Video & Transcript Research : 'Penal Code'

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MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Public Health - Room 216, 27 January, 2026; 3:00 PM

Public Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I think it's more of a code correction than anything else. >> Okay.
  • <00:39:10.960> correction So I think it's more of code correction So I think it's more of
  • code correction than<00:39:11.839> anything<00:39:12.240> else.
  • or uh regulations a perception of code or uh regulations that<00:48:29.280> that<00:48:29.680
  • <00:55:14.000> a<00:55:14.319> master states have on in their code a master states
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3, a Medicaid and certificate-of-need measure described as a revised version of a bill vetoed by the governor the previous year. The bill would remove a prohibition on a psychiatric residential treatment facility in one county from Medicaid participation, add 20 beds for a Madison County facility, allow crossover status for a Harrison County hospital, require MC to obtain a certificate of need for facilities outside the original Jackson campus area, increase capital expenditure limits, and remove the provision the governor had objected to. Members discussed whether the bill was really a study item or a substantive new requirement, especially a provision tied to acute adult psychiatric units treating uninsured patients or paying a fee. The chair explained the policy concern as preventing “cherry-picking” of insured patients and shifting more uncompensated care to public facilities. The committee voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it, then voted to rise and report. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2453, a clarifying bill on window tinting/glazing exemptions. The sponsor explained that current law requires a physician’s affidavit for an exception, and the bill would clarify that licensed optometrists, along with physicians, may sign the affidavit for people whose eyes are sensitive to light. After brief questions, the committee again voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it. The chair said the two bills were being moved quickly to the docket room for processing and that the committee would reconvene immediately afterward. The final portion of the meeting was a hearing on Senate Bill 2566 involving the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The chair explained that the hearing was prompted by complaints from last session about inspectors being overly aggressive, fines for technical violations, and delays or problems with licensing. Board representatives said the newly appointed board had met for the first time, elected officers, and intended to focus on workforce development, easing burdens on the industry, and protecting public health and safety. They said the board had already restored prior passing scores for exams, adjusted work-permit timing to help students, reviewed contracts and staffing, and planned further meetings. Members and the chair discussed possible legislative changes, including mobile barber establishments, reducing fines, and extending license terms from two years to three years, with the chair asking the board to work with Senator Johnson on amendments before the deadline.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:28:17.640> for<00:28:18.320> local the procurement code for local the procurement
  • DOE was exempted from the procurement code years ago.
  • DOE was exempted from the procurement code years ago.
  • Some schools use IDs, or some schools have a binder of bar codes for each student.
  • Some schools use IDs, or some schools have a binder of bar codes for each student.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with testimony largely in support. SB 1388 and SB 1393, both concerning the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education representation and land conveyances, received support from DOE and the School Facilities Authority, with no questions or action taken. SB 423, which would add Head Start representation to the Early Learning Board, was supported by the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning, which explained the bill would realign the board with federal Head Start Act requirements after the board was restructured in Act 170; EEL also requested an effective-date amendment. SB 422, allowing DOE to award diplomas to students whose education was disrupted by war, drew support from DOE, the Chamber of Commerce, the Military Council, and the Special Education Advisory Council, but also significant opposition from the Hawaii Patriot Republicans and many individuals; members asked questions about the bill, and DOE explained the measure’s purpose, but no vote was taken. The committee also took testimony on SB 532, which would expand who may administer certain medications in schools. DOE, the Department of Health, and the University of Hawaii supported the bill. Members asked detailed questions about oral, nasal, and topical medications and the process for prescription review and administration; DOE explained that parents request the medication, a school form is completed, a nurse reviews it, and either a trained school health assistant or a contracted nurse administers the medication. DOE said the measure could improve attendance and learning, especially for students with ADHD, asthma, and other chronic conditions. The committee then heard SB 659 on locally sourced food products and school meals, where DOE’s procurement office opposed the higher small-purchase threshold and DOE exemption from procurement rules, while Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others supported the bill as a way to advance farm-to-school goals and the 30% local food target by 2030. Testimony and questioning focused on the proposed threshold increase, transparency, and whether an online bidding system would be preferable. Finally, the committee heard SB 1300 on subsidies for ALICE families’ school meals. DOE supported the bill but requested amendments: defining eligibility at 250% of the federal poverty level, delaying implementation until the 2026-2027 school year, and covering reduced-price lunch students in full for 2025-2026. HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and others supported the measure, emphasizing food insecurity, the burden of meal paperwork, and the educational importance of free meals. Hawaii Appleseed suggested replacing ALICE with a federal poverty level standard and removing a rulemaking requirement that could delay implementation. No votes or final committee actions were reported in the transcript.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Established in the California Unemployment Insurance Code, the California Workforce Development Board
  • The department is also proposing to amend the Labor Code via the trailer bill process.
  • We are proposing that the annual Labor Code 62.5 employer assessment require payment through electronic
  • To correct this issue, we are proposing to remove this from Government Code Section 11553 and instead
  • Labor Code Section 5909 requires the Appeals Board to act on a petition for reconsideration of a decision
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Established in the California Unemployment Insurance Code, the California Workforce Development Board
  • The department is also proposing to amend the Labor Code via the trailer bill process.
  • We are proposing the annual Labor We are proposing the annual Labor Code 62.5 employer assessment require
  • To correct this issue, we are proposing to remove this from Government Code 11553 and instead establish
  • the position similar to the chiefs of Cal/OSHA and the Labor Commissioner's Office in the Labor Code
Keywords: 988, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • It does include their birth date, their zip code, and their town.
  • , their zip code and their town.<00:19:07.960> That's<00:19:08.679> that's<00:19:08.960
  • So, what information is contained in the data is a person's sex, the five-digit zip code at which they
  • 00:24:20.920> the<00:24:21.240> five-digit<00:24:22.000> zip<00:24:22.200> code
  • at which they um the five-digit zip code at which they reside,<00:24:24.440> um<00:24:24.960>
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Omnibus tax finance and policy bill, HF9, passed in Minnesota House 6/9/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The amendment is coded A25-000098.
  • <00:32:22.559> as view tax bills and view the tax code as view tax bills and view the tax
  • code as the<00:32:22.960> place<00:32:23.120> to<00:32:23.279> give<00:32:23.440
  • There's another way to think about a tax code: that it can be an expression of our values and a way to
  • So, you know, minimizing giveaways in the tax code and protecting the tax base and not eroding it with
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Apr 2nd, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • may be an outdated drainage system, infrastructure weakness, or something wrong with the building code
  • and zoning code and building code and all those challenges.
  • heavily reliant on this funding, but often don't have their approvals in time because of the fire code
  • and zoning code and building code and all those challenges.
  • Senators, that's bar code 651904 by Senator Kalad...
Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (03/04/2025)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:23:47.400> any<00:23:47.640> safety<00:23:48.240> safety<00:23:49.000> codes
  • <00:23:50.000> and exempt from any safety safety codes and exempt from any safety safety codes
  • take a three- or four-unit building, they still want to be treated like a single-family, and it’s a code
  • a<00:24:35.159> difference<00:24:36.120> um<00:24:36.799> the it's there codes
  • a difference um the it's there codes a difference um the sorry<00:24:38.000> the<00:24:38.279
Keywords: 1189, house, all
VA
Transcript Highlights:
  • would love to continue in that role, because I like to chair all the things, but according to the Code
  • would love to continue in that role, because I'd like to chair all the things, but according to the Code
  • just a name change, but it has a number of consequences and a whole lot of changes throughout the code
  • It's written that way in the code, but I don't know that we have, you know, a state-level citizenship
  • Some of the state definitions apply only to certain sections within their code.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 15th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And whereas Oklahoma State University is guided by the values of the Cowboy Code emphasizing integrity
  • Code Orange, I think, is what we're calling it.
  • Code Orange, I think, is what we're calling it.
  • Members, House Bill 3044 just simply updates the Oklahoma Tax Code related to donations made via tax
  • Just simply updates the Oklahoma Tax Code related to donations made via tax returns.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and spent much of the day on recognitions and special presentations, including Capitol Cowboy Day honoring Oklahoma State University, the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, Miss Oklahoma Teen Taylor Meeks, military families for Purple Up for Military Kids Day, and several visiting groups in the galleries. During the OSU presentation, university leaders highlighted OSU’s agricultural research and asked for support for an upcoming agronomy research bill, and Coach Eric Morris was welcomed as the new head football coach. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 31, designating April 15 as Purple Up for Military Kids Day in Oklahoma, which was presented with remarks about the sacrifices of military children and families and the significance of wearing purple. The Senate also advanced and passed several measures, including bills dealing with duplicate statutory sections and statutory interpretation, a negotiated oil and gas bill, the True Grit Trail, nitric oxide sales to minors, foster care and juvenile transition documents, a paraprofessional certification change, an Indian education council sunset extension, veterans’ tax refund donations, a Route 66 specialty license plate, cell phone restrictions in K-12 classrooms, tire pyrolysis funding, ABLE Commission reporting, scholarship-granting organization tax credits, municipal ordinance publication deadlines, and agency rule authority and review. Most bills were advanced without objection and passed by wide margins, with a few closer votes on House Bill 2398, House Bill 3127, House Bill 3704, and House Bill 1276. House Bill 1276, extending the classroom cell phone prohibition, drew the most debate, with supporters citing improved student focus and classroom interaction and one member raising local control concerns before voting yes. House Bill 3704, concerning participation in a federal tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations, prompted questions about double-dipping on tax benefits and state sovereignty, but it ultimately passed 38-8. The Senate then announced a Technology and Telecommunications meeting for the next morning and adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • charges, and compensation fees; patient discharge information such as race, ethnicity, and diagnosis codes
  • ; charity care information related to policies; ...ethnicity, and diagnosis codes; charity care information
  • We used formal code reviews performed by a data services team that's independent of DBA to make sure
  • that those codes that were pulling the data.
  • And we have built and code reviewed a library of reports to ensure that the data referenced is accurate
Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Code 4, 0, 0, 6, 9, 2, Thank you, Mr.
  • We do have a late filed amendment to the Amendment bar code 1, 8, 1, 4, 3, 6, by Senator Smith.
  • resources will be moved away from the schools that are guaranteed to serve every student every zip code
  • What's the process for a parent to be involved in the development approval of the of the student Code
  • So with this legislation, it would allow for charter school governing boards to adopt its own Code of
Keywords: 999, senate, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Criminal Justice Apr 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Will hear Amendment bar code 2, 5, 6, 3, 4, 4, You're recognized to explain the strike.
  • All it's Amendment bar code 5, 4, to 6 to 8. You're recognized to explain. >> Thank you, Mr.
  • Take that up as another bar code 6, 6, 8, 92. Thank you, chair.
  • to know what they're supposed to so they can treat that if necessary it up this criminal punishment code
  • Amendment bar code 3, 5, 1, 4, 6, 0, >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair Rodriguez, you are recognized to introduce Amendment bar code 2, 0, 6, 4, 3, 8, >> Thank you, Mr
  • Take up late filed Amendment bar code 1, 0, 6, 6, to to Senator Gruters.
  • You are recognized to introduce Amendment bar Code 7, 9, 8, 2, 2, 2, >> Thank you, Mr.
  • has been amended waived close, having waived close, all in favor of adoption of the Amendment bar Code
  • Code 6, 0, 7, 8, 0, 0, >> Thank you, Mr.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session - part 2 Mar 17th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The amendment is coded A-3. Representative Johnson will explain the amendment.
  • The amendment is coded A-5.
  • The amendment is coded A-B-C-D-E.
  • The amendment is coded A-8. I recognize the member from Hennepin, Representative Knorr.
  • The amendment is coded A-9.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 12th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • We want to revisit things through Florida, building code rules, change that level of conversations.
  • state of Florida wanted to do additional regulations on this, we could do it through the the building code
  • Bolland's point, I think it does need to be had at the state level in terms of amending the building code
  • There's an Amendment bar code 1, 6, 4, 72. Thank you, Mister Chair.
  • Amendment bar code 9, 4, 8, 9, 0, 4, We will take that up.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (01/07/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • found the tax code found the tax code complicated<03:22:02.840> uh<03:22:03.040> having
  • I think the more that we could sync our tax code with the IRS code would be something that would be always
  • I think the more that we could sync our tax code with the IRS code would be something that would be always
  • if we were to simplify that tax code if we were to simplify that tax code and<03:38:47.080> the
  • <03:43:42.800> is to make sure that the uh code is to make sure that the uh code is Equitable
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The meeting was an introductory Ways and Means Committee orientation led by Chair John Janigian. Members went around the room introducing themselves, with several returning legislators and several freshmen describing their backgrounds in business, education, public service, finance, transportation, journalism, military service, and nonprofit work. Janigian explained his own legislative history and professional background, and other members, including Bill Bolton, Fred Doucette, Mary Ford, Jim Tierney, Scott Brier, Thomas Oppel, Mary Murphy, Representative Spar, Susan Elberger, Dennis Malloy, Jordan Ulery, and Julius Soti, briefly described their prior experience and reasons for serving on the committee. The chair then outlined the committee’s role. He said Ways and Means is responsible for revenue estimates that Finance will use to determine how much the state can spend over the next biennium, and that the committee would spend the next five to six weeks developing its best revenue estimate, due around February 15. He also explained that the committee hears from state agencies and departments about how taxes are created, collected, and performing against expectations, and that it reviews bills affecting state revenue, including tax increases, tax decreases, tax removals, and fee-related measures. Janigian noted that the committee had five bills at the time of the meeting and expected more to be referred. He explained that most would be first-committee bills, though some second-committee bills could come over if they involved taxes or fees after passing policy committees. He used marijuana-related legislation as an example of a bill that might first go to another committee and later reach Ways and Means if it had fiscal implications. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational, and members were told how to participate in hearings and follow-up questions during regular committee work.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Banking and Finance Committee May 5th, 2025

Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • AB 771 is a technical bill that will fix California's Uniform Commercial Code, bringing us in line with
  • Uniform Commercial Code, bringing us in line with the vast majority of other states and reducing unnecessary
  • In 2010, the Uniform Commercial Code was amended to give states two options: a strict name matching rule
Keywords: 988, house, all
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • And as you look at Section 1 on line 17 on page 1, the $1 million, that has been in code for a number
  • And the purpose of Subsection 3 is to limit it to an assessment drain project, but that part of the code
  • And so the million is not a stretch because that's actually what wasn't code, but the interpretation
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The conference committee reconvened on House Bill 1218 and reviewed a revised LC draft combining Senate amendments with portions of House language. The discussion focused on a provision allowing the commission to forgo an economic analysis for assessment drain projects expected to cost less than $1 million, with members debating whether that threshold should remain at $1 million or be lower. Supporters said the $1 million figure is a placeholder tied to existing code and that a study would help determine the proper threshold; opponents argued the economic analysis should not be eliminated and raised concerns about cost estimates being manipulated. Department of Water Resources Director Rees Haas testified that roughly half of the projects fall under the $1 million mark, and additional project counts since 2019 were cited to show how many projects fell under $3 million, $2 million, and $1 million. Members also discussed the fact that the Water Commission had previously interpreted the threshold differently, which helped prompt the bill. One senator said the study portion was the strongest part of the bill, while another supported the sections that would align the language and preserve the study. Before the vote, the chair proposed further amendments to Section 3 to shift the study from the State Water Commission to Legislative Management and adjust related reporting language so the study would go through the legislature’s interim water committee process. The committee then voted on the combined amendment package, which passed 4-1, with one nay. The amended version was attached, and the committee adjourned with plans to reschedule another meeting and circulate the revised LC form.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Because as these structures make structural changes, if it involves code enforcement officers or code
  • enforcement, we would need to determine what the codes were, and we would have to develop a whole new
  • the lack of definition of um the code the lack of definition of um the code enforcement.<01:40:55.520
  • <01:41:13.280> enforcement allow the towns to have code enforcement allow the towns to have
  • code enforcement over<01:41:14.080> it.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee began with introductions and a description of the day’s process: a full committee work session on four bills, with no public testimony, followed by caucus and then executive action. The first bill discussed was HB 113, concerning OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor. Representative Nab presented an amendment that would require a public hearing and Department of Transportation approval, modeled on procedures used in Coös and Grafton counties. Members discussed whether Windsor had already held a local vote or hearing, whether minutes from a town meeting existed, and whether the amendment truly preserved local control. A Windsor resident testified informally that the town had not taken a final vote and that the matter had been left to the state. Committee members also raised concerns about noise, dust, public safety, and the fact that the road in question would connect OHRVs on a state road rather than a trail system. The chair closed the work session on HB 113 and said the committee would return after caucus to vote on the bill and amendment. The committee then took up HB 595FN, relative to coastal resilience zones. Representative Nat said the bill addressed flooding concerns in both coastal and inland New Hampshire, but that the sponsor viewed it as too complex and had recommended breaking the issue into separate parts in future legislation. On that basis, Nat said it was appropriate to ITL the bill, and noted that the sponsor supported that course. No further discussion followed, and the work session was closed. Next was HB 629FN, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams. Representative Darby explained that the original bill had proposed both a waterfront frontage tax and a $5 charge tied to boat registration, but that the amendment would replace the bill by removing the frontage tax, moving the $5 dam-maintenance fee to the boat decal section of statute, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2027. Darby said the larger fee had raised concerns about impacts on current-use property and enforcement, while the revised $5 fee would raise roughly $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Representative Dunn thanked Darby and said the Marine Trades Association supported the revised approach. A question was raised about whether the original prime sponsors supported the amendment; the chair said they were on board, and Darby added that the proposal reflected recommendations from a prior study committee. The committee then closed HB 629FN and opened SB 27FN, relative to dwellings over water. On SB 27FN, Representative Derby said he opposed the bill because it would take away public access rights and amounted to a one-off legislative solution for a private concern. Representative Donnelly asked how many similar structures might be affected and whether the Department of Environmental Services knew of other cases; DES responded that there was one other related case under settlement compliance and no other active cases with the same issue. In follow-up discussion, DES clarified that the proposal was not a shoreland 50-foot setback issue, but rather involved structures extending over public water. The discussion remained focused on the scope of the bill and its potential precedent-setting effect, with no vote taken in the portion of the transcript provided.