Video & Transcript Research : 'small modular reactors'
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HI
Transcript Highlights:
- I had three really small children, and I was in a very dangerous situation.
- ><00:09:47.680>
had <00:09:47.839>three <00:09:48.160>really <00:09:48.480>small - I had three really small relationship.
- I had three really small children<00:09:49.200>
and <00:09:49.440>I <00:09:49.600>was - blown up into this really big, um, on the front lines of people's thought, and I think it's such a small
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee first deferred HB 239, which would have narrowed the definition of child abuse or neglect by excluding cases where a caregiver is unable to provide certain needs solely because of poverty or lack of resources. The chair said other similar bills were still alive and expressed concern that carving out a specific category of abuse could hinder monitoring of children being harmed for other reasons.
The committee then took up several decision-making items. HB 420, dealing with the contractor repair act and construction defect claims, was recommended for passage with extensive amendments that would clarify statutes of repose and limitations, define substantial completion, remove homeowner expert-report requirements, delete class-action limits, set timelines for inspections, mediation, and settlement procedures, and add non-retroactivity language; it passed unanimously. HB 732, concerning special management area minor permits for certain single-family residences, was also passed with amendments after the committee removed the provision that would have expanded minor-permit eligibility for homes under 3,500 square feet. HB 1017, repealing the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, passed with amendments to make it effective upon approval. HB 958, which restricts children under 15 from riding class 3 electric bicycles and raises the helmet age requirement, passed with technical amendments only.
The committee also considered Governor’s Message 689, the nomination of Melissa Sautello to the Commission on the Status of Women. After testimony in support and questions from members about financial disclosure and her views on women’s sports and transgender participation, the committee voted to advise and consent to the nomination. The nomination passed, and the committee adjourned after noting that a full Senate vote would follow.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hied Committee Meeting - 2025-04-03
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- authorities and our ability to expand and do great work in both urban and rural Minnesota, particularly for small
- This preferential treatment gives a small fraction of a merit and children and young adults a handout
- What was meant to be a small but mighty response to correct the course from an ugly past was deleted
- training programs, including apprenticeships and internships, in conjunction with local large and small
- Research shows that even small savings accounts drastically increase the child's likelihood of pursuing
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Then, the Regional Farm Equipment Sharing Program is designed to facilitate equipment sharing among small
- We would also want to work with our BIPOC advisory committee and our small producer advisory committee
- schools that participate are Title I, and over ninety-four percent of the farmers that benefit are small
- We represent 8,000 small and underserved farmers across the state of California here.
- This has benefited a number of small, mid-scale...
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- of this bill may argue that the influence of implicit bias on judicial rulings is minimal, but even small
- These small things can show up as thinking somebody needs to be spoken to a certain way, needs to be.
- a different perspective, um, but it's been my, um Yeah, I, I, I've just learned that when we take small
- So, um, yeah, I, I'd rather start small than aim big and get nothing.
- One small modification to that point that could be made is on page 4, line 23.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Small business owners and workers that sustain our tourism in these industries must be able to live in
- communities with high windstorm insurance costs make housing unaffordable, place financial pressures on small
- , a lot of our, you know, a lot of our money does go towards Tua and You know, this isn't just a a small
- business um or uh this does not just affect small business, but it affects, you know, the people living
- And, and so in your estimation, it would be something fairly small like $4. Yes, ma'am.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- As I understand it, it's a small business owner who owned an automotive repair shop in the city of Dallas
- So I'm just kind of curious—if I'm a small business owner, and I am a small business owner, and there
- So a small city, and we've had several come testify before this committee on other bills, would not even
- fails to provide adequate notice, transparency, and protection for our property owners, developers, small
Keywords:
zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Only because it runs this really little small motor to make it work.
- Representative Sexton: That seems like a significant cost to somebody's budget—a small or medium-sized
- There's a lot of these small arborists paying a fortune to try to dispose of their wood material, and
- Elm tree or ash tree that showed symptoms, and there are hundreds of them in that one small city.
- Her small social security check was her only income, but she had no partner benefits because they never
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 25, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- What I'm trying to address in this amendment to the amendment is that small percentage of times where
- I just want to address the small instances where this does happen, and it has very serious financial
- My question or concern is: If we have a problem that you've admittedly said is 5% or a very small number
- removes the sunset on the aggregate supply chain grant program, focuses on enhancing partnerships with small
- You know, for example, terms like disadvantaged businesses, small businesses, getting removed from statute
Summary:
The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee heard several transportation and infrastructure bills. HB 1239, Energy Infrastructure Investment, would let the Public Service Commission create a mechanism for utilities to recover costs for renewable natural gas infrastructure; supporters said it could diversify energy supply and help agriculture, while members raised concerns about consumer rates and asked whether savings from RIN credits should be passed to customers. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably after debate, with members noting the PSC would set costs and that the sponsor was open to further discussion on consumer protections.
The committee then took up HB 313, which exempts Purple Heart recipients from paying Florida tolls. With no questions or opposition, it passed unanimously. The committee also considered HB 567, a broad transportation omnibus/strike-all bill covering EV tax revenue for roads, airport and MPO changes, workforce funding, traffic signal modernization, speed limits, and a pilot to streamline airport permitting. A major amendment added utility right-of-way notice, response, and incentive/penalty provisions, and another amendment authorized local governments to set age and ID rules for e-bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices after testimony about a fatal crash. The bill was reported favorably after extensive debate and public testimony from transportation and utility stakeholders.
HB 112, dealing with municipal sewer collection systems, would allow cities to use sewer revenues to expand wastewater infrastructure. Sponsors said it was aimed at helping cities like Hollywood reduce septic use and improve water quality; testimony supported the measure as a way to unlock funding for sewer expansion, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also approved HB 7009, preserving public records and meeting exemptions for 911 and public safety radio communications systems and expanding them to next-generation 911. Finally, PCS for HB 1397, a large transportation package addressing airport, seaport, spaceport, and workforce issues, was amended and passed 14-1 after questions about federal testing notifications, removal of certain business preference language, and a provision redirecting some transit funds to highway projects if not timely used.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 18, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- institution, Ringling, which is an art institution, and then big institutions like UM and Nova, and small
- Thomas University is a small Catholic school in Miami in North Miami.
- Students choose ICAF institutions because of small class size.
- And so that has led to a small proration in the second term and has dropped them out just a little bit
- to $3,300 total per student. ...small proration in the second term and has dropped them out just a little
Summary:
The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee heard and advanced House Bill 1145, which clarifies that public charter schools may participate in the CAP Grant Fund. The bill’s amendment expanded a separate “money-back guarantee” concept for state colleges, requiring participating institutions to offer six eligible programs and refund tuition if graduates do not find qualifying employment within six months under standardized job-search requirements. Members asked about refund rates, student notification, fiscal impact, and whether the proposal accounted for disability or out-of-state job searches. Public testimony on the amendment and bill was in support from Nathan Hoffman of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute by a 16-1 vote, with Representative Aristide voting no over the charter school issue.
The committee then received presentations on the William L. Boyd IV Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant and the private nonprofit college sector. Department of Education staff explained that EASE, created in 1979, provides tuition assistance to eligible full-time undergraduates at participating private institutions, with a 2024-25 maximum award of $3,500 and an additional EASE Plus incentive of up to $850 for students in high-demand fields. The department reviewed the program’s funding history, disbursement process, and accountability metrics, including access, affordability, graduation, retention, and postgraduate employment/continuing education. Members asked about award proration, eligibility for other aid, religious-program restrictions, and why some institutions had low or unavailable graduation-rate data.
ICUF President Robert Boyd argued that EASE is a strong return on investment and described ICUF institutions as not-for-profit, four-year schools serving many Pell-eligible, adult, military, and minority students. He said the sector produces a significant share of Florida’s bachelor’s, graduate, nursing, and education degrees, and highlighted ICUF’s dashboard with additional transparency metrics, program earnings data, and net price calculators. Boyd and members discussed graduation and completion rates, NCLEX passage rates, affordability, institutional flexibility, and whether schools with lower graduation rates should be compared differently because of their student populations. The presentations ended with no further business, and the meeting adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Mar 12th, 2025
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill updates the licensing requirements for small residential group homes by not requiring them
- This bill updates the licensing requirements for small residential group homes by not requiring them
- Anna is from a small ethnic group called the Garifuna. Interesting.
- I know it's unbelievably painful, but hopefully this will be a small measure of progress to make sure
- Hopefully this will be a small measure of progress to make sure nothing like this can happen again.
Summary:
The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and considered five bills. SB 1174, by Senator Jones, would simplify the process for transferring a family foster home license when a foster parent moves within Florida. A friendly amendment clarified that the transfer applies to the same licensed person, not a different individual, and directs DCF to prioritize amended licenses. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.
SB 558, by Chair Grall, created a framework for voluntary post-adoption contact agreements between adoptive and biological parents, including contact with siblings, with court filing and enforcement procedures. A strike-all amendment changed the child’s party status age from 14 to 12, required court filing in the adoption case, set a preponderance standard, and moved the effective date to January 1, 2026. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 1626, also by Chair Grall, was substantially revised by a strike-all addressing unaccompanied alien children reporting and custody procedures, military family child protective investigations, domestic violence shelter certification, children’s services councils, criminal-background exemptions, group home rates, subcontractor indemnification, child care licensing extensions, small residential group home fire suppression rules, and missing-child jurisdiction issues. After testimony both supporting and opposing parts of the bill, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.
SB 738, by Senator Burton, updated child care and early learning licensing rules, including expedited licensing for compliant providers, faster background screening and provisional licensure, online training/testing, exemptions for certain military and employer-provided child care, and removal of a residential insurance provision from the bill. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 304, by Senator Sharief, known as Patterson’s Law, addressed child abuse investigations involving rare genetic or metabolic conditions that can mimic abuse. The strike-all required more detailed medical analysis in reports, allowed second opinions, and set procedures for experienced physician review and judicial resolution. After extensive testimony from affected families, advocates, and DCF, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. At the end, Senators Harrell and Rouson asked to be recorded as voting favorably on additional bills, and the committee adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Commerce and Economic Development Mar 5th, 2025
House Commerce & Economic Development Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- But being that it's a state organization, I think that's the responsibility of the state and not two small
- Dona Ana County, which now I have a small part of, but as representative of that county, I think it's
- The current law, just with its language, "as soon as practicable" for small businesses does cause issues
- the change to align it with employer handbooks is critical so that we can manage staffing for our small
- that if there is not a policy in place, the Department of Workforce Solutions could actually help small
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 13, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- That number might seem kind of small, but it’s because not every derelict vessel has an owner we can
- We did some messaging up front, and we had a very small amount of derelict vessels from Hurricane Idalia
- But I would say that that's still probably a small percentage of what's going on, but it's still an issue
- So the good news is if it is upon the waters of the state, or even if a small portion of it is touching
- A lot of these efforts are funded by federal grants and volunteer programs that have affected both small
Summary:
The subcommittee received an overview from FWC Deputy Director in Law Enforcement Lt. Col. Rob Rowe on boating safety, derelict vessels, and marine debris. On boating safety, he said FWC uses inspections, BUI enforcement, public education campaigns, boater education courses, warnings, and citations to reduce accidents and fatalities. Members asked about probable cause for stops, geofenced safety messages, boating education age requirements, and common violations such as life jacket issues. Rowe said most stops are based on probable cause, the education requirement currently applies to those born after Jan. 1, 1988, and FWC is considering whether broader education requirements would improve safety.
The committee then focused heavily on derelict vessels. Rowe explained the legal definition of a derelict vessel, the at-risk and nuisance vessel tools used to intervene earlier, and the V-TIP voluntary turn-in program. He described the removal process, including owner notification, a 21-day administrative hearing period, contractor selection, and disposal/recycling, and said FWC works with local governments, emergency management, and sometimes the Coast Guard on larger pollution-related cases. Members asked about timelines, costs, salvage rules, title issues, and jurisdictional differences between state, county, city, and federal authorities. Rowe said the agency has added staff and grant tools, but continued funding remains important, and he noted that local governments can also use ordinances to address floating structures, liveaboards, anchoring, and storm-related risks.
On marine debris, Rowe said FWC works with DEP, FDACS, NOAA, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, local governments, and volunteers to remove debris ranging from plastics to storm-damaged fishing gear and derelict vessels. He said hurricane events greatly increase debris and derelict vessel removals, and the agency is updating the Florida Marine Debris Reduction Plan with partners. The meeting ended after members and the vice chair emphasized local tools such as mooring fields and pumpout enforcement, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any formal vote or action beyond rising without objection.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, if it's a small community that you're looking at. Thank you, Representative.
- I'd like to ask Izzy about a small concern regarding bonds at the state level, school bonds, etc.
- Districts maintain a small reserve, usually for the next two bond payments in the event of a revenue
- Let's keep in mind that the residential properties owned by veterans are still a very small piece of
- While addressing only a small portion of the problem, House Bill 52 is a step in the right direction
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Republican Press Conference 2/5/25
Transcript Highlights:
- And I've been in small business for myself for close to 30 years, so I'm excited to serve and to give
- I'm a dad of three, husband, live in North Branch, small business owner, so co-own a marketing agency
- c><00:13:37.600>
North <00:13:37.959>Branch <00:13:38.959>uh <00:13:39.120>small - husband live in North Branch uh small husband live in North Branch uh small business<00:13:39.680
Summary:
House Republicans held a press event to announce two priority bills focused on immigration and state spending. Rep. Isaac Schultz said his bill, House File 10, would stop taxpayer funding for people in Minnesota illegally, including through programs such as Northstar Promise, MinnesotaCare, medical assistance, and legal services. He framed the proposal as a way to redirect limited state resources to Minnesota families, veterans, people with disabilities, the homeless, and infrastructure needs, and said it could save more than $100 million, with some estimates discussed during debate reaching about $200 million for MinnesotaCare alone.
Rep. Max Rymer introduced House File 16, which would require reporting to ICE or other federal immigration authorities when an undocumented immigrant is suspected of committing a violent crime, and would bar local governments from withholding information from federal authorities. He said the bill is intended to end sanctuary-city practices and improve public safety. Both lawmakers argued that the measures are narrow, targeted at violent offenders, and consistent with cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. They also said the bills respond to voter concerns about illegal immigration and rising costs.
During questions, the members said the state-funding bill is aimed at state dollars, while the reporting bill complements federal law by addressing local noncooperation. They discussed concerns about eligibility tracking and said current programs do not provide enough data on how many undocumented people receive benefits. Schultz cited a family in his district that lost MinnesotaCare after an income change as an example of what he sees as unfair treatment compared with benefits for undocumented immigrants. No votes were taken at the event; the lawmakers said these are the first of several bills they plan to advance this session.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Committee, First Extraordinary Session Jan 22nd, 2025
Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- I look forward to being a very small part of that, so thank you. Thank you very much, Mr.
- A million dollars is obviously going to be a very small amount that is going to be needed.
- So, this is a small package in the context of our larger disaster response that's already in law.
- over time, but especially as time goes on, local governments will put up a lot of red tape, even in small
- And I'll just give one small example in the northern part of our district in 2020. three floods, families
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- the goal is that they are trying to meet the mobility options or improve the mobility options of the small
- The staff is so small... Some of the technology, it's just sort of out of their reach at times.
- The staff is so small, the costs can be prohibitive, so providing that kind of support is very helpful
- The staff is so small. some of the technology, it's just sort of out of their reach at times.
- The staff is so small, the costs can be prohibitive, so providing that kind of support is very helpful
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee met, took roll, and heard introductory remarks from members about their districts and transportation priorities, with several senators noting congestion and mobility challenges in their regions. The committee then received a presentation from the Florida Transportation Commission on its oversight role for FDOT, including annual and quarterly performance reviews, review of the five-year work program, and monitoring of tolling and transit authorities. Members asked whether the commission gets involved in project prioritization; the answer was no, because it is statutorily limited to high-level oversight rather than day-to-day project decisions.
The committee next heard two reports related to transportation disadvantaged and paratransit services. FDOT’s Melissa Smith described the statewide Transportation Disadvantaged program, its governance structure, service models, and challenges such as fragmented administration, cost, inconsistent reporting, and rural service limitations. She outlined recommendations including better use of technology, regional partnerships, improved training, and alternative delivery models like microtransit and TNC partnerships. A University of South Florida researcher, Martin Katala, discussed best practices for paratransit and demand-response service, emphasizing route optimization software, dynamic dispatching, service standards, vendor accountability, and the use of TNCs and mobility management to improve efficiency and reduce travel times. A later presentation from UF’s I-Street program focused on emerging technologies for transit, including in-cabin monitoring, automatic restraints, accessible booking and tracking tools, and the need for statewide safety standards and better driver interfaces.
Finally, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and District 5 Secretary John Tyler provided an update on the transition of SunRail local entities. They explained the differences among commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail, and said SunRail’s financial transition to local partners was completed on January 1, with operational transition to follow over up to three years. They contrasted that with Tri-Rail, where FDOT still funds operations and discussions about a future transition are ongoing. Members asked about the differences between SunRail, Tri-Rail, Amtrak, and Brightline, and the presenters explained that commuter rail serves regional daily commuters while intercity rail connects regions. The committee concluded without taking any formal votes or other legislative action.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 01/21/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- The small portion of the Met Council is funded through this committee, dealing with Metro Parks.
- have a met Council Metro Parks the small have a met Council Metro Parks the small portion<00:24:
- A small business loan program is a very successful and popular program.
- <01:19:16.000>
in businesses large and small in businesses large and small in sustainability - <01:26:26.480>
are NGS and businesses large and small are NGS and businesses large and small
Summary:
Chair Foung Hawj opened the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee meeting by welcoming members, agency staff, and constituents, and by outlining the committee’s shared-power arrangement for the session. Members introduced themselves and described environmental activities from the interim, including gardening, outdoor recreation, farming visits, Great Lakes work, and a tree-planting trip in Thailand that Hawj said symbolized cultural unity and environmental stewardship.
Ben Stanley, the committee’s nonpartisan counsel, then explained the co-chairs’ operating agreement: Hawj would chair the meeting, Senator John Hoffman would chair the next two meetings, then Hawj would chair the following two, with the chair rotating after each pair of meetings. Agendas would be set jointly, additional meetings would require both chairs’ approval, and passing a bill out of committee would require a majority of all committee members, or seven votes. At Senator Tory Westrom’s request, the agreement was to be emailed to members in writing.
Stanley also reviewed the committee’s jurisdiction, which includes environmental and natural resources bills, legacy funds, and agencies such as the Environmental Quality Board, Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, and Board of Water and Soil Resources, along with several related councils and boards. Fiscal analyst Dan Mueller then gave a budget overview of the committee’s agencies, noting that many current biennium appropriations include one-time general fund money that drops back in the 2026-27 base budget. He highlighted funding levels for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, Metro Parks, Conservation Corps, BWSR, the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum, and the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust Account, and said the committee’s base-budget area totals about $2.2 billion. He also reviewed the Legacy funds, estimating available 2026-27 appropriations of about $327 million for Outdoor Heritage, $31.7 million for Clean Water, $133 million for Parks and Trails, and $185 million for Arts and Cultural Heritage. No votes or bill actions were taken at this meeting.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (01/23/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- So SAUs are quite small. They all have a superintendent, they all have an office, and so on.
- they all have a quite small they all have a superintendent<03:05:53.359>
they <03:05:53.479>- ones has a grant Rider maybe you small ones has a grant Rider maybe you don't<03:06:13.200>
need< - bargaining negotiations in a small bargaining negotiations in a small several<03:19:31.399>
month - Many of these smaller districts were K-8s, and they were small.
- ones has a grant Rider maybe you small ones has a grant Rider maybe you don't<03:06:13.200>
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 362, which would give the Department of Education rulemaking authority over educator licensing and testing requirements, including professional education assessments. Representative Ladd argued the bill is meant to preserve New Hampshire’s higher standards for teacher preparation and to avoid lowering requirements for licensed educators, while also allowing flexibility for career and technical education (CTE) instructors who may have strong industry experience but not traditional classroom credentials. Members discussed whether the bill should preserve industry-recognized credentials and basic academic skills testing while exempting CTE teachers from content exams; DOE Director Steven Appy said an amendment would clarify that the bill applies to initial licenses, exempt CTE teachers from the content-testing requirement, and keep current administrative practice on basic skills and industry credentials in statute. The committee also noted that an executive session would be scheduled later, likely the following week, to act on the bills and amendment.
The committee then took up House Bill 90, dealing with the definition of part-time teachers. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is intended to let university and community college faculty teach limited hours in high school concurrent enrollment settings, especially in subjects like math and STEM where some schools cannot find locally certified teachers with a master’s degree. He said the measure is designed to expand student access to college-level courses, not to replace fully certified teachers or reduce standards, and emphasized that the bill is limited to faculty employed or contracted by the University System of New Hampshire or the Community College System of New Hampshire, with criminal background checks and ethics/conduct rules still applying. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the discussion ended with the understanding that further action would come in executive session.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/09/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- large town, but we're a relatively small large town, but we're a relatively small geographic<00:
- It is a very small part of the definition of seclusion.
- It is a very small part of the definition of seclusion.
- It is a very small part of the definition of seclusion.
- It is a very small part of the definition of seclusion.
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1331, which would allow the town of Derry to incorporate the Derry Cooperative School District as a department of the town through a charter amendment. The prime sponsor and several supporters argued the change would increase local control, streamline overlapping town and school functions, and potentially help align school spending with Derry’s tax cap. Supporters also said Derry is large enough to warrant a structure more like Manchester or Nashua, and one witness cited a 2018 nonbinding Derry ballot question that passed 597 to 547 in favor of seeking authorization for this change.
Opposition came from NEA New Hampshire President Megan Tuttle, who said the association and the Derry Education Association opposed the bill because schools are not simply another municipal department and because Derry voters had already rejected merging the district into town government. She argued the state should respect local control and the community’s prior decision. Committee members asked about the scope of the proposed charter change, the role of the school board, and the reported prior vote, and the sponsor clarified that the amendment would be limited to this specific purpose rather than opening the entire charter.
The hearing then moved to House Bill 1374, which would change the procedures for withdrawing from a cooperative school district. Representative Mary Murphy said current law gives other cooperative towns too much control over a withdrawing town’s decision, and her bill would remove the requirement for approval by the other towns while raising the withdrawing town’s approval threshold to a supermajority. She pointed to Francis Town’s 2024 withdrawal vote and said the bill was intended to protect students and local decision-making. The sponsor asked for an ought to pass recommendation, and committee members asked follow-up questions about the prior withdrawal vote and the number of voters involved.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (01/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- is something where a lot of small is something where a lot of small districts<01:19:54.360>
like - <01:43:26.840>
city this we are unique we are a small city this we are unique we are a small - Good to see you again. we're we're the small City that we are we're we're the small City that we are
- <04:06:02.120>
and that comes back but it's very small and that comes back but it's very small - it's too small it's too small um<05:26:26.040>
it <05:26:26.400>it <05:26:26.600>
Summary:
The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions.
Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid.
Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.