring agenda item on palliative care and hospice, noting that the issues are evolving and suggesting the committee revisit the idea in coming months. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Health and Human Services updates. Officials described contingency planning for SNAP amid the federal shutdown, including a USDA notice that November benefits may not be fully funded, letters to participants warning of possible delays, and coordination with the New Hampshire Food Bank and local pantries. They said New Hampshire serves about 42,000 SNAP households, with average benefits around $300 a month, and that the department is also preparing to transfer funds for a special fiscal committee meeting. WIC was discussed separately: officials said WIC benefits had been extended through November 7 using additional USDA funds, but that some community agency-based WIC services may need to pause while money is redirected to food benefits. Officials also outlined New Hampshire’s rural health transformation grant application under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill, describing a potential five-year, up-to-$1 billion opportunity focused on critical access hospitals, small rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, and EMS. Members asked about transportation, workforce, and nursing retention; officials said transportation is included in the proposal, housing is not, and workforce supports may include lower tuition or awards but not loan repayment or traditional scholarships. They also said the final application would be submitted in early November and that priorities would be adjusted depending on the eventual federal award. Finally, Medicaid director Henry Lipman gave a quarterly postpartum coverage update. He said postpartum coverage is now nearly universal nationwide, and in New Hampshire 2,351 women had used the benefit through May 2025. He reported that mental health services were the most frequently used postpartum service, followed by preventive care, substance use disorder treatment, and cardiovascular-related care, and noted that Medicaid women have experienced a disproportionate share of maternal deaths. Committee members asked about rural distribution and the share of women receiving mental health services, and Lipman said the department would follow up with additional data. The meeting then moved into the annual update on New Hampshire’s 10-year mental health plan, with staff describing progress toward a more integrated continuum of care and improved data infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this one, uh, it's funding for a contract for Medicaid long-term care eligibility determinations,
• So whether it's going back through fiscal or reducing services in another area or cutting a contract,
• The ayes have it. in another area or cutting a contract, I in another area or cutting a contract, I mean
• We go out to competitively bid and enter into a contract.
• <01:55:40.320> out department, uh, to contract out department, uh, to contract out specifically

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and that has review project contract and that has savings<00:09:16.560> of savings of savings
• The provision allowing the state to extend our contract with EBT providers to avoid a constant churn
• in contracting will support more efficient and effective government.
• in contracting will support more efficient and effective government.
• in contracting will support more efficient and effective government.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to all records reports plans contracts to all records reports plans contracts memoranda<00:07:34.319
• with the state in providing contract with the state in providing benefits<00:13:57.560> goods
• <00:14:51.800> with<00:14:52.759> and actually we are Contracting with and actually
• we are Contracting with and that's<00:14:53.160> what's<00:14:53.320> in<00:14:53.440>
• <01:27:29.280> that's multi-million dollar contract that's multi-million dollar contract that's

Bills: HF25, HF1, HF428

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill specifically talks about the fact that they can—the commissioner may enter into contracts for
• And if you go under the program itself, there's nothing stopping the commissioner from contracting with
• The bill allows for the contractual arrangement, so this Department of Motor Vehicles could contract
• with the state to provide the contract with the state to provide the services<00:13:01.440> right
• with the agency, they would do is contract these services out to be able to provide it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for you know first even have to contract for you know first responder<01:02:26.680> services<
• to serve 250 people you have a contract to serve 250 people but<01:04:46.279> you<01:04:46.359
• Our city employers, as they have negotiated these contracts with unions, or had leave packages that they
• with might represent that they contract with might represent an<01:19:33.280> 8%<01:19:33.880
• They might even, you know, that might even be contracted out outside of their business.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee’s first official meeting was framed as an informational session, with the chair saying no legislation would be acted on and that testimony would focus on what is working and not working for businesses and workers in Minnesota. The stated topics included earned sick and safe time, paid family and medical leave, labor shortages, and broader business climate concerns. The chair also noted the absence of DFL members and invited questions to be held until the end so testifiers could present fully. Lauren Shodor of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce argued that Minnesota’s business climate has worsened because of high taxes, rising costs, regulation, and new workplace mandates. She cited chamber survey and research findings saying more businesses are considering leaving the state, that Minnesota companies are investing more in other states than vice versa, and that the state lags national growth rates. She said employers are especially concerned about earned sick and safe time and the upcoming paid family and medical leave program, which the chamber believes add compliance burdens and costs, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Matt Hilgart of the Association of Minnesota Counties said the new leave laws affect county budgets and operations because labor is the main county cost and services are often state-mandated. He said the programs were imposed outside the collective bargaining process and can duplicate existing county benefits, increase costs, and create staffing and service challenges. He asked for changes including clearer premium-sharing language, exclusion of elected officials and short-term election workers from paid leave requirements, better exemption and private-plan rules, coordination requirements for intermittent leave, and more clarity for essential employees during weather emergencies. Owen Worth of the League of Minnesota Cities said cities are facing similar implementation problems, with overlapping leave policies and concerns about stacking state and federal leave rules, and he indicated the league would support changes to reduce administrative and budget pressures on cities.

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, office. they meet on a contracting, uh, office. they meet on a weekly<00:09:30.240> basis
• The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet contracted with the American Correctional Association beyond its
• Any treatment recommendation must be provided by the department and may be provided via contract.
• in early June of under uh under contract in early June of 2025 2025 2025 and<01:30:29.440> as
• provided via contract. provided via contract.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03 Approve Minutes from July 10, 2025- 00:02:41 Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System Testimony- 00:03:38 Investment of State Funds- 00:46:13 Department of Juvenile Justice Update- 1:11:34 Adjournment- 1:54:08, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet. Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders. Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be specifically with what are the costs associated with that contract?
• Um, labor costs directly attributed to contract service to student.
• And so they had to go with that contracted service.
• so they had to go with that contracted so they had to go with that contracted service.<01:04:28.960
• And is that contract that the office.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met for its third discussion on special education aid under retained bill 742, with the chair noting that no action would be taken at the meeting. The chair reviewed prior hearings on Medicaid and local special education funding shortfalls, saying the committee was trying to understand why districts are facing proration of special education aid and how to reduce unfunded costs. He raised a series of questions for the Department of Education about the Nessus system, eligibility and ineligibility, invoices and vouchers, audit procedures, reimbursement rates, out-of-state placements, and who enters data at the district level. Rebecca Fdet, director of special education services at the Department of Education, explained that Nessus is the statewide special education information system and that every child in special education must be entered into it. She said most districts use it to develop IEPs and track services, while six districts use it only as a data reporting tool. She described which fields are required, how the system connects IEP development to the financial section, and how districts submit invoices when seeking special education aid, court-ordered placement payments, or episode-of-treatment placements. She said the department reviews invoices against the IEP, pays only for allowable services, and uses a cap that notifies districts when they reach the annual limit. Members asked about who submits the information, how districts decide when to seek aid, and how costs are calculated for individual or group services. Fdet said the district, usually an administrative assistant in the SAU office, submits the documentation electronically, and districts decide when to track students for aid based on their own circumstances. She said reimbursement is based on actual costs tied to the IEP, with group services split among students, and that the department does not generally set rates for local services. The only rate-setting she described was for approved private special education providers, which submit annual cost spreadsheets for tuition rates. She also said out-of-state providers must be approved by their own state, and the department checks licensure and certification through monitoring and investigations if concerns arise. The department also described its monitoring process, called Program Approval and General Supervision Monitoring, or PAGS. Fdet said districts are reviewed on a six-year cycle, with more intensive review for districts needing assistance or intervention and fewer file requests for districts meeting requirements. She said the department can review up to 65 data points on an IEP and that districts must submit special education aid paperwork by July 31, with superintendent verification due by August 15. The meeting ended with continued questions about procurement, audit procedures, and how the department handles out-of-district and out-of-state placements.

Transcript Highlights:

• um due to an adjustment Care contracts um due to an adjustment on<00:10:32.079> Acuity<00:10:
• So in this forecast, we're updating our managed care contracts to account for the increased expenditures
• Care contracts to account for<00:12:11.000> the<00:12:11.160> increased<00:12:11.959><
• with instead of the grant contract with instead of the grant programs<01:04:39.839> because<01
• Well, this bill for now will be... contracts um that level of uh contracts um that level of uh instability

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• use our positions to pass bills that appropriate tax dollars to organizations that then employ or contract
• organizations that then dollars to organizations that then employ<00:02:57.560> or<00:02:57.680> contract
• <00:02:58.360> with employ or contract with employ or contract with us<00:02:59.760> outside
• there is an inherent conflict when a legislatively named direct appropriation then, uh, employs or contracts

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3679, which would allow mandatory reports to legislative committees to be submitted electronically instead of on paper, was presented as a bipartisan efficiency measure by Representative Nash. The bill also carried an A1 amendment, adopted by voice vote, that addressed interim administrative authority for the Chief Clerk during a gap in caucus leadership and was described as a procedural fix worked out with caucus leaders. A second amendment, A2, offered by Representative Engen, sought to prohibit legislators from participating in appropriations to named nonprofit recipients that later employ or contract with them, arguing this created conflicts of interest and self-serving governance. Supporters said the amendment was needed for institutional integrity and taxpayer trust, while opponents argued it was too narrow, not well defined, and would unfairly single out certain jobs or industries; the debate included references to direct appropriations, conflict-of-interest rules, and examples involving nonprofits, law firms, farmers, teachers, and other outside employment. The A2 amendment was put to a roll call and failed on a 66-66 tie. After the amendment vote, the bill was read a third time and received broad support. Representatives Nash and Cleborne urged a green vote, and the House passed House File 3679 as amended by a vote of 132-0, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• money could be used to pay teachers to provide tutoring or academic enrichment outside of their contract
• money could be used to pay teachers to provide tutoring or academic enrichment outside of their contract
• money could be used to pay teachers to provide tutoring or academic enrichment outside of their contract
• money could be used to pay teachers to provide tutoring or academic enrichment outside of their contract
• money could be used to pay teachers to provide tutoring or academic enrichment outside of their contract

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republican leaders and Speaker Melissa Hortman held a press event promoting House File 3490, which would opt Minnesota into a federal education tax credit program. They argued the bill has no state cost and would keep donations made by Minnesotans benefiting Minnesota students and schools rather than out-of-state scholarship organizations. Supporters said the funds could help with tutoring, extracurriculars, school supplies, special education-related services, learning loss, and other school needs, and they repeatedly urged Governor Tim Walz to opt in or publicly explain why he would not. Rep. Andrew Myers, the bill’s chief author, said the proposal is personal to him as a parent and legislator and described recent school budget pressures, including staff and resource cuts and larger class sizes. Rep. Ben Bakeberg, a middle school principal, said the bill could generate significant funding if many taxpayers participate and argued it could help offset school district shortfalls and the Blue Ribbon Commission. Rep. Griesbach also backed the bill, calling it a “no-brainer” and saying he would not work with the governor on other budget items unless the governor opted in. In response to questions, supporters said scholarship-granting organizations could be created by a variety of entities, including education foundations, and could support both private-school tuition and public-school-related costs such as extracurricular fees, field trips, and transportation for summer learning. They rejected the idea that the bill pits public and nonpublic schools against each other, saying it is meant to expand educational opportunity for all students. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the event; it ended with questions from reporters on the bill and other Republican priorities such as rental assistance, gas taxes, and energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We used to pay for the data reporting system that was on a contract, on how we collect all this data
• had been on a mainframe since 2007, and the cost of that software to be held and updated with a contract
• No, there's hiccups, but we built that in-house with the existing staff to come off that contract.
• With that coming in-house, it frees up dollars in that contract, like in the CCDF grant.
• For example, looking at it through more of a contracted way to pay for it—pay for that particular seat

Summary: The committee met to review early childhood education funding, access, and program sustainability, with Secretary Aleva and Director Ashland Abney providing updates on Arkansas’s ABC state-funded preschool program and the federal CCDF/SRA program. Members discussed the long-standing flat funding for ABC, which rose from $11 million to $14 million in 2018, compared with roughly $137 million in federal CCDF/SRA funding. Officials said ABC serves about 23,000 children, while SRA serves about 14,871 children and has a wait list of about 2,971 children. Members also asked for more data on rural versus urban access, provider types, and the number of slots and providers by region. A major topic was how to improve quality and access while aligning early childhood with K-12. Officials said the department is moving from the Better Beginnings environmental rating system toward CLASS observations, using local leads and a kindergarten-readiness strategy tied to quality improvement. Members raised concerns about deserts and islands in service availability, the cost of school-based versus community-based providers, and the need to support infant-toddler care as well as preschool. The commissioner said early learning should be part of long-term state education investment, but that simply adding money would not solve access gaps without broader structural changes. The committee also discussed recent funding changes and their effects on providers and families. Officials said a $14.741 million PDG-BFV competitive grant will support systems-building work, including local leads, workforce, data systems, and third-party CLASS observations, but it is a one-year grant and not direct service funding. Members questioned the impact of new co-pays, provider closures, and slot reallocations; officials said eight closures were tied specifically to funding changes, and that paying only for enrolled children rather than allocated slots saved about $576,000. They also discussed dual enrollment in home visiting and ABC, with officials estimating that limiting double enrollment could save about $2.4 million and potentially serve about 470 more children. The meeting ended with agreement to continue regular updates and further discussion, and the committee adjourned without a vote on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adjusts contract language because in our 89 school districts, school-year contracts are varied lengths
• So the bill started with a nine-and-a-half-month contract, and we realized that did not work.
• So now it just says it matches the teacher contract. ...work.
• So now it just says it matches the teacher contract.

Bills: HB10, HB12, HB34, SB130, SM21

Keywords: physician assistants, interstate compact, medical services, licensure, cross-state practice, military families, regulatory authority, physical therapy, licensure compact, interstate practice, healthcare, military spouses, criminal background check, HB34, school nurse, school nurses, nurse licensure, charter school, charter schools, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act required a nuclear energy pilot program which entails contracting
• And then in 2022, BW xt Advanced Technologies was contracted by the DOD to design and construct the Pele
• on June. 11th of this year, the airforce announced plans to issue a notice of intent to award a contract
• I know there's one project where the data center contracted haven't some are built and the utility agreed
• century states that if you are have user, if you're an Amazon Google, you can essentially finance contract

Transcript Highlights:

• Through that four-year contract, we have four data points for NHS routes for four consecutive years and
• Basically, what it does is it allows us to develop a contract with a definite quantity, and we'll put
• It allows contractors to bid on those types of contracts, whether it be pavement preservation, striping
• Chair, Representative Garrett, no, we do not have any, and it is all contracted out to private vendors
• In 2018, we completely switched over to using the state contract maintenance fund in order to pay for

Transcript Highlights:

• financial services and agriculture. to clearly draw the line between a security and a non-investment contract
• Over the years, these investment contract transactions have involved all sorts of items. purchased not
• progressively monitor transactions and freeze stable coins, looking at ways to design the smart code of a contract
• And these ideas of essentially being able to program smart contracts so that transactions can't go through
• the SEC has tried to advance a legal argument that digital assets embody an underlying investment contract

Keywords: Digital Assets, Bitcoin, Stablecoins, Legislation, Bipartisan, Consumer Protection, Regulatory Framework, Financial Innovation, Testimony

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Digital Assets Subcommittee brought a wave of excitement and anticipation regarding the future of digital assets, including Bitcoin and stablecoins. Chair Lummis expressed gratitude towards Senator Scott for establishing the subcommittee, indicating a commitment to promote responsible innovation while safeguarding consumers. Members discussed the necessity for a bipartisan legislative framework to regulate digital asset markets effectively while outlining the potential benefits such legislation could have on enhancing financial inclusion and streamlining payments. The meeting featured expert testimonies from key figures in the digital asset industry, highlighting the importance of creating clear regulatory guidance for digital assets to foster innovation without compromising consumer protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• transmission and distribution system, the cost of electricity capacity procurement, a long-term contract
• We need things like early termination fees, longer contract lengths, and a rate design to ensure that
• We need things like early termination fees, longer contract lengths, and a rate design to ensure that
• And thirdly, having entered into a 15-year binding contract with the utility's regulatory body.
• And thirdly, having entered into a 15-year binding contract with the utility's regulatory body.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it on line 18 where it says he's employed or contracted by city parish or the local school system?
• Is it on line 18 where it says he's employed or contracted by city parish or the local school system?
• "It says they have to be employed, contracted by the city, parish, or other local school system.
• Are any, in your experience, are there sometimes some of the parents that are contracting with an attorney
• My district and I fought over a service that would have cost them $10,000 to contract with a teacher

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they do that through contracting with the managed care plans.
• So they do that through contracting with the managed care plans.
• I already mentioned in-lieu-of services through managed care contracts.
• I already mentioned in-lieu-of services through managed care contracts.
• There are so many applications and so many contracts we had signed.

Summary: The meeting focused heavily on behavioral health and substance use treatment, especially the IMD exclusion and whether North Dakota should pursue a Section 1115 waiver to allow Medicaid reimbursement for services in institutions for mental diseases for adults ages 21 to 64. Turtle Mountain representatives described major local needs, including limited access to care, high syphilis rates, and the importance of timely public health data. They also discussed the tribe’s recovery center, which opened the prior year, now operating five levels of care with 16 beds, and the desire to expand capacity, possibly through an IMD waiver or related policy changes. Committee members also raised related issues such as rural health transformation funding, telehealth, workforce retention, and the need for better coordination between tribal and state public health systems. A central issue was Turtle Mountain Public Health’s long-running effort to secure a data use agreement with the state so it can receive surveillance data and respond directly to infectious disease cases among tribal members. Speakers said the tribe had a successful COVID-era agreement that allowed faster contact tracing and case management, but that agreement ended with the pandemic. They argued that current delays in sharing data, especially for sexually transmitted infections, leave the tribe unable to respond quickly, while the state and county epidemiology workload is too distant and stretched to be effective. Committee members expressed support and said they would look into the issue, noting that other tribes have secured similar agreements. The committee also heard a detailed presentation from the National Health Law Program on the IMD exclusion. The presenter explained that federal Medicaid law generally bars payment for care in facilities with more than 16 beds, but that states can use other tools such as state plan amendments, managed care arrangements, telehealth, and community-based services. He said IMD waivers are administratively complex, time-limited, and have shown mixed results in other states, with some gains in residential treatment access but limited evidence of improved overdose outcomes or stronger community-based care. He urged the committee to consider broader continuum-of-care solutions and cautioned that waivers alone are not a cure-all. No final vote was taken on the bill draft during the portion shown, but the committee discussed the proposal to appropriate $49,000 and one FTE to HHS to pursue an IMD waiver and report back in the next interim. Members also debated the policy rationale for the 16-bed limit, the role of the state versus tribal sovereignty, and whether the bill should move through the Health Care or Human Services committee in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the communication and outreach, that doesn't get contracted out either.
• We also have, for decades, a legal services and representation program that is contracted with Pegasus
• So we do think that it's a cost savings because if we were to contract that out right now, that would
• We have three, maybe four contracts who help our Utilities Division, our experts who put on testimony
• And then the major contract as far as outsourcing work is this community solar contract.