Transcript Highlights:

• Jen Ross continued that DCYF has access to evaluations that can be provided to parents, children, and
• She added that if matters end up in court, DCYF has access to evaluations and providers, but DCYF social
• help with of of different agencies to help with those<04:40:11.480> um<04:40:11.680> evaluations
• <04:40:12.320> and<04:40:12.600> assessments<04:40:13.160> to those um evaluations
• and assessments to those um evaluations and assessments to help<04:40:13.920> us<04:40:14.480

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee met on January 28, 2025, and first heard House Bill 322, which would give a parent paying child support the exclusive right to claim the child as a dependent on taxes. Representative Barton, the sponsor, argued that because child support is no longer tax-deductible, the paying parent should at least receive the child tax credit. Committee members and later testimony from New Hampshire Legal Assistance raised concerns that the bill would override court discretion, could disadvantage low-income custodial parents, and would not account for cases where child support payments are small or where parents share support unevenly. Several members noted that judges already allocate dependency claims in divorce orders and can modify those orders when circumstances change. After testimony, the committee moved to ITL (inexpedient to legislate) HB 322. The motion was seconded, discussion continued, and the roll call was unanimous in favor of ITL. The committee then placed the bill on consent and ended the executive session on HB 322. The committee next took up House Bill 325, which would eliminate term and reimbursement alimony in no-fault divorces. Representative Barton testified that alimony in those cases was akin to involuntary servitude and should not survive dissolution of the marriage contract. The hearing then moved into questions about whether alimony is meant to compensate a spouse for sacrifices made during the marriage, such as supporting a partner through school or staying home with children, and the sponsor maintained that post-divorce support should not continue as a marital obligation. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 325 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, are actually having more child wellness visits that we have a, um, we included an evaluation
• So we'll, we're, that is part of our evaluation.
• I mean, are actually having more child wellness visits that we have a, um, we included an evaluation
• So we'll, we're, that is part of our evaluation.
• yes component uh to this it's evaluation yes component uh to this it's it's<03:33:53.359> really<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• administratively, how much of a nightmare is this going to be to administer, trying to validate invoices, to evaluate
• you<01:52:51.040> know >> the you know >> the you know to<01:52:52.960> evaluate
• <01:52:53.920> invoices<01:52:54.639> to<01:52:54.880> evaluate<01:52:55.280
• > and to evaluate invoices to evaluate and to evaluate invoices to evaluate and figure<01:52:55.599

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, evaluating that because part of any of these funding formula changes is a balloon, and
• They all deserve to be evaluated on their merits, but this one I think the case has been made that it's
• To qualify an IEP, you have to undergo a psychological evaluation, which is a psychoeducational evaluation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hampshire, and we do a state plan in New Hampshire, State Suicide Prevention Plan, that we then evaluate
• Plan,<00:57:20.880> that<00:57:21.040> we<00:57:21.200> then<00:57:21.880> evaluate
• Plan, that we then evaluate Plan, that we then evaluate implementation,<00:57:23.840> recommend

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met on May 29 and approved the draft minutes. DHHS Commissioner Weaver then opened the department update by asking Medicaid Director Henry Litman to brief members on federal and state Medicaid changes, and later turned to DHHS Chief Operating Officer David Weathers for an update on data governance. Members also asked that acronyms be spelled out in future materials and requested a follow-up on the federal Medicaid rule once it is published. Litman reviewed several federal Medicaid provisions tied to HR 1/"OBBA" and related state implementation issues. He said the first major change would be restrictions on certain non-citizens’ Medicaid coverage, affecting about 400 people in New Hampshire, with notices likely 30 to 60 days before the effective date. He also discussed new work requirements/community engagement rules, saying New Hampshire is on track to implement them and will likely need a state plan amendment rather than an 1115 waiver. Other changes included shorter retroactive coverage periods, a new state option for certain community-based services with an estimated $740,000 in implementation support, a freeze and phased-down reduction in the Medicaid enhancement tax beginning in state fiscal year 2029, and limits on directed payments to hospitals after a grandfathering period. He also noted that Medicaid enrollment has fallen from pandemic-era levels, with about 167,000 people covered as of May 1, and that the department is working with CMS on child premiums and other cost-sharing changes approved in HB 2. Committee members asked how the department could plan for the 2029 changes given the number of elections before then, and Litman said federal rules may be adjusted over time as states and stakeholders raise concerns. He emphasized planning for the worst while hoping for the best, and said rural health care transformation funding would help the state prepare. In the second presentation, Weathers explained that data governance is now embedded in DHHS operations to control access, manage reporting, and respond to risk. He defined it as managing what data is collected, how it is used, who can access it, and what laws apply, and said DHHS has moved from governance as a committee to governance as an operational process. He described privacy impact assessments for new systems going into production, monthly privacy and security training, and ongoing review of access controls and data-sharing rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment helps protect women by ensuring they receive proper medical evaluation and screenings
• before abortion medication is prescribed, Evaluation and screenings before abortion medication is prescribed
• The General Assembly finds and declares that regular evaluation and maintenance of the tax code is critical
• According to the Office of the State Auditor's 2019 and 2024 evaluations of the tax expenditure, only

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not to just rely on federal reports, which may or may not meet our needs, but to then go back and evaluate
• <00:43:56.560> go<00:43:56.720> back<00:43:57.000> and<00:43:57.120> evaluate
• <00:43:57.720> it<00:43:57.920> and but to then go back and evaluate it and but to
• then go back and evaluate it and work<00:43:59.080> on<00:43:59.240> additional<00:44:00.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you have to really do a thorough evaluation.
• So, you have to really do a thorough<01:12:54.719> evaluation.
• > You<01:12:55.679> have<01:12:55.760> to<01:12:56.719> um thorough evaluation
• You have to um thorough evaluation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on April 17 and approved the prior meeting minutes, then set its next meeting for May 29 at 9:30 a.m. Members also discussed a New Futures effort to collect questions about Medicaid changes and post answers as an FAQ, with a preference that the FAQ live on New Futures’ website rather than the state website. The commissioner’s office said it would coordinate responses and that the issue is still evolving. The main presentation was an HHS update focused on the state public health laboratory and its work during Public Health Lab Week. Officials reviewed the lab’s history, its biosafety functions, and its role in disease prevention, food safety, preparedness, and response. They highlighted mosquito surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus, noting that the lab tested more than a quarter million mosquitoes last year and that mosquito testing helps provide early warning for local public health decisions. They also discussed rabies testing, saying New Hampshire’s lab is the only one in the state that performs it, that rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, and that the work is preventable through early prophylaxis. Members asked about federal funding cuts, water testing, and whether CDC changes to rabies testing would affect New Hampshire. The department said it had been affected by an $80 million federal clawback but was managing through other funds and staff reassignments; for the water lab, temporary staff had been hired to continue swimming-area testing. Officials said the state remains able to handle rabies testing and that federal changes would mainly affect areas without similar services. They also answered questions on Jamestown Canyon virus, saying New Hampshire had one human case in 2025 and three in 2024, compared with zero West Nile cases in 2025 and one in 2024, and that weather and protective measures influence mosquito-borne disease levels. Additional questions covered biosafety levels, cyanobacteria coordination with the Department of Environmental Services, and the Brown Building flood mitigation, which was described as about halfway complete with a hoped-for reopening of the west side by June.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would give us the information that we need in order to make an objective evaluation of those policy
• need uh in order to make<00:35:03.680> an<00:35:03.920> objective<00:35:04.480> evaluation
• <00:35:05.280> of<00:35:05.520> those make an objective evaluation of those make an
• objective evaluation of those policy<00:35:06.400> questions.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the sub health supplemental budget bill, and moved it to the Ways and Means Committee after a walkthrough of the fiscal spreadsheet and the DE1 amendment. Nonpartisan staff explained that the bill produces general fund savings of about $2.4 million in FY27 for the 2026-27 biennium and about $97.7 million in the next biennium, with most savings tied to HR1-related Medical Assistance changes affecting adults without children. The Department of Health provisions were described as largely cost-neutral, with some increases for implementation, data, and IT work. Staff then reviewed the DE1, which combines several bills into four articles. The bill includes health licensing board changes, Department of Health provisions such as all-payer claims database fees, newborn screening fee exceptions, loan forgiveness and scholarship program extensions, workforce shortage grant changes, and reciprocal licensure and mortuary science provisions. The federal conformity article makes changes related to MA work and community engagement requirements, six-month renewals, retroactive eligibility limits, contact information updates, cost sharing for MA expansion enrollees, and related provider tax and disability-notice provisions. Article 4 and Article 5 were described as forecast adjustments for DHS and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Public testimony focused largely on the federal conformity and eligibility provisions. Legal aid testified that the work requirements and retroactive eligibility changes would be confusing, could expand requirements beyond intended groups, and would increase uncompensated care. The Minnesota Hospital Association said shortening retroactive eligibility would increase uncompensated care and strain hospital finances, and Unidos Minnesota criticized the immigrant eligibility changes as harmful to lawfully present immigrants and Native communities. Blood Cancer United supported the all-payer claims database provisions and urged attention to fertility coverage. Representative Elkins offered an amendment to add $55,000 for the Department of Health to include denied-claims data in the all-payer claims database; Department of Health staff said the idea was useful and provided a one-time setup cost, but the amendment was not acted on in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• message is clear: Minnesota's data system needs updating, and data must be easier to access and use to evaluate
• message is clear: Minnesota's data system needs updating, and data must be easier to access and use to evaluate
• message is clear: Minnesota's data system needs updating, and data must be easier to access and use to evaluate
• message is clear: Minnesota's data system needs updating, and data must be easier to access and use to evaluate

Bills: HF4736, HF4737, HF3806, HF3352, HF4840, HF3748

Keywords: emergency shelter, grant program, homelessness, capital investment, Minnesota Statutes, appropriation bonds, public funding, housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota constitutional amendment, public debt, state bonds, general obligation bonds, information technology, IT infrastructure, software licenses, technology modernization, capital improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• While it might not be a perfect comparison, the closest state tax evaluated in the study might be the
• /c><01:31:02.400> tax comparison, the closest state tax comparison, the closest state tax evaluated
• 03.320> study<01:31:04.280> might<01:31:04.480> be<01:31:04.560> the evaluated
• in the study might be the evaluated in the study might be the corporate<01:31:05.200> franchise

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we wanted to look at the new trends, developments, evaluate the options in the marketplace, assess
• The Higher Learning Commission evaluates its institution when they come for their review and they actually
• I think the board wants to be judicious in evaluating how that's going. What is the demand like?
• But certainly the next iteration of that will be to... ...is to be judicious in evaluating how that's

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we wanted to look at the new trends, developments, evaluate the options in the marketplace, assess
• The Higher Learning Commission evaluates its institution when they come for their review, and they actually
• I think the board wants to be judicious in evaluating how that's going.
• What is the demand, Is wants to be judicious in evaluating how that's going.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then have the insurer re-evaluate the rebuild cost of the house based on that information.
• insurer<01:28:01.440> then And then have the insurer then And then have the insurer then re-evaluate
• 02.480> rebuild<01:28:02.880> cost<01:28:03.200> of<01:28:03.240> the re-evaluate
• the rebuild cost of the re-evaluate the rebuild cost of the house<01:28:03.600> based<01:28:03.880

Bills: SB2607, SB2031, SB2043, SB2623, SB2876, SB2396, SB2964, SB2089

Keywords: landscape architecture, licensure, educational requirements, examination, professional standards, consumer protection, junk fees, live-event tickets, short-term lodging, transparency, pricing disclosure, deceptive practices, insurance, captives, regulations, policyholders, SB2623, Hawaii pharmacy law, Board of Pharmacy, registered pharmacy technician

Summary: The committee first heard HCR 168 and HR 158, which would create a temporary working group to study utility capacity, coastline infrastructure lifespan, and the costs of needed expansions. Public Utilities Commission staff said the commission was not the right entity to direct all of the work because it lacks authority over many affected agencies. Members discussed whether the study should be limited to a coastal area or broadened to the whole island, and in decision-making the committee amended the measure to focus on the County of Honolulu, correct references to the Public Utilities Commission, and revise the working group membership to include the PUC chair, legislative designees, and directors or designees from DLNR, DOT, HIEMA, and DCCA Consumer Advocacy. The committee then passed both resolutions with amendments; the vote was adopted unanimously, with some members excused. The committee next considered HCR 145 and HR 137, which would convene a working group on climate change impacts on insurance availability and affordability. The Insurance Division stood on its written comments, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission supported the intent, and the Attorney General opposed the measure, warning that a working group could create discoverable materials that might complicate the state’s climate litigation and noting a technical ambiguity in the reference to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund administrator. After questions about discovery and the lawsuit, the committee amended the resolutions to replace the administrator reference with the chair of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund Board of Directors, remove the Attorney General as convener while keeping the office as a member, and have the working group share findings and recommendations with the House CPC and Senate CPN committees instead of issuing a report. The committee passed the measures with amendments, with Rep. Martin voting with reservations. In the later agenda, the committee heard SB 2607, SD 1 on landscape architect licensure. The Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects supported the bill, explaining it modernizes licensure requirements to align with national standards and clarifies the profession’s design-focused role. The bill was discussed as distinguishing landscape architecture from groundskeeping and from civil engineering drainage work. No opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 2031, SD 2 on consumer protection and price transparency for live ticket events and short-term lodging. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill, saying it largely mirrors an FTC rule requiring all-in pricing and would give the state enforcement authority and remedies. The Hawaii Financial Services Association opposed the bill as drafted and sought a limited exemption for credit card issuers relying on third-party hotel information, while the Hawaii Hotel Alliance supported the measure but asked for language deeming compliance with the federal rule sufficient for short-term lodging. Committee members questioned whether those proposed exemptions would conflict with federal law or weaken state enforcement, and the discussion focused on preemption, liability, and the value of state remedies such as restitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Manufacturers and distributors evaluating where to expand facilities or to establish operations put a
• 01:02:27.320> distributors Manufacturers and distributors Manufacturers and distributors evaluating
• > to<01:02:29.280> expand<01:02:29.680> facilities<01:02:31.000> or evaluating
• where to expand facilities or evaluating where to expand facilities or to<01:02:31.240> establish

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• effort is anchored in internal accountability, where annual training and consistent processes of evaluation
• the needle on chronic absenteeism requires significant person power to organize, implement, and evaluate
• Studies of school nurse management, intervention, infection prevention, and evaluation of illnesses all
• Studies of school nurse management, intervention, infection prevention, and evaluation of illnesses all

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, interestingly, we also have the evaluation, so in 97A.056, 1% of all of the receipts has to
• go to the DNR for evaluations of the restoration enhancement projects.
• to the DNR for evaluations of the to the DNR for evaluations of the restoration<00:25:07.360> enhancement

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• entity that receives public funds to ensure compliance with applicable laws, conduct inspections, evaluations
• uncovered. applicable laws, applicable laws, conduct<01:24:02.720> inspections,<01:24:03.720> evaluations
• ,<01:24:04.640> and conduct inspections, evaluations, and conduct inspections, evaluations

Bills: HF1338

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• With no centralized mechanism to coordinate or evaluate how these streams work together, agencies often
• no centralized mechanism to coordinate no centralized mechanism to coordinate or<00:10:04.320> evaluate
• how<00:10:04.880> these<00:10:05.200> streams<00:10:05.519> work or evaluate
• how these streams work or evaluate how these streams work together,<00:10:06.800> agencies<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, approval of the prior journal, and remarks welcoming visitors, including military children in the annex. The House clerk then communicated several House-passed measures to the Senate, and the clerk reported second readings of Senate Bills 70, 74, 80, 127, and 154, which were sent to the Rules Committee. Committee reports also advanced SB 129, SB 101 with Committee Substitute 1, SB 124, SB 50, SB 162 with Committee Substitute 1, SB 170 with Committee Substitute 1, and Senate Resolution 103. The chamber also introduced SB 211 on prescription drug coverage and SB 212 on mental health coverage and declared an emergency. The main floor action was on Senate Joint Resolution 74, which directs the Legislative Research Commission and state agencies to create a statewide fiscal map of substance use disorder programs and funding sources. Supporters said the map would consolidate fragmented funding information across agencies, identify gaps and duplication, improve budgeting, and provide a public-facing report; the resolution also requires posting the map online and submitting a report to the General Assembly by October 30, 2026. The Senate passed SJR 74 by a vote of 38-0. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 104, the “Halo Act,” which would create a 25-foot safety buffer around first responders while they are performing official duties. Supporters argued it would protect first responders and EMTs from interference and still allow bystanders to document events from a distance. Opponents said existing laws already cover obstruction and related conduct, and warned the bill is vague, duplicative, and could chill First Amendment activity such as filming police or protesting. The debate included multiple explanations of votes, with some senators citing public safety and others raising constitutional concerns; the excerpt ends before the final vote on SB 104 is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• When Jefferson County lost a district judge due to redistricting, the Kentucky Supreme Court evaluated
• Kentucky due to redistricting, the Kentucky Supreme<00:58:26.799> Court<00:58:27.440> evaluated
• <00:58:28.319> the<00:58:28.640> case<00:58:28.960> data, Supreme Court evaluated
• the case data, Supreme Court evaluated the case data, the<00:58:30.319> workload.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met to consider two major bills. First, House Bill 521, relating to stalking, was presented by Majority Leader Steven Rudy with testimony from the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. Supporters said Kentucky’s stalking laws need updating to address modern electronic and technology-based stalking and to better protect victims of persistent, ongoing harassment. Members asked about fiscal impact and prison costs; Rudy said the bill was mainly a statutory update and should have no new prison impact. The committee then voted 17-0 to pass HB 521 with favorable expression. The committee next took up House Bill 422, known as Logan’s Law, which was presented by Rep. Dan Fister and Rep. T.J. Roberts with emotional testimony from George Typton, father of Logan Typton. The bill responds to the 2015 murder of Logan Typton and seeks to revise Kentucky’s insanity defense, limit mandatory re-entry supervision for certain violent offenses, require consecutive sentences for multiple victims, and change life-without-parole rules so juries can impose it more directly in intentional murder cases. Typton described the crime and argued the current system failed his family; several members expressed sympathy and support. After a committee substitute was adopted, Roberts explained that the substitute preserved an insanity defense modeled on Alaska’s rule, rather than abolishing it, and clarified that a defendant must be unable to appreciate the nature of their actions due to mental illness or intellectual disability. He also said the bill would ensure consistency in insanity verdicts across multiple counts and provide treatment options for those found guilty but mentally ill. Rep. Marzian raised concerns about mental health funding, prison costs, and corrections impacts, while Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers warned the bill could reduce plea bargaining flexibility and slow the courts if sentencing becomes more automatic. The bill remained under consideration after testimony, with no final vote shown in the transcript.