Transcript Highlights:

• 35% increase in the tackle into this 35% increase in the overtime overtime overtime rate<04:14:08.479
• </c> our strategic plan has been to increase our strategic plan has been to increase our<04:18:20.760
• So, going back to 2020 to 2027, we've increased from 971 to 973, and that increase was the result of
• </c><06:20:54.718><c> in</c> going to need to see an increase in going to need to see an increase in
• So that's a huge increase.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to ask you, did y'all give any consideration, since this is to look at high growth, high wage
• Quite frankly, gentlemen and ladies, what this does is it increases the principal from 50,000 to 75,000
• , and it increases the date from 30 days to 1 year.
• </c><02:16:00.960><c> the</c> what this does is it increases the what this does is it increases the principal
• rates and do these required to increase rates and do these things<03:53:13.880><c> you're</c><03:53:

Transcript Highlights:

• Without this bill, the average taxpayer in Pennsylvania's 15th district would face a 24% tax increase
• After all, it helps deploy technologies that increase their productivity, produce higher yields, and
• We therefore must build safeguards into our country's communication networks to increase their safety
• As our reliance on digital technologies increases, so too does the scale and sophistication of these
• </c> Commission advisory council to increase Commission advisory council to increase the<03:55:06.399

Transcript Highlights:

• , you know, that technology increases.
• , you know, that technology increases.
• , you know, that technology increases.
• Tax credits and grants are tied to measurable job creation, wage, and investment benchmarks.
• ,</c> our memo, we we've had increases, our memo, we we've had increases, decreases,<03:11:50.560><c>

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• funding for county concerning increasing funding for county child<01:29:23.280><c> welfare</c><01:29
• Also, Senators Marchman and Kirkmeyer, concerning increasing the number of off-campus courses offered
• Also, Senators Marchman and Kirkmeyer, concerning increasing the number of off-campus courses offered
• </c> being offered continues to increase. being offered continues to increase.
• This bill gives them increased leverage to threaten criminal prosecution over a contract dispute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill is for our registrar of voters, and it increases and changes the pay scale for them
• It increases from $15 million to $20 million the maximum amount of monies that may be deposited into
• House Bill 324 by Representative Debbie Villio concerns salary increases for judges, including the Supreme
• It provides an increase of $41.50 per clinic in the 2026, 2027, and 2028 budgets that we've already passed
• It provides an increase of $41.50 per clinic in the 2026, 2027, and 2028 budgets that we've already passed

Bills: HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HCR112 , HR307 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR3 , HCR49 , HCR66 , HCR67 , HB1 , HB2 , HB42 , HB45 , HB66 , HB71 , HB79 , HB126 , HB133 , HB145 , HB159 , HB167 , HB213 , HB218 , HB222 , HB289 , HB291 , HB312 , HB313 , HB316 , HB324 , HB352 , HB383 , HB398 , HB403 , HB429 , HB457 , HB459 , HB511 , HB549 , HB571 , HB579 , HB591 , HB608 , HB616 , HB624 , HB766 , HB769 , HB783 , HB799 , HB804 , HB864 , HB874 , HB909 , HB951 , HB971 , HB983 , HB1005 , HB1017 , HB1051 , HB1056 , HB1095 , HB1126 , HB1129 , HB1186 , HB1193 , HB1223 , HB1224 , HB1230 , HB1235 , HB1249 , HB723 , HB36 , HB140 , HB181 , HB198 , HB205 , HB211 , HB226 , HB259 , HB271 , HB302 , HB335 , HB342 , HB487 , HB513 , HB623 , HB682 , HB730 , HB740 , HB761 , HB775 , HB797 , HB812 , HB816 , HB940 , HB968 , HB979 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1038 , HB1049 , HB1084 , HB1161 , HB1194 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1247 , HB1256 , SB25 , SB132 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB228 , SB237 , SB250 , SB405 , SB406 , SB414 , SB433 , SB480 , SB513 , SB149 , HB359 , SB29 , SB43 , SB78 , HB210 , HB258 , HB468 , HB784 , HB134 , HB1117 , SB42 , SB274 , SB382 , SB449 , SB300 , HR74 , HB463 , HB715 , HB998 , SB80 , SB268 , SB444 , SB479 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , HB74 , HB119 , HB368 , HB414 , HB552 , HB732 , HB776 , HB848 , HB870 , HB953 , HB956 , HB1236 , SB208 , SB217 , SB283 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , SB408 , SB469

Keywords: oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding, taxpayer liability, public liability, offshore wells, onshore wells, coastal erosion, Department of Conservation and Energy, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor's Advisory on Disability Affairs work tirelessly to promote inclusion, accessibility, and increase

Bills: SR107 , SCR53 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR12 , HB167 , HB181 , HB243 , HB316 , HB321 , HB335 , HB492 , HB578 , HB624 , HB708 , HB864 , HB906 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1032 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1118 , HB1157 , HB1187 , HB1189 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1220 , HB221 , HCR58 , SB283 , SB338 , SB488 , SB520 , HB90 , HB127 , HB138 , HB150 , HB201 , HB268 , HB273 , HB285 , HB315 , HB354 , HB355 , HB360 , HB376 , HB445 , HB506 , HB606 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB972 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , SB68 , SB76 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB318 , SB162 , SB382 , SCR33 , SCR30 , SB112 , SB194 , SB307 , SB341 , SB346 , SB363 , SB495 , SB503 , SB507 , SB509 , SB513 , SB408 , SB131 , SB145 , SB333 , SB464 , SB466 , SB500 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB228 , SB246 , SB249 , SB268 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB312 , SB319 , SB323 , SB369 , SB431 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB501 , HCR14 , HB537 , HB652 , HB653 , HB661 , HB726 , HB756 , HB851 , HB964 , HB966 , HB34 , HB35 , HB48 , HB474 , HB553 , HB758 , HB852 , HB10 , HB16 , HB36 , HB44 , HB46 , HB52 , HB61 , HB78 , HB98 , HB102 , HB124 , HB126 , HB131 , HB135 , HB141 , HB142 , HB164 , HB170 , HB171 , HB179 , HB194 , HB231 , HB245 , HB280 , HB292 , HB294 , HB297 , HB305 , HB336 , HB337 , HB351 , HB436 , HB594 , HB789 , HB956 , HB957 , HB995 , HB1040 , HB50 , HB117 , HB120 , HB122 , HB139 , HB148 , HB149 , HB185 , HB199 , HB247 , HB271 , HB286 , HB301 , HB358 , HB359 , HB384 , HB413 , HB428 , HB450 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB631 , HB657 , HB669 , HB675 , HB680 , HB691 , HB712 , HB716 , HB720 , HB723 , HB727 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB842 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB119 , HB129 , HB677 , HB850

Keywords: condolence resolution, memorial resolution, tribute, sympathy, Joel Parker Sr., Louisiana Senate, rodeo, cowboy, horse trainer, stock and rodeo producer, black cowboy, African American history, community recognition, funeral resolution, celebration of life, Lottie Stampede Arena, Easter Sunday Rodeo, ranching, plantation work, faith community

Transcript Highlights:

• When is that increased, and who makes the decision to increase that? >> Sure.
• When is that increased, and who makes the decision to increase that? >> Sure.
• </c> increasing damages. increasing damages.
• </c> increase taxes and fees. increase taxes and fees.
• </c> increase to rateayers? increase to rateayers?

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• health insurance costs access, increased health insurance costs for<01:22:44.639><c> farmers,</c><01
• We can increase interventions for our fosters or not.
• ><c> for</c><02:31:46.880><c> our</c> We can increase interventions for our We can increase interventions
• strain on our hospitals, increase strain on our hospitals, specifically<02:45:52.399><c> our</c><02:
• Remember that the work requirements are 80 hours at federal minimum wage. That's $7.25.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the insured to offset premium increases. the insured to offset premium increases. you<00:57:03.680
• </c> And number four, all new rate increases And number four, all new rate increases cannot<00:57:22.720
• And our rate increases are out of whack with the rest of the country. Isn't that right?
• The old wording put in job and wage requirements that simply don't fit here.
• </c><02:13:24.960><c> the</c> customer is expected to increase the customer is expected to increase the

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> four-year colleges uh increased four-year colleges uh increased enrollments,<01:17:29.160><c> and
• And remember, we increased money.
• :36:14.680><c> civil</c> through increased fines and civil through increased fines and civil penalties
• </c> applications is quickly increasing. applications is quickly increasing.
• </c> increase from 2023. increase from 2023.

Transcript Highlights:

• Financial Crimes and Fraud Section, and their purpose is to investigate traditional financial crimes, wage
• </c><00:14:23.880><c> number</c><00:14:24.160><c> of</c> we are seeing increased number of we are seeing
• increased number of incidents<00:14:24.800><c> that</c><00:14:24.920><c> involve</c><00:14:25.240><c
• the likelihood of firearm um increases the likelihood of death<01:11:49.520><c> for</c><01:11:49.640
• The waitlist for DCT beds would also increase.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases the maximum investment cap in the equity participation investment program from $2 million
• It increases the maximum investment cap in the equity participation investment program from $2 million
• It increases the maximum investment cap in the equity participation investment program from $2 million
• Clerk, read the next bill. >> Senate Bill 764, Senator Zucker, education minimum wage for education support
• Senate Bill 705, Caroline County Senators, Caroline County Board of Education, member compensation increase

Transcript Highlights:

• That is an increase, not a decrease, because of the increase that we're given across the board as far
• Every time we do a pay increase, other states do a pay increase, too.
• Every time we do a pay increase, other states do a pay increase, too.
• Every time we do a pay increase, other states do a pay increase, too.
• Every time we do a pay increase, other states do a pay increase, too. we're paying teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are jobs with good wages and benefits that are supporting their families.
• In my own district, we've seen an over 1,000% increase in the rate of fentanyl poisoning and deaths.
• They went on record<05:37:03.440><c> against</c><05:37:04.160><c> increasing</c><05:37:05.360><c> the
• </c><05:39:43.360><c> in</c><05:39:43.600><c> the</c> the $3 trillion deficit increase in the the $3
• our nation's deficit by 1.5 increase our nation's deficit by 1.5 billion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um to regulate at an incre an increasing um to regulate at an incre an increasing level<03:44:51.040
• </c><05:17:39.040><c> costs,</c> technologies, increased provider costs, technologies, increased provider
• </c><05:34:58.638><c> My</c> will be increasing regardless. My will be increasing regardless.
• So, a 50% increase. And rather rates. So, a 50% increase.
• </c> doing dealing with a 39% rate increase. doing dealing with a 39% rate increase.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Sen. Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would codify the department’s interpretation that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary coverage for a newborn, unless the mother has no insurance or coverage under an employer-sponsored plan. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure is a clarification of existing practice and intended to protect vulnerable newborns; a question from Rep. Miles clarified that if a young woman is on her parents’ policy, the newborn would generally be covered under that family coverage. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Sen. Kevin Avard, which would require insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, Medicare Advantage plans. Commissioner Benton Court said the bill arose from disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers, brokers, and the department were confused by carriers changing or ending offerings; he said the department wanted a simple notification requirement so it could better advise consumers. Members discussed network adequacy, county-based service areas, and the fact that the bill would make notice a condition of licensure, with possible fines or license action for noncompliance. Witness Paula Rogers of AHIP said her group supported the bill if amended, and the department indicated it would support a change from a 120-day notice period to 90 days to align with state rules; the committee planned to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Rep. Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion of pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole argued the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell drugs at a loss, describing PBMs as middlemen and saying the measure is a compromise that protects local pharmacies. Members questioned whether consumers would pay more and whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts; Cole responded that the bill would let pharmacies refuse unprofitable fills while consumers could still obtain the drug through mail order or other channels. He also said the issue has changed over time because the practice now affects a much larger share of generics and is concentrated among a few PBMs. The hearing remained open as questions continued, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:37.840><c> at</c> were increasing at were increasing at $5,000<00:04:40.199><c> okay</c><00
• to 75 hundredths of 1% increase.
• So they increased it.
• So they increased it.
• So they increased it.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:15.680><c> There's</c><01:01:15.920><c> a</c> increase on every American.
• There's a increase on every American.
• ><c> supply</c><03:10:44.240><c> of</c> will help increase the supply of will help increase the supply
• The projections estimate a 33.6% increase just by April 2025.
• , thereby increasing the costs even<03:52:38.520><c> more.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> these</c> By increasing awareness of these By increasing awareness of these scientifically<03:19
• rises with increased consumption.
• rises with increased consumption.
• rises with increased consumption.
• </c> sell inhalance unlawfully and increase sell inhalance unlawfully and increase the<04:54:31.120><

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 1281, which would establish standards and voluntary certification for agency-owned “facility comfort dogs” used by police and other public safety agencies. Representative Morton, the prime sponsor, said the bill is intended to create a consistent statewide framework because different departments currently use different policies. He emphasized that the bill is meant to distinguish comfort dogs from service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs, and noted that a small amendment may be needed to make that distinction clearer. He also said the bill is timely under the ADA because comfort dogs fall outside service-animal protections, but still need training standards for public safety and consistency. Committee members questioned whether the bill was too detailed and whether the legislature should be setting rules on matters like training methods, diet, and breeding. Laura Barker of Hero Pups, who helped train New Hampshire’s first police comfort dog, supported the idea of a minimum standard but said the bill should be less prescriptive and should not interfere with therapy dogs or private handlers. She explained that comfort dogs vary in temperament and deployment needs, that raw diets raise zoonotic disease concerns, and that the program should remain voluntary and not cost the state money. Detective Michelle Jones of Portsmouth Police opposed the bill as written, saying the term “facility comfort dog” is confusing, the bill is overly restrictive, and some provisions go beyond what should be mandated by statute; she suggested a more flexible, guideline-based approach and noted that departments already have their own SOPs and can enforce them internally. Justin Brassen of the Manchester Police Department also testified, describing the history of comfort dog programs in New Hampshire and the work of a prior subcommittee formed through the governor’s commission on PTSD among first responders. He said there are currently no statewide standards and that the earlier study involved police, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and NAMI New Hampshire, with the goal of creating a thoughtful work product. He agreed the bill needs work and answered questions about how departments handle training and public access. By the end of the hearing, members and witnesses discussed possible amendments, and one committee member suggested the bill may be better handled through interim study because of the amount of work still needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also increases county spending by about $40,000 per year when it goes into effect.
• </c><01:26:28.280><c> in</c> service associated with increase in service associated with increase in
• So that’s just the cost of increased fire department staffing in the two we have.
• fire department inre of increased fire department inre increased<01:40:57.119><c> Staffing</c><01:40
• </c><01:52:26.079><c> in</c> Services associated with the increase in Services associated with the increase

Committee: House Municipal and County Government