Video & Transcript Research : 'software applications'
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WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Government Organization Committee in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 09:03 am
Government Organization
Transcript Highlights:
- the CISO, along with the state's chief information officer, to ensure that any state contract for software
- licensing does not limit the state's ability to install or run the software on the hardware of the state's
- No additional procedural requirements otherwise applicable to municipal ordinances or charter amendments
- Reports due between January 1 and July 1 of the applicable filing year must contain the same information
- filing year must contain the same information required for annual reports the bill of state. applicable
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Health & Long-Term Care Jul 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It will be an application process. That application will be due in December.
- We don't know when the application will come.
- We feel there should be an offer of employment prior to application.
- We feel there should be an offer of employment prior to application.
- Otherwise, you're just going to get inundated with applications and applicants who will be seeking out
Summary:
The committee first received an update on the effects of HR1 and related federal Medicaid and marketplace changes from Governor’s Office and Health Care Authority staff. Presenters said the most immediate coverage losses are expected in the individual market beginning in January, with premium increases and an estimated 80,000 people potentially unable to afford coverage. They warned that larger Medicaid impacts will follow over the next year and beyond, including tighter eligibility checks, work requirements, reduced retroactive coverage, limits on state-directed payments and provider taxes, new cost-sharing, and changes affecting certain non-citizen adults. They also said the state plans to seek a waiver or extension for work requirements and will continue to analyze impacts, including on rural providers and Planned Parenthood-related services. Members asked about the effect on nursing homes, rural hospitals, and how the state can help providers and enrollees navigate the new requirements; staff said timelines and a state-specific implementation chart are being developed.
The committee then heard a report on the International Medical Graduate Work Group and Washington’s efforts to create pathways for internationally trained physicians. Testimony described the clinical experience license, the clinical evaluation assessment tool, grant funding for IMG support organizations, and a new hardship waiver process enacted this year. National presenters said many states have adopted similar pathways because of physician shortages, but Washington and Tennessee are among the few states that have actually issued licenses so far. They recommended clear guardrails, an employment offer before application, ECFMG certification, supervised practice, and data collection to avoid exploitation and protect patients. Members asked about state-to-state variation, retention of IMGs, and whether Washington should pursue dedicated residency or preceptorship options; presenters said the key next step is moving successful participants from supervised experience to a durable long-term license.
The final topic was implementation of Washington’s Apple Health doula benefit and the statewide doula hub and referral system. Senator T’wina Nobles highlighted the state’s $3,500 per-birth Medicaid reimbursement rate for doulas and the importance of the hub for referrals, training, and billing. Health Care Authority staff said the benefit launched January 1, 2025, and covers prenatal intake, labor and delivery, postpartum visits, and telehealth-supported services. They reported 336 state-certified doulas, 134 enrolled in Apple Health, 287 unique clients served, and 641 claims paid so far. Testimony emphasized doulas’ role in improving birth outcomes, reducing unnecessary interventions, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health, while noting that implementation is still early and ongoing.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (01/28/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- NAV, OnStar, those are all software NAV, OnStar, those are all software components.<04:27:47.840
- Um, and and software components.
- software feature in order to operate? software feature in order to operate?
- <04:31:19.359>
operation ongoing software operation ongoing software operation >> or - That's not like a software update. We don't need to update that software all the time.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Government Organization Committee in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 09:03 am
Transcript Highlights:
- the CISO, along with the state's chief information officer, to ensure that any state contract for software
- licensing does not limit the state's ability to install or run the software on the hardware of the state's
- No additional procedural requirements otherwise applicable to municipal ordinances or charter amendments
- No additional procedural requirements otherwise applicable to municipal ordinances or charter amendments
- No reports are due between January 1 and July 1 of the applicable filing year.
Summary:
The Committee on Government Organization met with a quorum present, approved the minutes, and then considered a series of House bills, most of them related to licensing, local government administration, and agency operations. House Bill 5063 would let county commissions appoint a county commissioner as a voting member of a convention and visitors bureau board, including for multi-county CVBs; it was reported to the full Senate. House Bill 5087 would join the interstate cosmetology licensure compact, allowing licensed cosmetologists to obtain multi-state practice privileges in compact states, and it was also reported. The committee then took up a strike-and-insert amendment for House Bill 4793, which combined provisions affecting barbering/cosmetology apprenticeships and lowered certain age and education requirements; after adopting a Jefferson amendment clarifying the salon training language, the bill was reported as amended.
Members next approved a strike-and-insert for House Bill 5638, which clarifies the State Chief Information Security Officer’s duties, changes cyber risk review procedures, and updates references to the Office of Technology head as the chief information officer; it was reported as amended. House Bill 4483, dealing with the Board of Funeral Examiners, was amended to change the effective date for licensee-in-charge requirements and make technical corrections, then reported as amended. House Bill 5653, requested by the Department of Revenue, would expand confidentiality protections to cover audit manuals, guidelines, procedures, algorithms, and related materials to prevent taxpayers from gaming audit selection, and it was reported. House Bill 4452 repeals acreage limits on church property ownership, and House Bill 4801 expands permissible uses of hotel occupancy tax funds to include demolition of unsafe structures and planning or improvement of public property; both were reported.
The committee also advanced House Bill 5622, which creates an expedited process for municipalities to conform local election terms and procedures to the state requirement that municipal elections be held with statewide primaries or general elections, and recognizes the Secretary of State as keeper of municipal charter rolls. House Bill 4546 would allow business entities to file reports biennially instead of annually, with higher biennial fees and updated enforcement provisions; its strike-and-insert amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. House Bill 5613 would define and regulate telematics for state fleet vehicles, require reporting on unsafe driving and corrective actions, and include cost-benefit information in annual reports; it was reported. House Bill 5323 would let the Division of Natural Resources adjust license and stamp fees for inflation by removing a prior CPI-based restriction, and House Bill 4819 would revise criminal-record standards for certain non-Chapter 30 occupational licenses, shifting to a direct-relationship standard while preserving existing exclusions for violent sexual offenses; both were reported. The committee then adjourned after closing remarks from the chair and vice chair.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
OK 911 Management Authority Jun 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- There are ineligible expenses, and you can see those there: radio systems, OLETs, mobile software applications
- And you can see those there: radio systems, OLETs, mobile software applications, employee salaries, construction
- I believe we're up to 24 or 25 open applications right now, our active applications around the state.
- ...open applications right now, our active applications around the state.
- And also, Chrissy just mentioned that she's got now an applicant, a final applicant, who found us online
Summary:
The Oklahoma 911 Management Authority met with a quorum and approved the April 2 regular meeting minutes and financial reports for February through April 2026. The board then adopted the FY 2027 budget, which included a 5% staff increase, reclassifying the 911-98 liaison into a training coordinator role, adding a GIS specialist position, higher funding for training, travel, NG911 deployment, cybersecurity training, recruitment, and the 911 coordinator workshop, along with increased GIS repository funding and a new technology roadmap allocation. The budget also set aside $3 million for a one-time PSAP distribution and maintained grant closeout and reserve funding levels.
The board approved the $3 million PSAP one-time distribution and its guidelines, using the statutory population-and-land-area formula, with funds restricted to GIS, eligible technology items, or grant matching rather than salaries or construction. Members also denied Washington County 911’s request to waive the 20% match for a radio console grant after staff found the county had sufficient carryover and other funding sources. The board approved an in-person 911 telecommunicator training curriculum and simulator for technical schools, with a requirement for a full simulator and NENA-approved certification, and approved a $249,820 statewide recruitment campaign with ICG Advertising to promote 911 careers.
On GIS compliance, the board authorized staff, with legal counsel, to begin enforcement steps against PSAPs that do not complete required GIS data remediation and repository uploads by the June deadline, including notice and possible escrow action by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The board also approved several individual grants, including projects for fiber/NextGen 911 transition, ADA furniture, NextGen 911 equipment, a consolidation feasibility study, recorder upgrades, and radio console upgrades for multiple counties and PSAPs. Committee and staff reports highlighted 911 Day at the Capitol, upcoming POP grant availability, new grant categories for FY 2027, cybersecurity training planning, NG911/GIS tool development, 988 outreach, and ongoing project and standards work.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:36 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- And both recommendations include funding for a web application firewall.
- The total is $312,500 for web application firewall and a $2.6 increase in insurance cost.
- Count and number of applications.
- That was spread across 62 applications.
- The CJCC needs to approve that application to say yes, we are giving our imprimatur.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Apr 9th, 2025 at 02:00 pm
Appropriations - Human Resources Division
Transcript Highlights:
- I think you have a study that you wanted regarding interagency software.
- You wanted a study resolution, I recall, that looks at the issue of software that connects all of these
- And it provides, um, software that would engage people involved in human services, and could be applications
- Chairman, can we ask the department if they're aware of what this software is?
Bills:
SB2399
Keywords:
mental health, psychiatric treatment, reimbursement, medical assistance, legislative report, 908, all
Summary:
The committee reconvened and first reconsidered House Bill 1612, the aerospace medical and mental health support center bill. Senator Cleary offered an amendment to reduce the general fund appropriation from $500,000 to $250,000 and require the university or project sponsors to find the remaining funding from other sources. The amendment passed, and the bill was then recommended do pass as amended, with members citing concerns about university funding, but others supporting the project as a one-time seed investment. The committee also discussed a possible future FMAP increase beginning October 1, 2026, which could reduce general fund costs by roughly $9 million, though members noted the figures were still preliminary and could be addressed later if needed.
The committee then returned to Human Services budget items, including early childhood and child care funding, a community cultural center grant, and several other adjustments. Members discussed reducing the “best in class” amount, changes to child care grants and quality/infrastructure funding, and clarifying that prior child care assistance appropriations were in fact being spent. They also agreed to reduce the 1915(i) Medicaid waiver line by $2 million, with the understanding that the entitlement would still be funded as needed. The committee also considered taking guardianship funding out of House Bill 1012 because a separate bill, Senate Bill 2029, would move that funding elsewhere; members agreed that removing it from the budget could help the overall bill and could be restored if the separate bill failed.
Several study amendments were discussed. Senator Cleary proposed adding a maternal health study related to prenatal services, doulas, midwives, and Medicaid, and members expressed support. The committee also discussed a software/case-management study proposal, but the department said it had not requested it and would not support it as presented, so members leaned against advancing it unless the department first evaluated it. Another amendment would authorize the department to work with the city of Grafton on a long-term plan for the LSTC campus and require a report back to the legislature; members supported that as legislative intent. The committee also agreed to remove a truancy study section for later conference discussion, and it reviewed other possible study ideas, including assistive technology, before adjourning to await updated long sheets and bill text.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Banking and Finance Committee Jul 7th, 2025
Banking and Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Just some of the few points we want to continue refining and working on is just the scope, the applicability
- So blockchain can be like software, and there's lots of stuff that goes on that has nothing to do with
- Behind the scenes, that contractor is acting as a loan agent for the lender, using the lender's software
- One other follow-up question: does the application have to happen manually?
- What if the application happens on the consumer's own device?
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/05/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- So on those projects, the general contractors will require subs to use project software to submit the
- invoices, but then they set the software up to block invoices.
- the software up to block<01:35:27.320>
invoices. - <01:37:27.520>
So a copy of the payment application. - So a copy of the payment application.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
JLCAR Administrative Rules (05/15/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so as an applicant I was aware that while I... an applicant an applicant within 30 days an applicant
application. - application deadline." application deadline."
- >
and applicant submits their application and applicant submits their application and lets<01: - <01:22:29.560>
an promotion program application an promotion program application an applicant
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and consent calendar, then moved through several Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid-related rules. Rule 25-220 from the Department of Energy was postponed until June so stakeholders would have more time to review revised language. Rule 25-240, involving Medicaid income verification and deductible provisions for medically needy applicants, was adopted after staff noted the cited sections had expired but the agency said it had continued operating under federal law and the state plan; the agency also said it had begun rulemaking on the cited provision. Rules 25-265 and 2633 were also adopted, with staff explaining that although parts of the rules had expired, the agency had continued implementing the policies through the Medicaid state plan, billing manuals, and related rules.
The most extended discussion centered on rule 25-304 from the Bureau of Aging and Adult Services, which covers case management services for the CFI program. Staff and the agency explained that the amended conditional approval request clarified how case management agencies indicate staffing capacity, how telehealth decisions are evaluated, and that the department—not the case management agencies—sets the timeline for accepting or denying cases. The agency said the rule is intended to ensure participants are not pushed into telehealth when they do not want it or cannot use it, while leaving technical and clinical telehealth decisions to the provider.
A case management provider testified in opposition to parts of the rule, arguing that the committee should not require agencies to admit unverified patients, that reimbursement-rate issues belong in legislation, that the quality-management section duplicates existing licensure oversight, and that the telehealth language improperly gives case managers authority over how other licensed providers deliver services. Committee members questioned whether the telehealth language was simply allowing case managers to determine whether telehealth fits a person’s care plan, and agency representatives responded that this was the intent. No final vote on rule 25-304 is shown in the transcript excerpt.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget General Government Subcommittee 2nd Revision - HB3307 - Steagall - added Feb 16th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
A&B General Government Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- At a $250 application fee, how long do you think it'd be before there was enough money to offset any
- This fund hasn't been updated since 2009, the salary, and we're having trouble keeping qualified applicants
- So if you'll give us just a moment for staff to switch the software over, we will. Thank you.
- The committee will convene shortly. for staff to switch the software over. We will convene shortly.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So, can someone go to your site and register or do the pre-application, right?
- We have 66 applications, and we are well oversubscribed.
- A version of that written application is available on our website. Thank you.
- For Texas.gov, it is primarily application maintenance and development.
- Applications and processes.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So MFIP applicants must meet an initial income test that...
- So MFIP applicants must meet an initial income test that...
- Administration accepting applications Administration accepting applications determining<00:24:51.360
- <00:27:11.559>
must assistance um so MIP applicants must assistance um so MIP applicants must - <01:23:16.040>
for <01:23:17.040>the application for the application for the centers<01
Summary:
The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs.
Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers.
Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children.
Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- These grant applications were denied.
- The software solution will integrate existing sensors.
- Three, simplify the grant application process for small counties.
- as some of those grant applications.
- Software was They had the actual software engineers Came in on their own time and actually programmed
IN
Transcript Highlights:
- Members of the Senate, I move now that Senate Rules 82C and 86A be suspended with regard to their application
- to... ...be suspended with regard to their application to all motions to concur and conference committee
- Purdue Northwest bachelor's degree in computer software and media applications.
- Why would we want to put at risk a program at Purdue Northwest around computer software?
- The University of Southern Indiana master's degree in mental health and social... ...computer software
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part II) Apr 3rd, 2025
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- The substitute creates a new section specifically applicable to the reporting and delivery of virtual
- individual's voice or visual likeness as a property right and establishes the individual or other applicable
- We're not talking about regulating basic software applications or spreadsheets.
- So this bill is also applicable to all sizes of banks that are issuing.
- Some people will have a contract that provides software, menus, and websites.
Bills:
SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368
Keywords:
temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Higher Education Committee and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Aug 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- prompt design, recognizing the limitations and challenges of AI systems, and exploring diverse applications
- AI, what it is and what it is not, what it means for the college classroom, the data AI detection software
- If AI is indeed a revolution, a successful implementation goes beyond a contract handshake, software
- “And they, I think, similar to a lot of what we're here today, the application of AI is different in
- AI has pretty much good applications and potentially harmful applications in every setting.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system.
CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts.
Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- We are requiring generative AI software providers to automatically add provenance data to any content
- We are requiring generative AI software providers to automatically add provenance data to any content
- We're requiring generative AI software providers to give users the option to add provenance data to an
- Is it going to be a checkbox on the application? Like, what does this physically look like to them?
- I have 40 applicants ready to take the federal minimum wage.'
Summary:
The committee first took up SB 702, as amended by a strike-all amendment on digital content provenance and authenticity. Senator Burgess said the bill would require generative AI providers to add provenance data to content wholly generated by AI, allow provenance tags on AI-modified images, require social media platforms to retain and display provenance data in an accessible format, and apply content credentials to online election advertisements. He also described a two-year pilot program for the Division of Emergency Management to test provenance data in emergency communications, and said the bill would be enforced only by the Attorney General with no private right of action. Supporters from Microsoft and Adobe waived in support, while TechNet and the James Madison Institute raised concerns about broad definitions, implementation burdens, and the possibility that the rules could be easily circumvented. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS for SB 702 favorably.
The committee next considered CS for SB 282 on home and service warranty association financial requirements, which would allow extended warranty companies to use multiple insurance policies to back obligations and let companies with a $100 million net worth satisfy proof requirements through SEC filings or an audited financial statement. The Florida Service Agreement Association supported the bill, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also passed CS for SB 678, which allows pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; the Florida Pawnbrokers Association and a business representative supported the change, the amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably.
The committee then heard SB 1132, the Portable Wireless Device Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide diagnostic tools, repair information, and parts to owners and independent repair providers, and would also extend right-to-repair concepts to agricultural equipment through an amendment. Supporters argued the bill would expand consumer choice and repair access, while opponents including TechNet, the Repair Done Right Coalition, the James Madison Institute, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance warned about privacy, cybersecurity, trade secret, safety, and compliance concerns. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 1132 favorably.
Finally, the committee took up SB 676, which would create a framework for employees to knowingly and voluntarily waive the Florida minimum wage in certain internship, apprenticeship, and work-study settings, with a parent or guardian sign-off for minors. The sponsor said the bill was intended to expand job training and first-job opportunities for young people and others seeking experience, but multiple speakers and senators argued it conflicted with the Florida Constitution and existing case law, could be exploited by employers, and would undermine the voter-approved minimum wage. The committee continued extensive debate on the bill, with strong opposition testimony and questions about constitutionality, definitions, and enforcement.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Texas Ethics Commission Dec 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- He joins our commuter services division where he's responsible for making sure the hardware and software
- pricing of all the related things dealing with maintenance enhancements and the related third-party software
- Applicable to corporations and labor organizations.
- The opinion also examined the application of Penal Code 3607A.
- I believe, is calculated between. 25,000 to 35,000 and it would give the employee access to some software
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:33:38.080>
that specialized diagnostic software that specialized diagnostic software that - <01:44:21.080>
to signals and some of the software to signals and some of the software to - applications and and permit<01:44:40.199>
applications <01:44:40.800>and <01:44:41.000> some <01:44:41.239>traffic permit applications and some traffic permit applications and- maintenance of ongoing um software maintenance of ongoing um software systems<02:14:37.079>
from
Summary:
The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process.
A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities.
Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.