Transcript Highlights:

• Permission granted.
• Permission granted. Thank you.
• The Hispanic Serving Institution program, it's not an admissions program; it is not a series of individual
• HSI programs that have been funded from the federal grants have been for tutoring, for academic counseling
• the less restrictive program, whether a program has provided proof of notice to the city and county

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In FY26, you all appropriated $15 million for both out-of-school time programs and tutoring programs.
• program.
• Are those grants made to schools, or are they made to districts, who then is the grant, you know, is
• versus a reading program versus a tutoring program, we didn't think would be the appropriate place to
• ...program at UNM.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we ever infrastructure grant program.
• , grant programs, and loan programs to that.
• programs, managing the grant programs and the requests for proposals for grants, identifying best practices
• grant programs, managing the for federal grant programs, managing the grant<02:11:54.960> programs
• programs, and the requests for grant programs, and the requests for proposals<02:11:57.760> for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And New Mexico is also one of those leading states with a very strong 4-H program.
• Susie Cole. ...who is a sponsor of the 4-H program over in Hidalgo.
• I know the importance of the leadership programs, Mr.
• Know that we as adults—some of us were in the program.
• And through that program, he was eligible to attend. of NMSU College Assistance Migrant Program, and

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant. Members... Have any questions, Mr. Grant, at this time? Representative Garcia-Hernandez.
• . programs.
• The rest of our programs are funded through federal grants, bond proceeds, and appropriated receipts.
• to expand that program?
• Yes, so for like the energy assistance program or community service block grant.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• called the Read Vermont program.
• program.
• for the bridges to health program. for the bridges to health program.
• board said, "No, we we had a grant board said, "No, we we had a grant program.<00:33:49.360>
• program. We just released the the RFP. program. We just released the the RFP.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , which Pre-K is one of the programs that is heavily supported by the Land Grant.
• These programs all work together.
• program?
• Great programs. Great comments.
• These are voluntary programs.

Bills: SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• and transfers all program responsibilities from ADE to the School Safety Center.
• It also allows up to 10% of the money annually appropriated for the school safety program to be used
• by the School Safety Center for program administration.
• HB 2249 adds to this parents' bill of rights by granting parents the right to be informed if an employee
• To generalize the comments, basically when an order of protection is provided where someone is granted

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus began with introductions from pages and interns, followed by a procedural reminder on consent calendars and how bills can be pulled for floor debate or amendment. Members were told that third-read consent bills bypass caucus debate, while caucus consent bills may have committee amendments adopted together unless pulled. The meeting then moved into Minority Caucus Calendar No. 2. A large number of bills were briefly presented, with several members pulling measures from consent or voicing opposition. Topics included appropriations and federal monies accounting (HB 2148), a Buffalo Soldiers memorial (HB 2062), school library funding restrictions (HB 2008), prayer at school governing body meetings (HB 2110), school safety center administration (HB 2142), parental rights and social transitioning disclosures (HB 2249), insurer assessments (HB 2091), agricultural property classification and inspection rules (HB 2104 and HB 2105), firefighter workers’ compensation definitions (HB 2138), truth-in-taxation bond notices (HB 2289), late tax filing penalties (HB 2016), engineering and professional licensing reciprocity (HB 2122), felony murder involving an unborn child (HB 2043), body concealment and mutilation penalties (HB 2044), domestic violence order-of-protection service rules (HB 2048), mandatory reporting of partial-birth abortions (HB 2074), unlawful flight sentencing enhancements (HB 2108), weapons trafficking and fentanyl sentencing changes (HB 2131 and HB 2132), drive-by shooting forfeiture rules (HB 2045), probation review notice changes (HB 2046), venue changes for cases involving court employees (HB 2126), and child support for pre-born children (HB 2144). Members repeatedly criticized several abortion-related bills, the library bill, and the tax and agriculture measures as harmful, unnecessary, or unfunded mandates. The latter part of the meeting focused on water and election legislation. Water bills included snowpack augmentation funding (HB 2024), water conservation grant disclosures (HB 2029), removal of education/research as an eligible water grant use (HB 2030), stormwater recharge mapping with an appropriation (HB 253), cesspool remediation assistance (HB 2096), groundwater pumping limits in INAs (HB 2097), Colorado River litigation funding (HB 2116), and natural resource conservation board changes (HB 2117). Election-related items included moving the primary date earlier and changing signature cure timelines and observer rules (HB 2022), a memorial urging designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization (HCM 2001), a memorial urging review of CAIR for terrorist designation (HCM 2002), and a constitutional amendment on citizenship, voter ID, foreign contributions, and early voting limits (HCR 2001). Members raised concerns about voter access, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the practical effects of the election changes. The caucus concluded with birthday acknowledgments and an announcement for Muslim Day at the Capitol before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• now in the development of this program now in the development of this program for<00:16:37.839><
• So it's a very effective program.
• So it's a very effective program.
• So it's a very that program is 3%. So it's a very effective<02:28:33.359> program.
• successful MEO program. Thank you. successful MEO program. Thank you.

Bills: HB1531

Keywords: emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1913, which would create a mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veteran Services for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home and appropriate funds for it. Supporters said veterans, especially on the neighbor islands, need more mental health access and coordination. Several witnesses, including Sean Sonatada and Tom Driscoll, supported the intent but urged amendments to broaden the position beyond one facility and make it a statewide resource. Committee members questioned whether the bill would duplicate existing services at the veterans home and whether the position would be reimbursable through federal VA funding; testimony indicated the state would appropriate the money, while existing home services are already covered through current staff and federal reimbursement structures. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 9, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. Testifiers generally supported the measure as a way to honor wounded veterans and their families, though one member asked what benefits the designation would confer. Witnesses clarified that the bill was mainly symbolic and did not appear to create new benefits, and one testifier noted Honolulu County had already adopted a similar Purple Heart designation. The committee then took up House Bill 1628, which would establish a compassionate release protocol for certain seriously ill or debilitated incarcerated persons. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Paroling Authority opposed the bill, arguing that an existing administrative process already works, that the bill could improperly extend eligibility to people serving life without parole or mandatory minimum sentences, and that it lacked victim and family input and sufficient resources. In contrast, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission strongly supported the bill, saying it would reduce the high cost of incarcerating people with complex medical needs, ease burdens on staff and the prison population, and better reflect human dignity. The commission described having seen severe suffering and deaths in custody and said compassionate release is warranted in some cases. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, the board may conditionally grant parole pending completion of programming or other
• Under current law, a conditional grant is good for nine months.
• Under current law, the board may conditionally grant parole pending completion of programming or other
• Under current law, a conditional grant is good for nine months.
• It's granted. I would say, see you next week. It's granted. I would say, see you next week.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank to f to give the run the program.
• <00:13:22.079> Um, for me to say to run the program.
• Um, for me to say to run the program.
• to allow these programs to run. to allow these programs to run.
• The ayes have it, and conditional approval is granted.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then took up Department of Safety Rule 25161 on administrative license suspension forms. After discussion of a staff concern that the rule text should expressly require a defendant’s signature or refusal to sign, and the officer’s witness signature, the agency agreed to revised language. The committee voted to grant conditional approval with those edits. The committee next considered Department of Agriculture rule 192, concerning importation of bovines and domestic animals. Staff identified several issues, including an overly broad federal citation, an unclear definition of infection, a possible conflict between provisions on telephone-issued permits and documents that must be carried, and missing struck-through repeal language. Because the department had not proposed written fixes, members moved to postpone the item until next month, and the motion passed. A second Agriculture item, 25207, was discussed as a long-expired set of rules that the agency said were still needed to run its programs; the committee granted conditional approval. The Public Utilities Commission’s competitive natural gas supplier and aggregator rules prompted the most extensive debate. Staff argued the cited statutes did not clearly authorize the commission to impose fines on natural gas suppliers, while the agency responded that authority could be read from related Department of Energy transition language and general rulemaking provisions. Members discussed whether the issue reflected a statutory gap created when responsibilities were split between the Department of Energy and the commission. The committee ultimately voted to waive and postpone the item to next month so the attorneys could work out the authority question. The committee also postponed Department of Energy items 219 and 220 at the agency’s request, and it noted that the Liquor Commission’s emergency rule had been revised to reduce reporting from monthly to quarterly before being reissued, with the item also postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She can drive the bus on Wednesdays, and she can also be the grant writer.
• programs.
• Tarr, granting of waivers. Question comes on adoption. The Senator from Essex, Senator Tarr.
• Massachusetts has four medical schools, training programs, and two schools.
• They started the program. Get your eyes examined.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.

Transcript Highlights:

• state-funded energy assistance program state-funded energy assistance program with<00:40:47.440>
• , primary energy grant.
• Um, establishes subdivision two, establishes the supplemental energy assistant grant program within the
• the federal program guidance is delayed. the federal program guidance is delayed.
• the energy assistance program. the energy assistance program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CTE programs.
• Programs.
• Requiring that even high school programs are aligned directly to post-secondary programs.
• programs using state CTE funds.
• This program is significant.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:38:30.840> Granted. of personal privilege. Granted. of personal privilege. Granted.
• >> Granted. >> Granted. >> Granted. Mr.<00:43:01.720> President, Mr.
• >> Granted. >> Granted.
• Granted. Thank you Mr. Approved. Granted. Thank you Mr.
• Approved.<00:51:38.800> Granted. Approved. Granted. Approved. Granted.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates a retail theft prevention advisory board and a retail theft prevention grant program in the
• Locating the retail theft prevention grant program within DCJ avoids duplication of resources, eliminates
• ><00:43:01.599> have<00:43:01.760> this program or thought we'd have this program or thought
• /c><00:43:02.880> Department<00:43:03.200> of program originally in the Department of program
• the retail theft prevention grant the retail theft prevention grant program<00:43:25.280> within

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Very powerful program.
• No successes in the number of clemencies granted or the number of pardons granted people?
• months, we know those programs.
• commitment programs.
• commitment programs.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with 22 ayes, 2 nays, and 3 absent, the motion is granted.
• The motion is granted.
• Doing the same for HHSC programs would be a matter of parity.
• , or the SHARS program, in this bill.
• We're also supportive of many of the railroad commission programs, including the plugging program.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to help with grants.
• This program is a great incentive program that unfortunately has been completely defunded, but the housing
• towns that want to use this program. towns that want to use this program. this<00:10:11.200>
• My name is Grant Bossi.
• Right,<01:09:00.080> Grant? Right, Grant? Right, Grant?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They help the state Medicaid program administer the Medicaid program itself.
• It's the Medicaid program and in HHS they have the Medicaid program but they also have the program of
• It's the Medicaid program and in HHS they have the Medicaid program but they also have the program of
• :21.280> unit<00:20:21.760> is unit. program program integrity unit is unit. program program
• the overall program. the overall program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.