Transcript Highlights:

• I'm opening the executive session on House Bill 59, relative to the assault on a firefighter, emergency

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• much that you can learn from these tours, particularly when we met with some of the professional firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• And also in November 2022, they spilled 1,300 gallons of firefighting foam concentrate liquid that's

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Economic Development and Tourism met on February 11, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 1338, relating to long-duration clean energy storage, received support from the Energy Office, DEED, HTDC, and the gas company. With no opposition or questions, the committees recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and a deferred effective date of 5/13/2040. The committees then heard Senate Bill 233 on climate resilience, which drew support from the Hawaii State Community Office and other testifiers. SB 492, relating to the general excise tax, had mixed testimony, with support from DHHL, the Office of Planning, county representatives, and others, and opposition from the Grassroots Institute and another testifier. The chair explained that SB 492 would be amended to remove language that would prevent DHHL from benefiting, along with technical amendments and the same deferred date of 5/13/2040. For Senate Bill 1634, relating to water resources, the Board of Water Supply testified in support and urged expanding the bill from two to six monitoring wells, citing Red Hill contamination concerns, PFAS detections in Halawa Shaft, and the need for a broader monitoring grid to track groundwater movement. Members discussed the connected aquifers and the need for more data. The committee recommended passage of SB 1634 with amendments to allow funding for six monitoring wells, include a sentinel monitoring system, and make technical, non-substantive changes. The committee also voted to pass SB 233 unamended, and all recommendations were adopted by the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• correctly if it was just a peace officer impersonation or if it was perhaps other emergency personnel, firefighters
• opportunity to even broaden it for impersonation because even if it were somebody impersonating a firefighter
• opportunity to even broaden it for impersonation because even if it were somebody impersonating a firefighter
• opportunity to even broaden it for impersonation because even if it were somebody impersonating a firefighter
• opportunity to even broaden it for impersonation because even if it were somebody impersonating a firefighter

Transcript Highlights:

• and control wheel was originally designed around very specific structure: a male perpetrator and a female
• 00:40:44.080><c> perpetrator</c><00:40:44.760><c> and</c><00:40:44.880><c> a</c><00:40:44.960><c> female
• </c> a male perpetrator and a female victim. a male perpetrator and a female victim.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• In those years, she went to her primary care physician, another female PCP, her gynecologist, her rheumatologist
• to her primary care<00:35:33.359><c> physician,</c><00:35:34.480><c> another</c><00:35:34.880><c> female
• </c><00:35:35.680><c> PCP,</c><00:35:37.040><c> her</c> care physician, another female PCP, her care
• physician, another female PCP, her gynecologist,<00:35:38.320><c> her</c><00:35:38.560><c> rheatologist

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• more frequent behavioral health-related encounters than non-high utilizers, particularly for the female
• particularly than non- high utilizers, particularly for<04:05:07.920><c> the</c><04:05:08.080><c> female
• </c><04:05:09.439><c> and</c><04:05:09.680><c> they</c><04:05:09.840><c> both</c> for the female population
• . and they both for the female population. and they both rely<04:05:10.319><c> heavily</c><04:05:10.640

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 254, which Senator David Roford described as a technical correction to controlled substance inventory law for pharmacies. He said the bill would remove outdated language requiring inventories to be done in an odd-numbered year, while keeping the existing requirement that pharmacies conduct a full controlled substance inventory every two years in line with federal law. Members asked several clarifying questions about whether the requirement is pharmacy-by-pharmacy, whether new pharmacies would be affected, and whether the change would alter scope or compliance; the sponsor and a representative of the New Hampshire Pharmacist Association said it would not, and that it mainly provides clarity for pharmacies and inspectors. The public hearing on SB 254 was then closed, and the committee also heard support from a representative of the pharmacist community, who said the association supports the bill. The committee then discussed a non-germane amendment to SB 254 dealing with FBI background checks for educational surrogate parents under the Department of Education. Representative Leyon explained that the amendment was requested by the Department of Education after the FBI rejected prior statutory language, and that the goal was to allow people serving as educational surrogate parents to complete FBI fingerprint-based background checks so they can perform their duties. Department of Education and Department of Safety staff testified that the amendment mirrors language that has worked in other education-related background check statutes, including provisions with specific disqualifying offenses tied to child safety, and that the FBI requires precise statutory language and direct transmission of records through the Department of Safety. Members questioned why the FBI’s approval was needed, whether individuals could simply provide their own records, and whether changing federal leadership could require future changes; witnesses said the state needs both state and national records, that records must come directly from the FBI through the Department of Safety, and that the language is intended to satisfy current federal requirements. During the discussion, some members expressed skepticism about the need for the amendment and about placing it on a bill about controlled substance inventories, but no vote was taken during the portion of the transcript provided. The committee also briefly discussed a separate bill on physician assistants/physician associates, with members noting that the proposed name change would not alter scope of practice and that some outside groups had raised concerns about transparency, but that discussion was interrupted and not concluded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• might describe it, and so they're not separate rooms, but they're half walls, which provides male or female
• which provides<00:20:13.240><c> male</c><00:20:13.720><c> or</c> provides male or provides male or female
• 20:17.440><c> space</c><00:20:17.880><c> so</c><00:20:18.080><c> the</c><00:20:18.240><c> beds</c> female
• um safety and space so the beds female um safety and space so the beds aren't<00:20:18.919><c> stacked

Summary: Finance Division 3 met for a work session on House Bill 519, which concerns funding for Waypoint. The chair noted general support for the organization but said the bill would likely need to be suspended and folded into the budget process because the committee did not yet know available revenues or what amount, if any, could be committed. Kya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, testified that the department supports the bill and the program, explaining that it had been funded with other available funds, including $100,000 for 2024 and $400,000 for 2025, under a contract running through June 30 of this year. She said the shelter serves a unique population of young adults and is part of the department’s children’s system of care and Mission Zero efforts to reduce barriers to psychiatric discharge and emergency department use. Members questioned Fox and Waypoint representatives about the budget placement of the request, the difference between the efficiency budget and prioritized needs, and whether state budget documents would show any internal Waypoint revenues. Fox said the request appears as a general fund item and that the state would not see Waypoint’s internal financial operations in the budget. A legislative member explained that prioritized needs are critical services already in place but not necessarily included in the efficiency budget, and another member said the distinction is not strictly applied. The committee also raised a separate question about how DHHS would handle any future state or federal restrictions on DEI practices; Fox said that was a question for department leadership and legal staff, but that the department follows state law and contract requirements. Waypoint CEO Bor Alvare and Director Mandy Lancaster then described the shelter and related services. They said the shelter serves ages 18 to 24, is a 14-bed open-room facility with half walls, and is staffed overnight by two full-time workers. They said admission is first come, first served, with some vulnerability factors considered, and that they do not discriminate by race, gender, or sexual orientation. They reported no known incidents of sexual violence, though some youth are turned away each night because the shelter is full. They also explained that Waypoint provides broader services beyond the shelter, including outreach, drop-in centers, housing support, rental assistance, and family mediation, and said they serve about 400 youth and young adults in Manchester alone. The discussion ended with questions about whether lowering the upper age limit would affect the program; Waypoint said most residents are already in the 18-to-23 range, but that housing shortages make the current age span important for helping young adults avoid chronic homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's most riders, and I would like to say that female riders are the fastest-growing demographic in
• would like to that's most Riders and I would like to say<01:45:18.880><c> that</c><01:45:19.400><c> female
• writers</c><01:45:20.119><c> are</c><01:45:20.320><c> the</c><01:45:20.560><c> fastest</c> say that female
• writers are the fastest say that female writers are the fastest growing<01:45:21.360><c> demographic

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 119-FN, which would allow rental companies registering a rental fleet to choose New Hampshire as their base jurisdiction under the International Registration Plan. The DMV witness said the state already has this capability under the IRP and did not support the bill, adding that no additional staffing should be needed. Committee questions focused on whether the bill would change where registrations are done, what implementation would require, mileage tracking, decals, and inspection requirements. A representative of the Motor Transport Association also said the bill was unnecessary because the option already exists, while noting some related truck-registration and property-tax issues. The chair then closed the public hearing on HB 119-FN with no further speakers. The committee next heard House Bill 612, which would let youth operators renew up to 30 days before turning 21 and receive a temporary license so they can transition to a standard horizontal license without an extra DMV trip. The sponsor and DMV director strongly supported the bill, describing a long-standing problem where early online renewals can trigger another vertical youth license, forcing a duplicate transaction and fee after the birthday. The DMV said the change would reduce confusion and workload, and estimated a one-time system update cost of $48,000. Members asked about whether the proposal was effectively a 30-day extension, how law enforcement would view the temporary status, and whether the system could handle printing and mailing the new horizontal license; the director said the DMV could manage it and that the bill was the best approach. The chair closed the hearing after no one else testified. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 209, which would exempt new vehicles from inspection in the second year after purchase, effectively allowing two years before the next inspection. The sponsor argued the bill would save taxpayers money and reduce unnecessary trips for owners of new vehicles. Supporters said newer vehicles are already maintained through warranties and routine service. Opponents, including the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association and a service manager from a dealership, argued the bill was not limited to truly new cars, would weaken safety by delaying inspections on vehicles that can still develop tire, brake, and other defects, and could raise costs for everyone else if inspection volume drops. The Motor Transport Association clarified that commercial motor vehicles remain subject to annual federal inspection requirements. No vote was taken in the transcript, and the hearing remained open with testimony continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But all we're doing is uh raising the fee for firefighter tag from $1 to $10.
• that, I ask for the B. we're doing is uh raising the fee for we're doing is uh raising the fee for firefighter
• </c><02:56:26.880><c> And</c><02:56:27.040><c> with</c> firefighter tag from $1 to $10.
• And with firefighter tag from $1 to $10.
• The firefighters want this. >> Clerk will lock the machine. Record the vote. 92 yays, three nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• And because the staffing is insufficient, oftentimes our police, firefighters, and EMS are called to
• insufficient, often times our police, insufficient, often times our police, our<01:34:47.920><c> firefighters
• 48.720><c> EMS</c><01:34:49.200><c> are</c><01:34:49.320><c> called</c><01:34:49.640><c> to</c> our firefighters
• , and EMS are called to our firefighters, and EMS are called to respond<01:34:50.080><c> to</c><01:34

Bills: HF4110 , HF4101 , HF4144 , HF3546

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It also allows public officials to appoint, employ, or promote eligible firefighters if it is part of
• added the amendment to it, your amendment allows for public officials to employ family members as firefighters
• So there is a decline in recruiting firefighters and getting people in that profession at this time.
• So there is a decline in recruiting firefighters and getting people in that profession at this time.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're in a firefight as a police officer and you have to swap magazines, it's real fast.
• When you're<00:22:38.000><c> in</c><00:22:38.159><c> a</c><00:22:38.320><c> firefight</c><00:22:38.880
• ><c> as</c><00:22:39.120><c> a</c><00:22:39.280><c> police</c> you're in a firefight as a police you're
• in a firefight as a police officer<00:22:40.159><c> and</c><00:22:40.400><c> you</c><00:22:40.559><c

Transcript Highlights:

• I know for, you know, my firefighters, help does not look like the standard help that they would get
• I know for, you know, my firefighters,<01:12:47.520><c> help</c><01:12:48.080><c> does</c><01:12:48.400
• ><c> not</c><01:12:48.560><c> look</c><01:12:48.800><c> like</c> firefighters, help does not look like
• firefighters, help does not look like the<01:12:49.199><c> standard</c><01:12:49.520><c> help</c><01

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• the appropriation that was given to the agency to pass through to MDH around biomonitoring in firefighters
• through to mdh around biom<00:57:56.559><c> monitoring</c><00:57:57.240><c> in</c><00:57:57.440><c> firefighters
• </c><00:57:58.079><c> who</c><00:57:58.240><c> are</c> biom monitoring in firefighters who are biom monitoring
• in firefighters who are exposed<00:57:59.079><c> to</c><00:57:59.440><c> pasas</c><00:58:00.440><c>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• released a report, I think now this one's maybe a year and a half ago, on the Minnesota Board of Firefighter
• > Board</c><00:08:36.760><c> of</c> ago on the Minnesota Board of ago on the Minnesota Board of firefighter
• > training</c><00:08:38.320><c> and</c><00:08:38.800><c> education</c><00:08:39.800><c> and</c> firefighter
• training and education and firefighter training and education and we<00:08:40.039><c> found</c><00:08

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1728, which improves education pathways for students pursuing careers in law enforcement and firefighting
• ... ...which improves education pathways for students pursuing careers in law enforcement and firefighting
• AB 1728 expands the existing system by requiring the inclusion of law enforcement and firefighting education

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• c> the</c><00:04:42.560><c> old</c> this would be in plus the old this would be in plus the old firefighter
• 43.600><c> brings</c><00:04:43.840><c> up</c><00:04:44.400><c> how</c><00:04:44.880><c> we're</c> firefighter
• in me brings up how we're firefighter in me brings up how we're moving<00:04:45.520><c> this</c><00:

Bills: HF3604 , HF2236 , HF3709 , HF3766 , HF2400

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibit local governments from reducing total funding for services provided by law enforcement, firefighters
• This bill requires counties and municipalities to fund law enforcement, firefighters, and also the 185
• prohibit local governments from reducing total funding for services provided by law enforcement, firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• provides a mechanism called the restatement and termination of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters
• The benefits received by retired firefighters can be paid in full, but the state can also reevaluate
• And so I think that the service of retired firefighters is absolutely critical for us to respect.

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.