Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:24.800><c> of</c> right here in Concord in support of right here in Concord in support of
• I support the underlying Senate bill.
• </c> students with a physical disabilities. students with a physical disabilities.
• </c> strong support of SB 101. strong support of SB 101.
• </c> support it by pressing the green button. support it by pressing the green button.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> serving its mission of supporting serving its mission of supporting students<00:10:40.240><c> in
• </c> so thank you for your support as well. so thank you for your support as well.
• Came in, cared enough, and did what needed to be done to support the whistleblowers, to support the people
• </c> the protests for the disability people. the protests for the disability people.
• ><c> your</c><01:15:48.000><c> Republican</c> have the support of your Republican have the support of

Bills: HF3900 , HF1849

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• only one person, but I might be able to make a difference in the life of one veteran at a time, one disabled
• individual... ...difference in the life of one veteran at a time, one disabled individual at a time.
• It is a 7,000-square-foot, disabled-accessible lodge.
• So how do you raise your money to support your mission?

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I ask for your favorable support.
• And that's the amendment, and I ask for your favorable support.
• And I will certainly be in support of this amendment.
• And I will certainly be in support of this amendment.
• I haven't seen a position paper that says they support it.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and featured a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a newly awarded PhD, and the day’s doctor. The chamber also adopted a Senate resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. After routine business, the Senate moved to special order bills. The first measures taken up were CS/SB 68 on health care patient protection, which required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, readiness assessments, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. CS/SB 350 on public records, protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the names of law enforcement officers who are victims in the line of duty, passed 33-4 after questions about access for victims’ attorneys. CS/SB 576 on local government cybersecurity established a state-administered cybersecurity protection program for local governments, prioritized rural and fiscally constrained communities, and was amended before passing 37-0. CS/SB 532 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and incorporating related provisions on legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee splits, passed 38-0. CS/SB 696 on trademark registration modernized the filing system and passed 38-0. CS/SB 698 on septic system permits, addressing permit delays and aligning House and Senate language on liability if construction begins early, also passed 38-0. The longest debate centered on CS/SB 1334 / CS/HB 991 on elections and election integrity. The bill would use REAL ID data to verify citizenship for voter registration and list maintenance, revise candidate-qualification rules, change acceptable voter IDs, add citizenship markers to driver licenses and ID cards by July 1, 2027, and make other election-administration changes. Multiple amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to allow attestations in lieu of documentation, exempt seniors, require human review over automated systems, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, and delay implementation to July 1, 2027. One amendment was adopted to retain a stock-trading disclosure for candidates. The chamber then continued debate on the underlying bill, with supporters citing state reports of non-citizen registrations/voting and opponents warning of disenfranchisement for students, seniors, and others who may lack the required documents.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> before they had to retire on disability before they had to retire on disability and<03:49:38.359
• or coming back from disability.
• </c> to get an accidental disability to get an accidental disability retirement<03:59:24.680><c> from
• </c> elsewhere where there isn't a disability elsewhere where there isn't a disability permanent<03:59
• :57.319><c> disability</c><03:59:58.239><c> benefit</c><03:59:59.239><c> uh</c> permanent disability

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 retirement provisions, focusing on Group Two/Tier B changes in pages 25-39. Jan Goodwin of the New Hampshire Retirement System and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions, but it restores certain pre-2011 benefit rules for Tier B members, including changes to average final compensation and earnable compensation, and it also addresses the annuity multiplier for years of service. Members discussed the tier structure, with Tier A referring to vested members, Tier B to those hired before 11/1/12 who were not vested, and Tier C to later hires. Several members expressed concern that the bill’s purpose was to restore Tier B benefits, not to change Tier A rules or create broader changes affecting newer hires. The retirement system flagged two likely drafting problems. First, it said a provision appears to omit a special-duty/earnable-compensation limitation in the Group Two section, which they believed was a scrivener’s error caused by moving language out of the Group One definition without adding it back for Group Two. Second, they noted the bill’s multiplier language overlaps with changes already enacted in HB 1647, which increased the multiplier for service beyond 15 years for Group Two and carried an estimated $26 million cost. The committee discussed that HB 1647 was originally broader in the House, but the Senate narrowed it to Tier B only. The actuary’s comparison of the 2023 and 2025 HB 2 versions showed the bills are close, but the 2025 version differs in funding and timing. Staff said the 2025 bill appropriates $2.5 million more per year for 10 years, and that, together with updated actuarial assumptions and a larger share of the affected tier having already retired or otherwise left service, results in a larger reduction in unfunded liability than the 2023 bill: about $98.2 million versus $68.5 million. Employer contribution impacts were described as small overall, though the 2025 bill was said to be somewhat more favorable than the 2023 version. Members also questioned why House Bill 1 only funds $5 million in the first year, and staff said that was tied to the governor’s revenue estimate and that the full funding does not begin immediately. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly received testimony, asked clarifying questions, and noted that some issues would be addressed in the fiscal note worksheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporting seniors, honoring veterans, ensuring individuals with disabilities receive the care and dignity
• President, for your support. I want to thank you, Chair Hooper, for your leadership.
• How much federal COVID response money are we still using to support our state budget?
• Does that come with funding support for staff for those judges as well?
• Center provide technical assistance and support to grant recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• , that the coalition can support.
• </c> and support, the coalition can support. and support, the coalition can support.
• </c> Governor's Commission on Disability. Governor's Commission on Disability.
• Disability. Disability.
• </c> commission on disability? commission on disability?

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through the HB 1 detail change sheet. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre reported stronger-than-expected lottery performance, raising the current-year return estimate to $27 million and the next biennium estimate to $200 million, with the increase attributed to improved scratch ticket sales and sports betting not hurting revenue as much as expected. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher estimates, including the impact of $50 scratch tickets and whether the figures accounted for future conversion from historical horse racing (HHR) machines to video lottery terminals (VLTs). McIntyre and committee members discussed machine counts, per-day revenue assumptions, and the likelihood that VLT conversion would increase revenues over time, though the timing and pace of conversion remained an open question. The committee also discussed several gaming-related policy items in HB 2, including changes to kino hours and local option games of chance, and noted that the Senate and House differed on how gaming revenues would be allocated between charities, education, and general funds. Members emphasized that revenue projections should remain conservative because operators, not the state, would control the pace of machine conversion. Representative Sweeney noted that operators could earn more per machine under the VLT model, and McIntyre said the new facilities and expansions were largely concentrated near the Massachusetts border. The committee then moved to the HB 1 detail change sheet. It agreed to Senate position on the Department of Safety’s road toll bureau and international registration program changes, which were described as a zero-cost realignment of positions, and held the Department of Corrections section for later discussion. On the judicial side, members approved a technical footnote fix, but held a new contract counsel item for involuntary mental health admissions and deferred discussion of the public defender program increase. The committee also noted no change for the PE development authority, moved safety rest area funding from HB 2 into HB 1 with no additional cost, and flagged the tourism development fund and other judicial items as issues that may depend on overall available revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• And he started to support it.
• I appreciate your support today.
• And so I ask for your support on this amendment. And so I ask for your support on this amendment.
• I ask that you please support the amendment. I ask that you please support the amendment.
• You're extremely supportive.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and memorial remarks, including a moment of silence for service members killed in the conflict in Iran. The chamber then moved to special orders and took up a series of bills, with many measures passing unanimously after brief explanations and, in several cases, substitution of House companions. Early bills included CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, which drew extensive supportive debate about the civic value of debate programs and passed 37-0, and SB 1072 on an anti-Semitism task force, which was amended to clarify that criticism of Israel is not prohibited and then passed 37-0. The Senate also approved CS/CS/SB 1230/HB 1019 on PFAS chemicals and firefighting foam, with discussion focused on phasing out AFFF, testing requirements, exceptions for federal aviation and military uses, and support for firefighters and water quality; the bill passed 37-0. Other measures passed without opposition included SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 186 on student health and safety and seizure response training, SB 598 on funeral and cemetery services, SB 990/HB 883 on protected cell captive insurance companies, SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, SB 560 on child welfare and foster care medication procedures, SB 684/HB 961 on electronic signatures for salvage titles, and SB 778/HB 569 on forensic client services. Two bills, SB 432 on intoxicating substances and SB 928 on dangerous crimes, were temporarily postponed. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to SB 1134 on official actions of local governments and DEI-related activities. The sponsor argued the bill would prevent counties and municipalities from funding or promoting DEI efforts he described as discriminatory or indoctrinating, while opponents offered amendments to narrow the bill to spending only, add an intent requirement for penalties, and preserve local proclamations and observances. Those amendments were debated at length but were not adopted. The sponsor then continued explaining the bill’s exceptions, including references to holidays, heritage sites, and the Pulse Memorial, and the chamber was still in debate on the underlying measure when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> surveillance rather than support. surveillance rather than support.
• </c> give them support? give them support?
• </c> financial support for schools. financial support for schools.
• I ask you to support this amendment. I ask you to support those in recovery.
• I want to support it, but I want to support it at the beginning of next year.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Barney Bishop waiving in support.
• Leslie Dougie waiving in support from the Florida decided association.
• So happy to support. Thank you. Any further debate seeing no further debate.
• Aging disability services by Representative Rizzo and members.
• Aarp waives in support. See no further public testimony members. We're in debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 72 updates terminology to refer to voters with a disability and specifies that assistance to
• Section 72 updates terminology to refer to voters with a disability and specifies that assistance to
• </c><01:04:30.559><c> and</c> to refer to voters with a disability and to refer to voters with a disability
• I'm here today to urge your support for Article 2, Section 6, the healthy aging subcabinet.
• I apologize, but I've got a disability. Certainly. Sorry about that. That's complicated.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was supportive of the bill, and interesting to think about how folks with disability might be treated
• </c> ask for support for L028. ask for support for L028.
• </c> your support of L25. your support of L25.
• </c> support of L025. support of L025.
• the</c><05:25:11.200><c> bill</c> I was support then, I support the bill I was support then, I support

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> improving supportive housing options. improving supportive housing options.
• Article 2 is the aging and disability services article.
• </c> Article 2 is the aging and disability Article 2 is the aging and disability services<00:36:53.760
• <00:40:29.880><c> loan</c><00:40:30.240><c> program,</c> support loan program, support loan program,
• </c> of the long-term services and support of the long-term services and support advisory<00:42:09.280

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there medical exceptions, disability, and language proficiency needs?
• </c> support across the nation now. support across the nation now.
• </c><00:32:29.360><c> or</c> um right medical uh disability or um right medical uh disability or language
• Um, so I don't support this bill.
• So, I I will not be supporting the that.

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use. Supporters argued that cell phones and personal devices contribute to student mental health problems, bullying, distraction, and disruptive behavior, and said teachers and administrators want a clear statewide rule rather than having to enforce policies themselves. Opponents raised concerns about local control, the breadth of the term “personal communication device,” and whether the bill would interfere with instructional uses of devices, especially in schools that rely on bring-your-own-device or have limited access to school-issued laptops. Members debated Amendment 2249H, which added an exception for teacher-led instruction and clarified that superintendent-approved exceptions could still apply for medical, disability, or language-proficiency needs. After discussion about whether the amendment was too restrictive or too broad, the committee adopted the amendment on a 9-8 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then voted 9-8, with one not voting, to recommend Senate Bill 206 ought to pass as amended. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 96, concerning mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents. The sponsor offered Amendment 2199H to replace language that would have required referral to DCYF whenever an educator withheld information due to concern about possible abuse at home. The amendment instead allows a district to withhold information if a reasonably prudent person would believe disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and requires the decision to be documented in the student record. The amendment was discussed as a narrower, more workable safeguard, and the committee was still in discussion on the bill at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and much more, all tax-free when used for disability-related needs.
• a veteran, there’s the percentage of disability.
• can apply if your disability occurred before the age of 46.
• for a year or will be disabled for a year, and it occurred before the—” “For a year or will be disabled
• But if you’re just—” “If your disability allows you to work, you can.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Transcript Highlights:

• Child Support Services Division and our Income Support Division.
• We will talk in December about Medicaid, the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division, and Behavioral
• , and child support.
• that. to support that.
• get questions about child support, but I actually really love child support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Christine Smith, on behalf of Justice in Aging and Disability Rights California, in support.
• Seeing no other people in support or organizations in support, we'll move on to opposition.
• Okay, is anyone else in support? Okay, is anyone else in support?
• Me-too's in support, please.
• The support has been essential.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1887, which would speed prior authorization for FDA-approved rare disease treatments prescribed by specialists and, if a plan does not act within 30 days, deem the request approved. The author and supporters, including patients and clinicians, said delays can cause irreversible harm, hospitalizations, and death, especially for children and people with progressive rare diseases. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill’s automatic-approval provision and said the measure lacked safeguards for incomplete requests and shared responsibility for timely information. The chair encouraged continued work with opponents, and the author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier version that would have waived prior authorization entirely. The committee also heard AB 1979 on artificial intelligence in health care, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirements, AB 539 on extending approved prior authorizations, AB 2311 on physician employment at public hospital districts, AB 1148 on banning phthalates and bisphenols in food packaging, AB 1825 on mental health offender reentry coordination, and AB 2282 on a temporary emergency stabilization unit in Patterson. AB 1979 would preserve licensed clinicians’ professional judgment, bar AI from directing unlicensed clinical functions, and protect medical records used by consumer chatbots; after amendments, several hospital, medical, and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral. AB 2161 would limit the harm of federal Medi-Cal work-reporting rules by using existing data, improving notices, and protecting due process; it drew broad support from patient, provider, and advocacy groups. AB 539 would keep prior authorization approvals valid for up to one year or the course of treatment, with supporters citing continuity of care and opponents warning about utilization, fraud, and cost concerns. AB 2311, as amended, would let certain high-payer-mix or distressed public health care districts directly employ physicians; CMA withdrew opposition after the bill was narrowed, while some hospital interests still objected to the carve-out. AB 1148 would prohibit two chemicals commonly used in food packaging, with supporters citing cancer and endocrine-disruption risks and opponents arguing DTSC should handle the issue through its existing regulatory process. AB 1825 would improve transition planning and Medi-Cal enrollment for offenders with mental health disorders leaving state hospitals, and AB 2282 would authorize a temporary rural emergency stabilization care unit in Patterson until a permanent hospital is built. Several bills were held for later action because the committee lacked a quorum, and the chair repeatedly noted that motions would be taken once enough members returned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support thank you we had 14 in support support thank you we had 14 in support one one one opposition
• We're in support of this bill.
• We have supportive testimony from council member Fern Holland in support.
• in support.
• in support.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to support that program. to support that program. Senator<00:30:01.559><c> Rosenol.
• cost of a child support officer can collect six times their cost in child support for families.
• And the child support<00:53:09.040><c> essentially</c> support essentially support essentially uh<00:
• Supports? Supports?
• So we're supportive of the idea.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They're providing medically complex care around the clock, often with little, limited rest and support
• In contrast, when families have consistent support, whether through reliable nursing coverage or formal
• Supporting parent caregivers is not only compassionate, but it is necessary, responsible, and overtly
• These families really do deserve recognition and support.
• These families really do deserve recognition and support for the essential role they already play in

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee met at policy cutoff and first took up executive session on four bills. It considered a proposed substitute for HB 1589 on health carrier contracting practices, which would require carriers to provide providers advance notice and clean copies of contract changes and payment methodologies, and would also add notice requirements for significant payer contract modifications. The committee also considered HB 2402 on phthalates in IV solution containers and tubing, with a substitute delaying implementation dates and creating shortage and FDA-related exemptions. HB 2555, concerning Medicaid coverage of traditional health care practices, and HB 2685, concerning tribal data and disease reporting to tribal health jurisdictions, were also before the committee. HB 2599 was deferred. The committee reported HB 1589, HB 2402, HB 2555, and HB 2685 out of committee with do pass recommendations, with recorded votes showing some members voting no or no without recommendation on the more contested bills. The committee then held a work session on private duty nursing in the Medically Intensive Children’s Program. Health Care Authority and DSHS staff described how the program serves children with complex medical needs through managed care and fee-for-service pathways, the role of prior authorization and medical necessity review, and the ongoing shortage of nursing staff. They said many approved hours are not filled, especially in rural areas, and that family members often provide unpaid care to fill gaps. Committee members asked about the structure of the children’s and adult PDN programs and about how many authorized hours are actually being served. The committee also heard testimony from a home care agency representative and a parent caregiver, both of whom described severe staffing shortages and the burden on families when nursing shifts go unfilled. They supported models that would allow trusted family caregivers to be paid for some of the skilled care they already provide. The committee then heard examples from Montana and Massachusetts of similar family caregiver or complex care assistant programs. Montana described its pediatric complex care assistant model as a gap-filling service with prior authorization and a set hourly rate, while Massachusetts outlined its complex care assistant program, including training, supervision, wage pass-through requirements, and early growth in participation. The meeting concluded after the work session.