Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:06.839> this we go into exec session uh to get this we go into exec session uh to get
• exec session this morning representative exec session this morning representative Bixby<00:22:06.440>
• I will now close the exec session on HB 153 and open the exec session for HB 171.
• I will now close the exec session on HB 153 and open the exec session for HB 171.
• I will now close the exec session on HB 150 and open the exec session for HB 171.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did meet with the exec. The exec came in with about $80 million in reoccurring costs.
• Those were handled and we ended up at. $6 million worth of exec exec came in with $480 million of non-reoccurring
• and what you, what you really don't need the exec. always does this to you.
• So there's, there's quite a bit of negotiation between the exec.
• My wife hired someone during the session from the district attorney's office.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to get underway with our exec session this morning.
• We have an exec session this morning.
• We have an exec session this start.
• And with that, I'm going to close the exec session on SB 229.
• exec session for SB50, We'll open up the exec session for SB50, establishing<00:24:04.159> a<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up a Senate message on HB 179, relative to hazardous waste accident fees. Members reviewed the Senate amendment, which would cap the daily non-payment penalty at no more than $1,000 per day and limit the cumulative penalty to 25% of the cost, with no additional daily penalty if the responsible party is following an agreed payment plan. Members discussed the change from the committee’s earlier version, which had allowed penalties up to 100% of the damages, and agreed the revised language was reasonable. The committee voted to concur with the Senate amendment and indicated the bill could be placed on consent. The committee then recessed SB 302, requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners, because a late request for an additional change had not yet been fully reviewed. It next voted on SB 229, relative to the sale of uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat. Supporters said the bill would expand retail access to these meats, support New Hampshire farms, and improve food security. Members also noted the Department of Agriculture did not object, that the bill would remove a sunset and keep more workable inspection rules in place, and that the animals involved are largely from closed herds. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 229 and agreed to place it on consent. Finally, the committee considered SB 50, establishing a committee to study the regulation of private animal boarding facilities. Members described disturbing testimony about missing, injured, or dead dogs and the lack of clear oversight, licensing, or even a reliable list of kennels in the state. They discussed possible study topics including licensing, inspection authority, standards, penalties, and protections for both pet owners and boarding operators, including disclosure of medical conditions. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 50 and also agreed to place it on consent. After the executive sessions, the committee heard a presentation from the New Hampshire Food Alliance on the state’s first food and agriculture strategic plan, introduced by director Nicole Cardwell, with participation from advisory committee members including Rep. Bixby and Commissioner Sean Jasper.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, somebody we move into exec session.
• want to move that we move into exec want to move that we move into exec session?
• And in the moment, I'm going to exit the exec session.
• And in the moment, I'm going to exit the exec session.
• We'll going to exit the exec session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I hope you'll support this HB 250 and the amendment as we go to the exec session.
• afternoon with an exec session on HB 616 afternoon with an exec session on HB 616 relative<01:34
• <01:49:01.080> session<01:49:01.320> on I am going to close the exec session on I am
• going to close the exec session on h505<01:49:04.199> and<01:49:04.400> open<01:49:04.639
• > up<01:49:04.840> the<01:49:05.000> exec<01:49:05.360> session<01:49:05.639

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on HR 18, a resolution urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to seek federal changes that would let very small slaughter plants use custom-exempt inspection criteria with a third-party inspector present, so beef, pork, lamb, and goat could be sold as individual cuts directly to consumers. Representative Judy Aron said the resolution was drafted in lieu of state legislation because the issue is governed by USDA rules, and she noted she was also working on an amendment to ensure the measure covered federal “very small” plants. Representative Miner asked for clarification about custom slaughter versus retail sales, and Representative Scully supported the resolution while suggesting language to make clear it applied only to local end consumers. Joyce Brady of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the state’s four USDA slaughterhouses and the bottleneck in custom cutting made the issue important. After no further testimony, the chair closed the hearing. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. For HB 616, members discussed an amendment that had been revised after public comments and Commissioner Jasper’s feedback; Representative Guber said it balanced the competing positions, and Representative Penza and Representative Ger said the language now addressed concerns about animal suffering by allowing euthanasia if a treating veterinarian determines the animal is in extreme suffering. The committee then discussed HB 77, with Representative Penza describing changes to landfill-related standards, including replacing aquifer references with drinking water wells, removing a penalty section, changing discretionary language to mandatory language for the department, and adjusting an in situ soils standard. Members praised the compromise, though Representative Scully raised concerns about the 1,500-foot setback and suggested engineering controls such as berms; Penza responded that current rules do not include such controls and that the setback was intended to address surface spills. Several members said the bill reflected a hard-fought balance and should not be rewritten at the last minute. For HB 505, the freeze-dried food bill, Representative Aron explained that the amendment replaced a simple exemption with a requirement that homestead food operations selling freeze-dried foods from a farm stand, farmers market, or retail food store obtain a homestead food license under RSA 143-A:4. She said the amendment defines freeze-dried foods as fruits, vegetables, and commercially prepared dairy products, and delays the effective date 120 days to allow rulemaking. Members generally supported the approach as a light-touch oversight mechanism for potentially hazardous foods, though Representative Ktoa asked for clarification about how the amendment interacts with existing licensing and inspection exemptions, and Aron clarified that these products would not be exempt from licensing under the relevant law. The committee then turned to HB 250, concerning local authority over dog muzzling, where members broadly supported the amendment as a simple solution, while Representative Ktoa asked about the underlying definition of a vicious dog and whether all listed behaviors would warrant muzzling. The discussion noted that the amendment would allow towns to require muzzling for dogs meeting the statutory definition, while excluding hunting, working, herding, and similar dogs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I close the exec session on HR 22. >> We'll start at 10:30 on HR44.
• I close the exec session on HR 22. >> We'll start at 10:30 on HR 44.
• I close the<00:22:58.400> exec<00:22:58.799> session<00:22:59.200> on<00:22:59.520
• the exec session on HR22. the exec session on HR22.
• So, welcome to Resources exec session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and exec sessions.
• , there's an exec session.
• On Wednesday there's a public hearing, work session, exec session.
• , there's an exec there's a work session, there's an exec session.<05:50:24.558> On<05:50:24.718
• hearing, work session, exec session. hearing, work session, exec session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I now officially open the exec session on 1752, HB 1752.
• I now officially open the exec session I now officially open the exec session on<00:12:53.760> 1752
• exec session on HB1 I'll now open the exec session on HB1 1837FN 1837FN 1837FN relative<01:00:05.599>
• I'll close the exec session on HB 1837 FN.
• <04:36:10.480> and<04:36:10.959> blue exec session and the online and blue exec session

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• exec sessions or Bill here tomorrow for exec sessions or Bill work<01:20:05.199> anyways<01:20
• c><01:21:16.320> the session or exec session on the session or exec session on the um<01:21:18.679
• We have our exec session at two.
• <03:48:18.319> session so now at 2:00 we have an exec session so now at 2:00 we have an exec
• exec session at two three um we have our exec session at two we'll<03:48:24.920> uh<03:48:25.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• 24th for the purpose of execing House Bill 488.
• We had one bill left to exec, and we were unable after the full committee work session to put an amendment
• <00:12:09.519> Uh we were in the executive session. Uh we were in the executive session.
• sessions as well as committee meetings. sessions as well as committee meetings.
• there's um we have some house sessions there's um we have some house sessions at<00:30:30.080>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'll take a motion to go to exec session. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?
• We are in exec session.
• We are in exec session.<00:09:53.839> So<00:09:54.080> we<00:09:54.320> have<00:
• So we have three bills that we session.
• Move to come out of exec. >> All right. Move to come out of exec. >> Second.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > Bill<00:20:33.120> 1685 an exec session for House Bill 1685 an exec session for House Bill
• So, we'll move next to an exec session.
• <01:27:35.120> sessions<01:27:36.480> while continue with other exec sessions while
• So we'll open an exec session All right.
• an exec session on House Bill I'll open an exec session on House Bill 1534<02:00:10.960> and<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:42.079> session use to it um perhaps on on exec session use to it um perhaps on on
• last<00:37:09.720> week<00:37:10.200> of or exec sessions on the last week of or exec
• /c> exec session on the same exec session on the same day<00:56:45.200> I've<00:56:45.440>
• schedule an exec session at the same schedule an exec session at the same time<00:57:30.680>
• <00:57:32.599> session time here while she's in an exec session time here while she's in an

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory organizational session for the House Legislative Administration Committee. Chair Greg Hill and Vice Chair Vanessa Sheen welcomed members, introduced the new clerk and committee staff, and described the committee as generally nonpartisan and focused on bills on their merits. They also noted that many bills are handled on a consent calendar after discussion, and that the committee often works closely with staff, House counsel, and the House clerk on procedural matters. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on committee operations and expectations: how committee reports should be prepared and submitted, the use of electronic submissions, scheduling hearings, and the need for clear bill placards at the witness table for livestream viewers. Members discussed the committee’s calendar, including a proposed conflict with the governor’s budget address, and ultimately settled on moving the remaining hearings to February 19. The chair also emphasized advance notice for absences or amendments, and said executive sessions can be scheduled as time allows under current rules. House Clerk Paul Smith testified about his role as a nonpartisan officer and said he would be providing informational testimony on a bill affecting a law he sponsored years ago, as well as on a forthcoming PSLF-related bill for legislators. He also spoke about legislative customs, precedents, and the value of parliamentary procedure. The chair concluded with guidance on decorum: arrive on time, avoid interruptions during testimony, keep food out of the room, use electronic devices discreetly, and route questions through the chair for clarification rather than debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our committee. um be uh engaging in this work session um be uh engaging in this work session till<
• no okay we are we are going to um exec no okay we are we are going to um exec that<01:16:34.520>
• Wednesday March 12th if we need to exec Wednesday March 12th if we need to exec out<01:34:20.560
• I'm going to open up our exec session on HB 171, establishing a moratorium on the issuance of permits
• The chair said they were going to close out the HB 307 exec and open the HB 396 exec.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on several environmental bills, beginning with HP 152, which would prohibit the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to allow professional pest control use while restricting retail sales to the public. Testimony and member comments focused on animal welfare concerns, the relative humaneness and effectiveness of glue traps versus snap traps, consumer education, enforcement difficulties, and whether the bill should instead be limited to professionals. No vote was taken on HP 152 during the discussion. The committee then turned to HB 171, establishing a moratorium on new landfill permits. Representative Gruber distributed an amendment shortening the proposed moratorium from five years to three years as a compromise. Members supporting the moratorium said it would give the Department of Environmental Services time to update rules and reflect recent landfill-siting reforms, while opponents argued that three years was too long, could tie the hands of a future legislature, and might be difficult to pass in the Senate. Others noted the House, Senate, and governor had each discussed different lengths of moratorium, making the bill a likely bargaining position in later negotiations. Throughout the landfill discussion, members emphasized that the three-year version was intended as a middle ground between a one-year proposal associated with the governor and a six-year Senate bill. Several members said the moratorium reflected years of bipartisan work on solid waste and landfill policy and would help create time for new rules to take effect. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote or other action on HB 171 during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• exec session um we'll when we go into exec session um we'll have<01:12:01.360> to<01:12:01.480
• > as on um in an exec session next week as on um in an exec session next week as well<02:05:20.880
• exec session no we before we get to the exec session no we are<02:19:44.000> going<02:19:44.200
• exec session at 11:45?"
• that okay I'm going to open up an exec that okay I'm going to open up an exec session<05:15:21.680

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Solid Waste Subcommittee met to discuss proposed amendments to HB 171 and HB 215. For HB 171, Representative Gerna outlined technical changes to a landfill moratorium bill: DES would be allowed to accept applications only to review them for completeness, a notwithstanding clause would override automatic approval timing rules, the word “fully” would be removed, and an unnecessary reference to perennial water bodies would be deleted. Members raised concern about whether applications deemed complete during the moratorium would still have to comply with later changes in law or rule. Director Mike Whap of DES said applicants would likely need to amend applications if policy changes occurred, and suggested the bill could explicitly state that later changes apply to pending applications. The subcommittee generally supported the revised language and agreed the amended bill could go directly to executive session, though one member said the underlying legislation was ill-advised but preferred the amended version over the original. The committee then turned to HB 215, which would create a two-stage landfill siting review centered on a “net public benefit” determination before full technical review. Representative Gerna explained that the amendment would define net public benefit, require an independent third-party assessment paid for by the applicant, and set up a process for selecting the contractor from a list submitted by the applicant, with DES and the host community involved and the commissioner choosing if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked how “host community” would be defined; DES said it would generally mean the municipal governing body, though that body could appoint others. The amendment also broadened the factors considered in both harms and benefits, including human health, property values, tourism, recreation, wildlife, local economic benefits, and infrastructure improvements. The discussion also added a provision directing DES to consult with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as needed when reviewing the third-party assessment. Director Whap said interdepartmental consultation is normal and that DES would likely adopt rules to guide the process. Members questioned whether the new framework would be too vague or burdensome for applicants, but Whap said it would not be designed to stack the deck against applicants and that the process should provide clearer, more balanced criteria. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the subcommittee appeared to continue refining the amendment language before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will end the exec session on that amendment. Excuse me. Oh, yeah, thank you very much.
• Um, that will end um the exec session<01:06:00.159> on<01:06:00.800> uh<01:06:01.360>
• Um, that will finish our exec sessions today.
• exec all four of them. exec all four of them.
• house session as well. house session as well.

Keywords: 928, house, all

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:

• <00:49:31.440> so have a whole lot of bills to exec so have a whole lot of bills to exec so
• Let's Let's um exec for a >> Let's caucus. Let's Let's um exec for a while. while. while.
• I close the executive session.
• session. Um, what do we have left? session. Um, what do we have left? 11:08. 11:08. 11:08.
• I mean, executive session. I'm going to open executive session on U1 1173, House Bill 1173.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to close this work session today. going to close this work session today.
• Work session is Thank you very much. Work session is closed.
• think we got one more bill to exec think we got one more bill to exec hopefully<00:32:40.880>
• If ahead and actually exec this bill.
• work sessions. work sessions.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thought they had holes in, and we met with the exec.
• If we figure out the time frame, that'll probably be next session.
• In negotiations with the exec in how we handle disasters and creating a task.
• Time, the exec wants to create a task force in this. It adds transparency.
• It adds flexibility to the exec.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call today's exec session on these 10 bills to order.
• I call today's exec session on these 10 bills to order.
• <00:04:32.400> session<00:04:32.840> on thank you I call today's exec session on thank
• <00:54:42.880> we're<00:54:43.200> back exec session and remind you we're back exec
• hearings all day so I declare the exec hearings all day so I declare the exec session session session

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with housekeeping about report deadlines and bill scheduling, noting that reports should be submitted as soon as possible, ideally by Friday night, so they can be reviewed and filed on time. The chair explained the process for Democratic and Republican reports, reviewed the timing sheet for early bills, and said the committee was trying to stay on schedule to avoid hearings during vacation week. He also shared his contact information for questions. The committee then moved into executive session on 10 bills. On HB 13, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor, the committee voted unanimously to retain the bill after the prime sponsor asked that it be held for possible local action. On HB 127, extending the closing date of OHRV trails on the Connecticut River headquarters property from September 30 to Columbus Day, members debated economic benefits for Pittsburgh versus concerns about local control, conservation easements, and hunting impacts. The committee voted 11-5 ought to pass; the chair noted it would not go on consent and would have a fiscal note. On HB 174, increasing the maximum weight of a utility terrain vehicle to 3,500 pounds unladen dry weight, supporters argued the change could help accommodate electric vehicles and heavier equipment, while opponents raised concerns about undefined terms, enforcement, private landowner rights, and unintended consequences. The committee voted 8-7 ought to pass. On HB 203, requiring C-COT approved personal flotation devices while on New Hampshire state waters, the committee heard a split between members who emphasized personal responsibility and those who said the bill would improve safety and education and could reduce drowning deaths. The motion to ITL failed 11-5, meaning the committee rejected the motion to kill the bill and advanced it instead. The transcript then moved on to HB 332, allowing for the establishment of a village district, but the discussion of that bill was not included in the provided excerpt.