Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3860 will allow the department to issue restricted license to an applicant who is incarcerated in
• As part of the application. TDLR learned that he was incarcerated.
• MRIS applicants are unlike parole applicants, they often suffer from very serious and complex medical
• Chapter 53 applies to license renewals as well, and not just initial application.
• still incarcerated so that they can begin the application process.

Bills: HB153

Transcript Highlights:

• Application of it, so I think I don't know what we can do between now and next session, but I do think
• Is it really because it's bureaucratic in nature, they drowned you in paperwork and applications?
• University persons and organizations can set up tables in permitted areas. areas.
• We allow academic and business units to help define what is permitted inside a given building, so.
• And I was, you know. amazed that, I guess, the liberal city of Austin would give them a permit to do

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• process if if I were if this application process if if I were if an<00:19:28.480> individual<
• application application yes<00:19:45.679> as<00:19:45.840> I<00:19:46.160> as<00
• Giving a pistol to an eligible person, a pistol without a permit, a transfer of a pistol to a minor,
• Giving a pistol to an eligible person, a pistol without a permit, a transfer of a pistol to a minor,
• Representative Enen continued: "A pistol without a permit. A transfer of a pistol to a minor.

Bills: HF2233, HF1524, HF1893, HF1396, HF2456, HF2959, HF2300, HF2412, HF3022, HF2825, HF1862, HF1373, HF1039, HF3070

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• license is used for only just says this license is used for only hunting and fishing gives you the permit
• hunting and fishing gives you the permit hunting and fishing gives you the permit for for for that M
• having to provide any applicant having to provide any applicant having to provide any documentation
• right we pass laws apply for everybody right we pass laws apply for everybody so this would be applicable
• to everybody so this would be applicable to everybody so this would be applicable to any legal United

Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• pulling an electrical permit pulling an electrical permit and<00:19:52.000> having<00:19:
• We worked on clean energy permitting reform 2 years ago.
• We worked on clean energy permitting reform 2 years ago.
• Route permits are still required.
• Route permits are still required.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In a nutshell, uh this bill permits,<02:21:10.720> uh<02:21:10.880> the<02:21:11.120>
• > recognition<02:21:11.520> of permits, uh the recognition of permits, uh the recognition
• This bill permits discrimination of individuals. That's the reality.
• Uh, but what this bill permits is just a categorical ban, um, regardless of those considerations.
• bill permits is just a categorical<04:01:22.720> ban<04:01:23.279> um<04:01:23.439>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If time permits, decision-making will occur after we hear from all those offering testimony.
• If time permits, decision-making will occur after we hear from all those offering testimony.
• I think with the trades and our new applicant and hopefully somebody will be joining our council, you
• I think with the trades and our new applicant and hopefully somebody will be joining our council, you
• and hopefully somebody will uh applicant and hopefully somebody will be<00:10:41.160> joining

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several gubernatorial nominations to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council and one nomination to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board. For GM 779, Mark Fong Su Wat said he would bring his experience as an electrician and labor community member to workforce development, and he committed to serving if confirmed. Testimony was unanimously supportive, with 10 in support and none opposed, and the committee voted to recommend advise and consent; the recommendation was adopted. For GM 792, Sheryl Cross sought a second term on the Workforce Development Council and described her work on employer engagement, military veteran affairs, and military spouse employment. In response to questions, she emphasized the need to better connect military spouses, underrepresented workers, and students pursuing trades or non-college pathways to jobs, including through school academies and online hiring initiatives. The item was held for later decision-making. For GM 793, Ashley Lohua, also nominated to the Workforce Development Council, said her focus would be helping people stay in Hawaii by improving job retention, listening to community concerns, and building pathways between sectors. Support testimony highlighted her work with marginalized communities and her empathy and leadership. She told the committee she would use her nonprofit and HR experience to help address vacancies and workforce barriers; the item was also held for later decision-making. For GM 774, Douglas Thomas Moore, nominated to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, said his first priority would be reducing the backlog. He proposed using informal conferences and mediation to speed workers’ compensation appeals and suggested recruiting more practitioners, especially younger ones, into the field. The committee noted 11 supportive testimonies and no opposition; no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• then would be able to use their basically the most recent production or whatever is considered applicable
• <00:18:38.880> So, considered uh applicable for this.
• So, considered uh applicable for this.
• This year we're in the final permitting process for a multi-million dollar expansion to our dairy and
• <00:30:05.919> process we're in the final permitting process we're in the final permitting

Bills: HF3474, HF3475, HF3508

Keywords: agriculture, funding, research, agricultural institute, state appropriations, education, leadership council, compensation, research institute, dairy assistance, investment, relief initiative, farm support, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We've continued to put in applications to try to obtain... bill calls for you to get seek federal bill
• We've continued to um put<00:16:30.880> in<00:16:31.120> applications<00:16:32.079>
• So I have been putting in applications, but I think that we have been receiving a competitive score,
• So I have been putting in applications<00:28:36.080> but<00:28:36.320> I<00:28:36.559><
• c> think<00:28:36.960> that<00:28:37.279> we<00:28:37.600> have applications

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard three University of Hawaiʻi-related measures. HB 718 HD1 would appropriate funds for faculty and staff positions at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in cardiovascular, law, biology, tropical medicine, quantitative health/biostatistics, and environmental health and safety. Testimony was in support, including from university representatives and others who submitted written testimony. Members asked whether the positions were additional and how they would affect enrollment; the university said the hires would teach medical students and conduct biomedical research, helping increase the class size to about 77 and eventually 80, and noted a workforce paper requested by the committee would be provided soon. The committee then discussed SB 1170 HD1, which would grant resident tuition at any UH campus to certain graduates of Hawaiʻi high schools enrolling in undergraduate programs. UH supported the bill and said it had adjusted its testimony in response to prior committee concerns. Members focused on the proposed four-year window, asking why that timeframe was chosen and whether the change was needed at all. UH explained that four years would allow students who left the state to return and still complete an undergraduate degree or prepare for graduate school, and said the bill would help students who come back after one or two years but otherwise would have to wait a year to reestablish residency under current rules. UH also said it was discussing possible administrative rule changes as an alternative if the bill did not pass. Finally, the committee heard HB 1300 HD1, which would fund a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center pilot study on cancer disparities among Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and people living near landfills in Nanakuli, focusing on social determinants of health, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and resilience factors. Testimony from researchers and advocates strongly supported the measure, saying the study could help explain cancer disparities and support future research funding. Members questioned the cost, the reliance on future federal or foundation funding, and the practical outcome of the study. The Cancer Center said the pilot would cost about $500,000 per year for two years, with later funding sought from federal, nonprofit, or private sources; it said the study would produce longitudinal data that could help identify at-risk groups and provide evidence for policy decisions, though members expressed concern that the project needed a clearer end goal and stronger case for public investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• First is the emergency teaching permit.
• This allows the permit holder to fill a vacant position as a teacher of record without having a license
• This is the aspiring teacher permit, which allows an aspiring teacher to serve as a teacher of record
• going to phase out the 1240 waivers, the School of Innovation waivers, and the emergency teaching permits
• This includes teachers with temporary or emergency permits or those without certification, teachers of

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors explained the report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants to school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, with most funding coming from the Public School Fund and federal sources. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance grants. Department of Education staff clarified that the audit report only shows distributions, not how recipients ultimately used the money, and noted that some funding declines reflected the end of one-time federal COVID relief dollars. Senators also asked about the special-language appropriation for Economics Arkansas and the use of public school fund revenues. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, followed by a detailed adequacy-study update on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. The teacher report covered teacher counts, education levels, experience, shortages, preparation pathways, licensure exceptions, survey results, and salary trends. Key findings included about 32,800 teachers statewide in 2025, an average retention rate of 87%, and 30% of surveyed teachers saying they were considering leaving the profession. The report also noted shortages in special education, math, science, and other areas, growth in alternative preparation pathways, and the phaseout of several licensure exceptions under Act 304 of 2025. Members asked extensively about survey methodology, teacher satisfaction, preparation for classroom environment and special education, the cost and return on investment of alternative licensure routes, and whether exit-interview data exists statewide. The presenters said they could follow up on several questions, including details on alternative programs, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and comparisons to other surveys. On salaries, the report said the statewide average teacher salary in 2025 was $60,254, with districts averaging slightly higher than charters. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average salary in 2025, though 36th when adjusted for cost of living, and average district salaries had declined 8% in inflation-adjusted terms since 2016. Members also discussed the LEARNS Act minimum salary floor of $50,000, salary disparities among districts, and whether the state should focus more on retaining experienced teachers as well as raising starting pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida currently has about 2,000 permitted domestic wastewater treatment facilities, many of which are
• comprehensive report by December 2025, detailing the status of sewage disposal facilities with a permitted
• That includes FWC General Order 21, which permits immediate removal of a derelict vessel or any other
• Lastly, FWC must initiate a public rulemaking process for how to implement an application and review
• Because many, many years ago, someone at the county said, "We'll give you this permit, but you've got

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources met with a quorum present and considered a series of environmental, water, waste, boating, and land-use bills. SB 834 on recreational fishing vessel licenses was briefly explained as aligning licensure rules for freshwater and saltwater captains and was reported favorably. SB 1208 on service lateral assessment and rehabilitation would require periodic CCTV inspections, a seven-year assessment cycle, and a long-term public database for sewer laterals; county representatives opposed it over private-property and cost concerns, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 978 on advanced wastewater treatments, as amended, would require DEP reports and a long-term prioritization plan for upgrading large wastewater facilities to advanced treatment; the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1822 on auxiliary containers, which would preempt local regulation of certain packaging and define the term in statute. The sponsor argued it would reduce a patchwork of local rules and help businesses, while opponents from environmental groups, local advocates, and some local governments warned it would weaken plastic and foam restrictions, including in parks and coastal communities. Despite substantial opposition and several senators expressing concern, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 384 on notice for annexation of state-owned lands, after a technical amendment requiring written or email notice to legislative delegations, and reported it favorably. SB 1008 on waste incineration would bar new ash-producing incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities within a half-mile of residential, commercial, or school property. The sponsor said the bill was aimed at preventing another fire-related incident like the Doral plant and clarified it was intended to apply only to new facilities, not existing ones; waste-to-energy and county representatives opposed it as too restrictive, while several senators sought clarifying changes. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute amendment to CS for SB 594 on port channel and turning basin buffer zones, reducing the proposed anchoring setback from 5,000 feet to 2,500 feet and allowing ports to create buffer zones after public hearings and rulemaking; the bill was then reported favorably. Finally, SB 830 on lost or abandoned property, aimed at streamlining removal of migrant vessels that pose navigational and environmental hazards, was reported favorably after brief support testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• We always see the nursery and floral industry They have to get a permit from us, we inspect those, make
• , financial services and purchasing, human resources. information technology, program records and permits
• market, the right to haul, and the Difficulty we have is the law now states if you have a trucking permit
• to haul logs and Several other commodities here have similar permits, but the requirement is if they
• now overweight on that lateral road, which you know frankly doesn't make sense if you give them a permit

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like genetic testing, these are all predictive of future risk, and they're permitted under the insurance
• Like genetic testing, these are all predictive of future risk, and they're permitted under the insurance
• I think the… Through this process, through the application process.
• We want to know what the applicant knows. Otherwise, there can be adverse selection.
• So we wouldn’t ask the applicant for that genetic test.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard AB 1798 by Assembly Member Wilson, which would prohibit life and non-health disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer test results, to deny coverage or raise premiums. Supporters, including the Department of Insurance, UCSF, and several patient and privacy groups, argued the bill would reduce fear of genetic discrimination and encourage early testing and treatment. Opponents from the insurance industry said genetic information should be treated like other predictive health data and warned the bill could limit access to medically relevant information in underwriting. After questions about how insurers obtain genetic information and whether doctors’ assessments could still be used, the bill was approved on a 7-0 vote and held on call. The committee then took up AB 2190 by Assembly Member Wallace, a website accessibility bill aimed at improving compliance with disability access standards and reducing serial litigation. Supporters from the blind community and Disability Rights California said current law is not enough and that the bill would promote proactive fixes rather than lawsuits. Business and civil justice groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about workable defenses, remediation timelines, and liability for platform providers. Members discussed whether the bill would increase lawsuits, but the measure passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations, with the vote left open for absent members. AB 2721 by Assembly Member Carrillo would require hotels to post notice when they know or should know that rooms are reserved for U.S. Customs and Border Protection or ICE. Supporters, including Unite Here Local 11 and the California Labor Federation, said hotel workers and guests deserve transparency and safety when federal agents are present. Hotel and business groups opposed, arguing the bill could invade privacy, create liability, and put hotels in the middle of political conflict, while members also raised concerns about interference with legitimate federal operations. The bill passed 6-2 and was held open. Finally, the committee heard AB 2027 by Assembly Member Ward, which would limit employers’ use of worker data to train or deploy AI systems intended to replace workers and restrict sharing that data for job automation. Labor groups supported the bill as a guardrail against workers unknowingly training their own replacements, while business, county, and public agency opponents warned the definitions were too broad and could block useful AI tools for scheduling, safety, permitting, and public services. Members discussed the line between AI that replaces workers and AI that assists them, and the bill was left under consideration after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• permit a renewal. permit a renewal.
• Um, so its application is to all people. Uh, so I think that's an important consideration.
• Um, so its application is to all people. Uh, so I think that's an important consideration.
• Um, so its application is to all people. Uh, so I think that's an important consideration.
• Uh so I application is to all people.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In every single one of those examples, CDFW has to issue permits.
• In every single one of those examples, CDFW has to issue permits.
• —40% of its permitting and environmental protection mission.
• Through the permitting pieces, we are committed to continuing to meet our permitting obligations, as
• With the exception of the permitting thing, I think the concept here...

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• square-footage-based permits.
• square-footage-based permits.
• <00:15:14.079> permit equipment staff time for permit equipment staff time for permit processing
• Permit fees were within 10 or 15%. I.E., a $200,000 building, the permit fee was really close.
• I think better that we base it on the value that the contractor places on the permit application.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee heard Senate File 560, a bill to require the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential building permits. Senator Dornink said the measure is intended to make permit fees more fair, reasonable, transparent, and predictable, and to reduce housing costs by limiting large differences in permit fees between municipalities. He said the bill would be sent to the Housing Committee without recommendation, and members discussed but did not act on a related amendment that would have shifted plan review and inspection fees to hourly and trip-based charges and made fee information publicly available. Testimony from Housing First Minnesota supported the bill’s goal, arguing that Minnesota’s housing shortage and high new-home prices make it important to reduce inefficiencies in the permitting system. The witness said permit valuations are often increased by cities, leading to higher costs for homebuyers, and cited examples of large fee differences between municipalities and claims of overcollection. He said some other states, including Texas and Wisconsin communities, use square-footage-based approaches. A League of Minnesota Cities representative opposed the amendment language and cautioned that trip charges and hourly billing would make fees less certain, could raise costs, and would be especially burdensome in Greater Minnesota; he said current valuation-based fees better reflect the actual cost and complexity of service and can be appealed if disputed. A representative of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials also raised concerns about the amendment, saying building departments provide consultations, inspections, plan review, and other services beyond a single trip, and that trip charges would not fit a responsive fee-for-service model. He said the current valuation system helps cover the full range of permitting work, though he acknowledged that a consistent square-foot valuation standard could improve transparency and reduce disputes over project value. Committee members asked about other states’ approaches and the scope of the bill, and the discussion emphasized that the proposal applies to one- and two-family dwellings.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> if if if the the applicant fails the >> if if if the the applicant fails the road<04:16
• practice includes encouraging applicants practice includes encouraging applicants to<04:20:03.840
• And this is permitted by computer. And this is permitted by administrative<04:20:32.319> rule.
• amount of uh percentage of applicants amount of uh percentage of applicants fail<04:23:15.680>
• [clears throat] >> Representative Beu. the applicants failing three times and the applicants failing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's always a dichotomy for us to manage government and practical application on the ground.
• That requires specific expertise, like a lot of our permitting and building.
• If a superior officer should elect to permit this off-duty carrying, they must file a formal statement
• If a superior officer should elect to permit those off duty carrying, they must file a formal statement
• , and even citizenship applications.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman outlining Democratic priorities such as education, health care, environmental protection, and opposition to rollbacks on child labor, book access, and gun safety. The chamber also recognized military guests and an intern before moving to the special order calendar. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on human trafficking, waste management, Bright Futures, Medicaid oversight at one point in the flow, and mammogram coverage, though the Medicaid oversight bill was later taken up and passed. The Senate passed a series of bills, often after substituting House companions and adopting technical amendments. Among the major measures approved were the dangerous dogs bill (the Pam Rock Act), which tightened penalties and procedures after fatal attacks; a local government land regulation bill that streamlined comp plan review and defined impact-fee circumstances, though members raised concerns about quasi-judicial hearing limits and local costs; a vessel-related bill combining boating safety and voter-freedom provisions; a blood clot screening and treatment bill creating the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act; fleeing and eluding penalties; concealed carry and firearm possession rules for certain officers and service members; timeshare management reforms; and public education on background screening requirements. The chamber also approved bills on disability history and awareness instruction, manufacturing and a related fee bill, utility service restrictions, educational opportunities for military children, health facilities authorities, and veteran and spouse nursing home beds. The disability instruction bill drew extended debate about the use of the term “disability,” inclusion, and whether the measure was consistent with broader DEI debates; it passed unanimously after emotional testimony from the sponsor and families. The manufacturing and utility bills focused on statewide economic policy and preemption of local restrictions, while the military children bill was presented as a student-driven proposal. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan support, with recorded votes ranging from unanimous to 33-3 on the firearm bill and 26-8 on the land regulation bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• square footage of a Live Local mixed-use development for non-residential purposes, allows Live Local applicants
• Prevents local governments from imposing moratoriums on development to delay permitting and construction
• How does it apply to whether or not a landowner can go ahead and file an application for a Live Local
• and which should not be permitted.
• amendment prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection and local governments from issuing permits

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• On 25, we wanted to delete a section on permitting, which is the LAPS extension.
• On 25, we wanted to delete a section on permitting, which is the LAPS extension.
• On 25, we wanted to delete a section on permitting, which is the LAPS extension.
• On 25, we wanted to delete a section on permitting, which is the LAPS extension.
• <03:22:45.720> for graces with our Dees permitting for graces with our Dees permitting for

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a Department of Corrections capital budget presentation on HB 25, focused largely on urgent maintenance and security needs at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and other DOC facilities. DOC officials described the governor’s proposed priorities: boiler surge and radiator tank replacements, electronic controls and camera upgrades, and replacement of HVAC units using R22 refrigerant. They also outlined additional requested projects totaling $15.4 million, including a body alarm/man-down system at Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, steam line and trap repairs, fire alarm replacements, and removal of an underground diesel tank in favor of above-ground storage. DOC testified that many systems are well beyond their expected service life, including 40-year-old boilers, outdated analog cameras, and HVAC equipment using discontinued R22 refrigerant. They said the men’s prison is relying on a leased temporary boiler, has significant steam leaks causing major water loss and reduced boiler efficiency, and is dealing with frequent fire alarm faults and deteriorating wiring. On the body alarm system, they said the vendor no longer supports the equipment and replacement parts are no longer available. On the diesel tank, members questioned whether it could be abandoned in place or whether fuel could be reused; DOC said it had not explored all alternatives and would follow up, while noting the tank is underground and tied into the warehouse system. Members also asked whether some current investments could be reused in the planned new men’s prison. DOC said some items, such as air handlers, might potentially be moved, but most projects are needed to keep the current facility operational and would not be practical to transfer. Questions were also raised about the leased boiler arrangement, the use of the man-down system by staff and visitors, and whether the kitchen project could be converted to a modular unit. DOC said the modular kitchen approach is necessary because the existing kitchen cannot remain fully operational during repairs. The committee then moved to lapse extensions, and DOC identified several projects no longer needing extensions, including items numbered 64, 65, and 66 in HB 25, with the chair noting those balances would be deleted and that the lapse amount was $550,500.