Transcript Highlights:

• <01:51:38.000> of<01:51:38.080> the<01:51:38.320> biggest<01:51:38.639> liabilities
• <01:51:39.280> that<01:51:39.520> we One of the biggest liabilities that we One of
• the biggest liabilities that we carry<01:51:40.239> every<01:51:40.639> year<01:51:40.960
• ><01:51:41.440> to<01:51:41.679> year<01:51:42.800> are One of the biggest liabilities

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contract for a youth mental health residential treatment program to obtain and maintain a general liability
• program to obtain and maintain treatment program to obtain and maintain general<01:06:12.160> liability
• /c><01:06:12.960> insurance<01:06:13.599> policy<01:06:14.400> with general liability
• insurance policy with general liability insurance policy with certain<01:06:15.200> minimum<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1969, which would provide state funding for colorectal cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured residents. The Department of Human Services said it supports the goal of early screening but would need new administrative capacity, including a program manager and claim pre-screening, to run the program. The Department of Health supported the measure and cited low screening rates in Hawaii, noting an educational campaign to encourage screening. The Insurance Division raised concerns about reliance on federal FAQs, warning that guidance can change and may create state cost exposure. Supporters including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Hawaii Medical Association argued the bill would close a preventive-care gap, reduce late-stage diagnoses, and save long-term costs; the committee also discussed implementation costs, estimated by DHS at roughly $1.4 million to $2 million annually plus administrative expenses, and a 6-month to 1-year timeline to establish the program. The committee then took up House Bill 1965, which would require health carriers to spend at least 6% of total medical expenditures on primary care providers. The Insurance Division said several provisions raise technical and legal concerns, including the premium freeze, the medical loss ratio language, the lack of an existing external review process for downcoding claims, and a new mandate for medically necessary inter-island transportation that could trigger an ACA defrayal. The Department of Human Services supported the intent but suggested broader language to include primary care supports and services, and noted that QUEST integration plans already invested at least 9% of total medical expenditures in primary care in 2024, with additional spending on supports and low-value care reductions. State health planning officials strongly supported the bill as an investment in primary care, saying it could improve outcomes and lower long-term costs, though they acknowledged a possible temporary premium increase during the transition. Testimony in support emphasized Hawaii’s physician shortage, especially on Maui, the Big Island, and other neighbor islands, and warned that clinics are under financial strain and may close without higher primary care reimbursement. The Hawaii Healthcare Task Force, AARP Hawaii, and other supporters said the bill would help retain providers, improve access for Medicare and Medicaid patients, and prevent downstream costs from emergency room use and avoidable hospitalizations. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll take on the liability.
• understand, and I can understand from the industry perspective just being concerned about what sort of liability
• where you could exempt a roof and some do to say you have no roof coverage, but if this is for a liability
• where you could exempt a roof and some do to say you have no roof coverage, but if this is for a liability

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Correct, and there's probably huge liability issues on that because we're selling product that's considered
• c><00:54:16.400> huge correct and there's probably huge correct and there's probably huge liability
• 18.400> on<00:54:18.640> that<00:54:18.839> because<00:54:19.000> we're liability
• issues on that because we're liability issues on that because we're selling<00:54:19.599> product

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• including excise, sales and use, ad valorem, and severance taxes on minerals consumed against the new liability
• The proposal estimated a $127 million annual liability, largely offset by $108 million in tax credits
• Um, my question is about<02:39:45.439> the<02:39:45.680> federal<02:39:46.000> liabilities
• <02:39:47.359> as<02:39:47.600> far<02:39:47.760> as about the federal liabilities
• as far as about the federal liabilities as far as an<02:39:48.160> income<02:39:48.479> tax

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Doesn't that open up a liability so that the ones who don't have their name on the bill can get out of
• They should get the full exemption because they are demonstrating that their property tax liability and
• 49:36.718> tax demonstrating that their property tax demonstrating that their property tax liability
• > what<05:49:38.080> they're<05:49:38.320> giving<05:49:38.558> back liability
• and what they're giving back liability and what they're giving back are<05:49:39.280> equal.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• local resources, uh, that could be expended on the project, so that you have a rough known, um, liability
• local resources, uh, that could be expended on the project, so that you have a rough known, um, liability
• a rough the project. uh so that you have a rough known<03:41:36.000> um<03:41:36.560> liability
• <03:41:37.200> with<03:41:37.520> respect<03:41:37.760> to known um liability
• with respect to known um liability with respect to square<03:41:38.239> foot<03:41:38.560>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess there's a potential liability that someone, a party, could possibly litigate this issue, costing
• Yeah, I guess there's a potential liability that someone, a party, could possibly litigate this issue
• But that's not going to any outside landlord or anything like that. represential<02:13:29.280> liability
• <02:13:29.920> that represential liability that represential liability that someone<02:13:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• to keep those funds and, again, as you were saying, they used them to fund certain longer-term liabilities
• Yes, we have funds that are invested to offset operating costs as well as look at long-term liabilities
• look offset um operating cost as well as look at<01:24:47.639> long-term<01:24:48.679> liabilities
• <01:24:49.679> okay<01:24:50.280> that's at long-term liabilities okay that's at long-term
• liabilities okay that's great<01:24:51.159> so<01:24:51.320> you<01:24:51.400> say<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• to say anything on that, but I just, I guess where I’m going with this is we have the potential liability
• to say anything on that, but I just, I guess where I’m going with this is we have the potential liability
• 13.239> potential is we have um we have the potential is we have um we have the potential liability
• 15.199> YDC<03:44:16.080> cases<03:44:17.080> there<03:44:17.199> are liability
• from the YDC cases there are liability from the YDC cases there are some<03:44:17.680> other<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Personnel Appeals Board, which explained that it became an independent state agency after Senate Bill 487 and was presenting its first standalone operating budget. The board described its quasi-judicial role in hearing appeals from classified state employees over disciplinary actions such as warnings, suspensions, and terminations, and said it handles about 25 to 35 cases a year, with some cases lasting longer because of their complexity. Members also outlined the need for a chair and vice chair who are attorneys, the board’s current staffing and space needs, and its plan to move away from reliance on Administrative Services for office support and website functions. The board requested about $353,500 for fiscal year 2026, including startup costs, routine operating expenses, and two new part-time positions: a program director and a paralegal. Members said the budget reflects the new independent status, includes funding for only four board members rather than the authorized five, and is designed to avoid full-time staffing costs and benefits. Legislators asked about the cost per case, the board’s relationship to DAS, whether appeals must go through the board before court, and how often cases are appealed further. The board said appeals must first go through it, that court appeals are infrequent but have increased recently, and that the board’s process is intended to resolve disputes more quickly and less expensively than court litigation. Committee members also asked about the board’s caseload, outcomes, and staffing. The board said that in the prior year there were 22 cases, with four decisions overturned in favor of employees, nine dismissals, and nine settlements, and that many disputes are resolved before reaching the board through a multi-step internal process. A member noted the governor and council had recently approved a new board member and were expected to approve a fifth soon. The discussion ended with questions about the board’s website and records access, which members said would need to be moved from Administrative Services as part of the agency’s transition. The committee then moved to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. The executive director explained that the council is 100 percent federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and develops a five-year plan to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said the council works with state agencies and advocacy organizations on quality-of-life issues, accessibility, voter rights training, and plain-language or easy-to-read materials, and that 60 percent of its membership must be individuals with disabilities or family members/guardians. She also described the council’s funding structure, including reimbursement to the state for operating costs, and noted that it currently has three full-time and three part-time positions, with no new positions requested but one full-time position being eliminated and replaced after a pandemic-era staffing change did not work out as planned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So um and liability<01:17:28.719> of<01:17:28.960> N27.
• <01:17:30.400> So<01:17:31.360> um<01:17:31.840> liability<01:17:32.400>
• of liability of N27.
• So um liability of liability of N27.
• So um liability of withdrawing<01:17:33.280> district,<01:17:34.159> right?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh in the last bill uh Representative Almy had uh indicated her concern about the uh size of the liability
• Uh in the last bill uh Representative Almy had uh indicated her concern about the uh size of the liability
• Uh in the last bill uh Representative Almy had uh indicated her concern about the uh size of the liability
• the uh size indicated her concern about the uh size of<01:15:41.199> the<01:15:41.360> liability
• to the state and uh of the liability to the state and uh asked<01:15:44.480> if<01:15:44.719>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's active rail, we've already, just a couple of years ago, taken the step of reducing the liability
• step of couple of years ago taken the step of reducing<02:19:53.920> the<02:19:54.160> liability
• /c><02:19:54.720> exposure<02:19:55.280> for<02:19:55.520> for reducing the liability
• exposure for for reducing the liability exposure for for railroads<02:19:56.399> if<02:19:56.560
• creates an RSA giving the DMV the ability to implement their own code of conduct and a waiver of liability

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student while under the control
• Sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student while under the control
• Sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student while under the control
• > assumes entity makes provisions for and assumes entity makes provisions for and assumes liability
• for the student while under liability for the student while under the<01:01:24.160> control<01

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll handle or they'll take the lead on looking at any potential liability issues that come up, and
• They'll handle or they'll take the lead on looking at any potential liability issues that come up, and
• They'll handle or they'll take the lead on looking at any potential liability issues that come up, and
• They'll handle or they'll take the lead on looking at any potential liability issues that come up, and
• issues that come up and we um liability issues that come up and we usually<00:26:11.279> take

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the more officers that you add to this investigative process opens us up for more liabilities.
• And the more officers that you add to this investigative process opens us up for more liabilities.
• And the more officers that you add to this investigative process opens us up for more liabilities.
• And the more officers that you add to this investigative process opens us up for more liabilities.
• Investigative process opens us up for more liabilities. Thank you for that, Representative Gerana.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves. Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed. Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in addition, liability insurance of the truck is snow goes off, not in every case, but in most cases
• So releasing them from liability will not help this situation.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• damages for children who kill themselves or become drug addicts, no usual legal joint or several liability
• damages for children who kill themselves or become drug addicts, no usual legal joint or several liability

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now politically it's a liability to the governor who appointed that parole board.
• Now politically, it's a liability to the governor who appointed that parole board.

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.