Transcript Highlights:

• Programs are being Programs are being built differently. Conferences are being shaped differently.
• Other programs are moving right now.
• Programs have more pressure.
• A strong athletics program has real economic impact.
• , and expanding the enterprise zone program... expanding the enterprise zone program because our people

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill provided a path forward to provide clear, consistent language rooted in law to address
• And being part of that sports team, a girls' team, helped me get the skills and the strength and courage
• <01:08:58.640> and the team's hard work, talent, and the team's hard work, talent, and skills
• . skills. skills.
• We've got weight classes in boxing, age division in youth sports, skill levels in competition. Why?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to find reasonable reductions that will put our program on a sustainable path for the future,
• We have to find reasonable reductions that will put our program on a sustainable path for the future,
• We have to find reasonable reductions that will put our program on a sustainable path for the future,
• It's an unsustainable path. We've grown an entitlement program we can't sustain.
• It's an unsustainable path. We've grown an entitlement program we can't sustain.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mix-match of a lot of skills and mix-match of a lot of skills and yeah,<00:20:33.320> different
• <01:16:07.720> Like, government-funded programs." Like, government-funded programs."
• and your operators are in lockstep in how to implement some of those programs.
• , effectiveness of those pro- programs, effectiveness of those pro- programs, but<01:19:22.440>
• So, I thought it state-funded program.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for that testing program. This is for that testing program.
• assistance program. assistance program.
• . program. program.
• Um, we are careening down a path where I fear this program is going to go the way of Menlars and the
• <00:57:22.079> is path where I I fear this program is path where I I fear this program is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So far, the feedback that I'm getting, there's roughly 12 houses, I should say, that's on this path of
• If we go down the path of starting to open up our state-maintained roads for OHV use, it will bring a
• If we go down the path of starting to open up our state-maintained roads for OHV use, it will bring a
• <00:52:05.559> the about heading down that that path the about heading down that that path
• They know their level of skill when they go and do boating.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation for the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, led by Chair Bob Harb. He reviewed committee procedures, including pink cards for witnesses, blue sheets for counts, use of drawers in the committee room, scheduling practices, and how bills would be posted and distributed. Members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they wanted to serve on the committee, with several citing interests in conservation, water quality, outdoor recreation, land use, and related local issues. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1113, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways within the town of Windsor. Representative Ré Colcombe, the sponsor, explained that the bill would allow local OHV/UTV access across a short section of state road in Windsor so residents on divided portions of town could travel legally between areas. He said the town selectmen were already allowing OHRV use on town roads, the route was paved, traffic impacts were expected to be minimal, and local police had no objections. He also said the town would hold public hearings and notify abutters as required, and that if the select board ultimately opposed the proposal he would recommend killing the bill. Members asked about the legal authority for the change, speed limits, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and whether the Department of Transportation or select board had to approve the route. Colcombe said the town must hold a public hearing and that the change would need to be incorporated into RSA 258:10, section 4. He said the road is maintained by the town in winter and by the state in summer. An opponent, Anne Davis, testified that she opposed the bill, saying ATV use should be treated as a tool for forest management rather than recreation, that law enforcement capacity in Windsor was a concern, and that she believed affected residents should be fully notified before any approval. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• partner with this program. partner with this program.
• map grant program. map grant program.
• programs or just training accelerator programs or just training programs?
• year for these programs. year for these programs.
• program? program?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2045 relating to combat sports and recommended passage with SD1. Members adopted requested changes from DCCA and the boxing commission, including clarifying that the onsite medical professional must be a licensed physician, specifying when a deputy combat sports commissioner must file a written report, removing the combat sports registry language and ambulance requirement, clarifying promoter payment requirements, and requiring advance coordination with the nearest emergency room or hospital. The bill also makes technical amendments and sets an effective date of July 1, 2050. The measure passed unanimously among members present, with Senators Fukunaga and Kim excused. The joint hearing then considered SB 2187 relating to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Testimony was brief and largely in support, and the committees agreed to pass the bill with SD1, making technical non-substantive amendments and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committees voted to adopt the recommendation, with members present voting aye and some senators excused. A longer portion of the hearing focused on several economic development measures, including SB 2072 on tourism, SB 3049 on a trade-oriented production capacity grant program, and SB 3166 and SB 3167 involving technology development and the blue economy. SB 2072 drew questions about cost, benefit, and the practicality of promoting Michelin-star restaurants in Hawaii. SB 3049 received broad support from DBEDT, HTDC, chambers, and industry groups, but members questioned whether a new grant program was needed, why DBEDT could not do it without legislation, and whether the state should instead use existing entities like HTDC; the discussion also covered matching funds, likely beneficiaries, and administrative capacity. SB 3166 and SB 3167 were supported by technology and ocean-sector witnesses who said the state needs coordinated planning, specialized expertise, and support for advanced manufacturing and ocean innovation, but members raised concerns about relying on third-party consultants, duplication of existing public capacity, ethics, cost, and whether the work should instead be done by state staff or existing institutions. No final votes on the later bills were captured in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where that would be overseeing some Human Services programs. That is correct.
• hope of being admitted to a DCT program hope of being admitted to a DCT program and<00:17:52.919
• for an early bipolar disorder program for an early bipolar disorder program but<01:10:20.159>
• Who's got the skills?
• So there are two different programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:26.720> and policy when we think about programs and policy when we think about programs
• We're seeing advances in the Medicaid program with that.
• 100% Federal program it's a good program 100% Federal program it's a good program for<00:40:06.040
• weatherization um is this the program weatherization um is this the program because<00:56:36.359
• in various public programs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I love loyalty programs. I'm a member of loyalty programs.
• I'm a member of loyalty programs.
• And any insinuation that we are not concerned about loyalty programs and membership programs and haven't
• AB 1542 provides a reasonable path forward.
• AB 1542 provides a reasonable path forward.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A transferable development rights program means an enacted local program that authorizes the transfer
• order to stay opted into that program. order to stay opted into that program. this<02:18:57.280>
• the existing program. the existing program. >> Representative<02:19:58.880> Johnson.
• areas and if we're rolling out programs areas and if we're rolling out programs um<03:07:55.840>
• . path. path.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > I<00:52:04.480> or current program DOE program rules I or current program DOE program rules
• . programs. programs.
• I just wanted to share that these programs are not new programs.
• I just wanted to share that these programs are not new programs.
• And I just wanted to share that these programs are not new programs.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1783, which would expand public-private partnership options for charter school facilities. The Department of Education offered comments, the Charter School Commission and SFA supported the bill, and Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii Kids, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, HGA, Aloha Project, and several individuals testified in support, while UPW opposed it. Supporters said charter schools need faster and more flexible ways to address severe facility shortages and high costs, and SFA described the bill as a pilot model that could leverage developer partnerships and state contributions, citing Maryland as an example. Members asked whether the bill was limited to charter schools; DOE said the language could be read to include other public school facilities, but if focused only on charter schools, DOE was less concerned. The Charter School Commission also described an existing public-private preschool model through Parkway Village Preschool and PACTED. The committee then took up HB 1778, which would establish a CIP database for school facilities. SFA supported the bill, saying it would create a more disciplined, transparent basis for funding decisions by documenting facility condition, needed repairs, classification, and timing. DOE initially said it rested on its comments, then responded to questions by saying it already maintains deferred maintenance lists, uses systems such as Maximo, CPT, GIS, and finance software, and sends legislators project-status letters twice a year. DOE said it is working on improving its outward-facing dashboard and integrating its systems, but questioned whether the bill would add value beyond existing tools. Members emphasized the need for a publicly accessible, real-time transparency tool, while DOE said it was still evaluating its current systems and was not yet seeking funding for a new IT program. For HB 2344, creating an Independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission, DOE said it wants to remain part of any consolidation process to keep students and education central, while SFA said the bill is timely and framed it as a restructuring response to changing conditions and possible federal funding cuts. SFA compared the proposal to the federal BRAC process for military base closures and said Hawaii has the same enrollment as in 1961 but many more schools, arguing that the state needs a more deliberate approach to school closures and land reuse. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about several sections, including unclear references to administrative support, a governor-approval sequence, a possible conflict with existing statutes governing closed-school disposition, and a missing section number. Testimony on HB 2345, which would establish a geographic CIP district, began with DOE in opposition; DOE said the bill would duplicate existing work, add confusion by creating two agencies doing the same thing, and spend money inefficiently because district project coordinators and project lists already exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• :43.439> was the state aid grant program program was the state aid grant program program was not
• program.
• <04:34:13.400> grants program program there's no new grants program program there's no new
• Next program that I'll go over is the Shoreland program.
• Next program that I'll go over is the Shoreland program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• to build on their skills.
• That means investing in people to make sure that they're able to develop the skills and develop new skills
• Uh so that's skills as jobs change.
• program to just expand it a little bit. program to just expand it a little bit.
• There's the grant like we currently do a lot of. programs. Do you think Minnesota needs programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We pass legislation that creates a grant program.
• and grant programs throughout this state?
• We are funding certain programs and grant programs throughout this state.
• There was therefore hope, uh, and there was a path to chart ahead.
• And that is such an important skill and gift.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did dark sky telescope viewing programs.
• The programs cover things like history of the fur trade.
• The programs cover things like history of the fur trade.
• I oversee the mapping program and the aggregate mapping program.
• I oversee the mapping program and the aggregate mapping program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes skill to succeed. Thank you for your testimony. Mr.
• So the question is whether or not you're going to go down that path.
• If you're going to say our skilled labor is essential, respect access to equitable resources for those
• This isn't about fairness; it's a blatant partisan power... program.
• Let us choose a path that strengthens our democracy, not one that diminishes it for political expediency

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So all of our programs, regardless of whether it's a certificate or degree program, include Dakota culture
• And a lot of our students stay and work in those programs.
• We have a business administration 2+2 program with Mayville State.
• have access to an opioid treatment program.
• I'm a program director from Protection and Advocacy.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chairman vice chair and committee members financial skills.
• So we don't want to go down that path and make even worse off.

Transcript Highlights:

• I suggest that we do not adopt this and do not start down that path again, where the only practical way
• 45:34.160> that adopt this and do not start down that adopt this and do not start down that path
• 35.160> the<00:45:35.319> only<00:45:35.720> practical<00:45:36.119> way path
• again where the only practical way path again where the only practical way to<00:45:36.400> do
• <02:06:40.159> of should make full use of the skills of should make full use of the skills

Keywords: 1189, house, all