Transcript Highlights:

• If you have the marsh grass healthy, it means that when we do have storms come in, it helps to buffer
• If you have the marsh grass healthy, it means that when we do have storms come in, it helps to buffer
• If you have the marsh grass healthy, it means that when we do have storms come in, it helps to buffer
• If you have the marsh grass healthy, it means that when we do have storms come in, it helps to buffer

Transcript Highlights:

• Get Fit Kauaʻi Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition of Kauaʻi County, in opposition. for safety uh
• have</c><00:25:58.440><c> get</c><00:25:58.720><c> fit</c><00:25:59.000><c> koi</c><00:25:59.760><c> healthy
• </c> you uh we have get fit koi healthy you uh we have get fit koi healthy eating<00:26:00.679><c> active

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on January 28, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of bills dealing with vehicle titles, motor vehicle taxes, window tinting, license plates, electric bicycles, insurance penalties, vehicle inspection fines, and transportation discrimination. For HB 532, which shortens the time to forward a transferred vehicle title from 30 days to 14 days and allows a letter of attestation to serve as an endorsement certificate, testimony was listed in support from Councilmember U. Hajin and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, and in opposition from Maui Mayor Richard Bisson and Sylvie Madison. HB 655 would require payment of unpaid motor vehicle taxes, fees, and penalties for the most recent five consecutive years of delinquency; the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi stood on written comments, with Tim Rymer and Robert Souza providing comments/support. HB 368, which would exempt certain medically sensitive drivers from sunscreen-device tint limits, drew opposition from the Department of Transportation and support from several individuals. HB 226, lowering allowed windshield tint from 35% to 20%, drew opposition from the Department of Transportation and support from TNT Tinting Specialists; members asked about federal preemption, and DOT said federal guidance applies to manufacturers while states retain authority over aftermarket tinting. The committee also heard HB 543, prohibiting license plate flipping devices and imposing a $2,000 fine, and HB 228, authorizing counties to adopt rules for electronic license plates, repealing flipping devices, and setting a minimum fine for obscuring plates; both measures had DOT support, comments from the Honolulu Department of Customer Services, and opposition from Sylvie Madison. HB 70 would require insurance for electric bicycles and create a regulatory framework effective January 1, 2026. The Office of the Public Defender opposed it, arguing the bill improperly distinguishes e-bikes from mopeds; PeopleForBikes and the Hawaiʻi Bicycling League opposed it as costly and unnecessary, while the Insurance Division said the bill could conflict with existing no-fault definitions and might fit better in the motor scooter/moped insurance framework. HB 231, increasing the fine for violating motor vehicle insurance requirements from $500 to $1,500, was opposed by the Office of the Public Defender, which argued it would burden low-income residents and add to court congestion; members debated whether higher fines would improve compliance. Later, HB 227 would add fines for operating a vehicle without a current inspection certificate and had DOT support. HB 184 would require operators of low-speed electric bicycles to have a driver’s license, instruction permit, or provisional license; Kawaii Path, PeopleForBikes, and Get Fit Kauaʻi opposed it as a barrier to low-cost transportation and noted concerns for riders with disabilities, while DOT later said it would support the measure and was asked to research whether other states have similar licensing requirements. The final major measure discussed was HB 468, which would require the Civil Rights Commission to investigate discrimination complaints involving transportation network company drivers and riders with service animals and allow DOT to issue penalties to the companies. The National Federation of the Blind of Hawaiʻi, the Disability Rights Center, and individual riders supported the bill, saying current protections lack enforcement and that denials still occur; Uber and Lyft opposed it, saying they already prohibit discrimination, train drivers, investigate complaints quickly, and that the bill would duplicate existing law and create unnecessary penalties. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• local governments to report the results local governments to report the results of<00:59:19.480><c> age
• verification compliance checks to of age verification compliance checks to the<00:59:21.520><c> Office
• While companies like ours, companies that have roots in Minnesota, invest heavily in age verification
• We do believe that Minnesota sweepstakes laws should be updated for the digital age to provide further
• for the digital age to provide further<01:53:14.760><c> guardrails.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• So, who's paying to keep those animals healthy? Who's paying for their shelter?
• So, who's paying to keep those animals healthy? Who's paying for their shelter?
• So, who's paying to keep those animals healthy? Who's paying for their shelter?
• So, who's paying to keep those animals healthy? Who's paying for their shelter?
• They gave me a list of things I healthy.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• What we've found is that there is a disparity... ...your age group.
• A good example would be the age definitions.
• Until we've locked in what the age definitions will be in the rate structure, we can't automate the ages
• That provides rates that differ by factors such as age and region, not program.
• It's cutting the age at which they're going to be eligible for services as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• That said, healthy connections is not part of what we're doing today.

Summary: The committee met to discuss funding for behavioral health programs, focusing on the ACT program and peer support, while noting that Healthy Connections was not part of the day’s agenda. Members reviewed a green handout containing a mission statement intended to inform a future policy bill, and the chair explained that the committee was looking at one-time funding rather than ongoing support. The discussion centered on the Millennium Fund balance, the restoration of programs that had been cut for lack of statutory authority, and the need to bridge funding for 2026 and 2027. The chair outlined a request for $6 million from the Millennium Fund and $5.8 million from the opioid settlement fund, with the understanding that if the opioid settlement money did not materialize, the Millennium Fund appropriation would not fully proceed as planned. Several members supported prioritizing the ACT program if the full package could not be funded, and one member emphasized the urgency because of overdose deaths in the state. Another member asked whether the funds were one-time, and staff confirmed that they were. Representative Green moved to support the 2027 request for $6 million in one-time Millennium Fund money, with intent language to prioritize ACT if the opioid settlement funds were unavailable; Senator Ward Engelking seconded and supported the motion. Senator Semmelroth raised a follow-up question about whether leftover funds would go to peer support if opioid dollars were not available, but the Medicaid director cautioned that peer support is a larger Medicaid entitlement item and could create funding complications if not fully covered. The chair then asked members to review the policy language and provide input later, indicating the committee would continue working on a policy bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here about our kids and grandkids, and this is about... ...giving them a good, healthy choice in

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bettencourt wants to know when he gets the new healthy yellow and red Froot Loops.

Bills: SB 3 , SB 16 , SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 10 , HB17 , SB 54 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB8 , HB25 , HB26 , HB192 , HB8 , HB25 , HB26 , HB48 , HB149 , HB192 , HB254 , HB17 , SB54 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB3 , SB16 , SB2 , SB5 , SB10

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> seemingly ages seemingly ages to<02:03:23.360><c> have</c><02:03:24.480><c> dig</c><02:03:24.960
• Well, sawmills rely on healthy logging infrastructure, healthy timberland base.
• trees and a healthy workforce 5, 10, 20 years down the road so that you can continue to run and pay
• Well, sawmills rely on healthy logging infrastructure, healthy timberland base.
• The first one is, you mentioned a healthy workforce.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire has a really healthy and robust insurance market, especially compared to the rest of the
• So, in order to improve and preserve the business community and the healthy insurance market that New
• </c> business community and the healthy business community and the healthy insurance<02:04:37.200><c>
• </c><02:36:03.920><c> The</c><02:36:04.160><c> decisions</c><02:36:04.479><c> that</c> healthy pregnancy
• The decisions that healthy pregnancy.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 1067-FN, which would formalize and expand mental health courts in New Hampshire and create a grant-based funding structure for them. Representative Mark Pearson, the prime sponsor, described the bill as a bipartisan, compassionate, and cost-effective approach that would connect people with mental illness to treatment and supervision instead of incarceration, while still holding them accountable. He said the proposal was developed with input from the judicial branch, law enforcement, corrections, mental health organizations, and others, and emphasized that local courts could tailor programs to their needs. Committee members questioned the bill’s fiscal note, whether the legislature had previously studied the issue, how the program would be funded, and whether the bill should more explicitly address treatment, prevention, and data collection. Representative Buzz Sher, who helped develop the bill, explained how mental health courts work, including referral, clinical and public-safety assessments, case management, goal-setting, and graduation from the program. He said existing New Hampshire mental health courts are mostly partial and county-funded, and that the bill would formalize them, set standards, and allow grant funding. He also cited data from Georgia and New Hampshire suggesting significant savings from reduced incarceration and related costs. Members also raised concerns about due process, whether people not formally charged could be swept into the system, and whether individuals with violent offenses or domestic violence histories could be diverted inappropriately. Sher responded that only people already in the criminal justice process are eligible and that courts use safety assessments to screen out most violent cases. The committee requested that Sher file supporting financial data from other jurisdictions, and he agreed to do so. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire has a really healthy and robust insurance market, especially compared to the rest of the
• healthy and robust insurance<02:03:13.439><c> market,</c><02:03:14.000><c> especially</c><02:03:14.399
• there's no way to know whether they will go on to have a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, or a healthy
• </c><02:36:03.920><c> The</c><02:36:04.160><c> decisions</c><02:36:04.479><c> that</c> healthy pregnancy
• The decisions that healthy pregnancy.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• of this and enhance oil, and will deliver economic dollars back to the communities that have these aging
• Oil and will deliver economic dollars back to the communities that have these aging oil fields in them
• </c><02:43:36.000><c> I'm</c><02:43:36.240><c> not</c><02:43:36.479><c> talking</c> still healthy plans
• I'm not talking still healthy plans.
• of rage we're just um the sort of age of rage we're living<03:37:36.880><c> in</c><03:37:37.600><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• when it comes to GIC<03:29:22.720><c> vulnerability,</c><03:29:24.000><c> the</c><03:29:24.319><c> age
• , the age of the transformer<03:29:26.080><c> is</c><03:29:26.239><c> a</c><03:29:26.479><c> factor.
• , this its design and looking at its age, this its design and and<03:30:08.239><c> so</c><03:30:08.880
• We have a lot of bugs that are very healthy eaters.”
• The association gives advice on how to manage the animals, because the animals are healthy eaters too

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a number of aging pipelines here in Minnesota.
• have</c><00:02:13.680><c> a</c><00:02:14.000><c> number</c><00:02:14.400><c> of</c><00:02:15.040><c> aging
• </c><00:02:15.599><c> pipelines</c> And we have a number of aging pipelines And we have a number of aging
• So, let's have a healthy discussion. Senator Matthews. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• So, let's have a healthy discussion. Senator Matthews. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• Melcher at MDE, who then got an AG opinion that, in fact, the language couldn’t be used because of the
• Melcher at MDE, who then got an AG opinion that, in fact, the language couldn’t be used because of the
• the bill just kind of bummed me out, but on line 3.30, the committee will have two persons under the age
• > who</c><01:11:37.680><c> are</c><01:11:37.800><c> survivors</c><01:11:38.680><c> of</c> under the age
• of 21 who are survivors of under the age of 21 who are survivors of school<01:11:39.640><c> or</c><01

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Ron Sparks, ag commissioner, 2011. >> Sure. >> You know when the last time was we had a Democratic
• Infrastructure is aging. The appearance of Maxwell Air Force Base is aging.
• Infrastructure is<01:56:03.119><c> aging.

Transcript Highlights:

• Restricted revenues remain healthy.
• so I wanted to go over some healthy so I wanted to go over some discussion<03:27:24.880><c> points</
• is a combination asking in the past it is a combination of<03:58:53.120><c> the</c><03:58:53.399><c> age
• <c> are</c><04:23:25.239><c> saying</c><04:23:25.680><c> that</c><04:23:26.159><c> if</c> one at my age
• um you are saying that if one at my age um you are saying that if I<04:23:26.560><c> drive</c><04:23

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it the benefit amount or the skills and age and availability of replacement jobs?
• and availability you of and age and availability you of replacement replacement replacement jobs<00:
• So it's still a very healthy market. In short, sorry, any further questions?
• </c><01:43:40.639><c> Market</c> so it's still a very very healthy Market so it's still a very very healthy
• population myself included and and aging population myself included and and I<03:34:53.439><c> think

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Electoral transparency is an integral component of a healthy democracy, and I see no reason to backslide
• c><00:05:50.000><c> component</c><00:05:50.440><c> of</c><00:05:50.560><c> a</c><00:05:50.680><c> healthy
• </c> an integral component of a healthy an integral component of a healthy democracy<00:05:52.199><c>
• It came just short of the 67% that was on the judicial retirement age.
• You need to be 18 years of age. You need to be a qualified voter.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• disagreements, and I hope that my disagreement with this legislation is viewed as just that, friendly and healthy
• </c><00:57:12.480><c> and</c> viewed as just that, friendly and viewed as just that, friendly and healthy
• c> Um,</c><00:57:14.160><c> there's</c><00:57:14.480><c> a</c><00:57:14.640><c> philosophical</c> healthy
• Um, there's a philosophical healthy.
• I'm state policy director with Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate