Transcript Highlights:

• President, your conference committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on House Bill 7031E,
• President, your conference committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on House Bill 5001E,
• President, your conference committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on House Bill 5403E,
• President, your conference committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on House Bill 5201E,
• President, your conference committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on House Bill 5205E,

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1740. House Bill 1827. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1839, 29, 21, and 3015.
• House Bill 1840. House Bill 1867.
• House Committee Substitute for House Bill 257. Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2108.
• House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2366 and 2511.
• House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2372. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2397.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On House Bill 609.
• <00:56:36.319> originally tools in it that the House originally tools in it that the House
• fortunately, we have a 400 member House fortunately, we have a 400 member House of<02:14:51.119>
• And I the House does not aced.
• >> even the House bill. >> even the House bill.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The continued conference on House Bill 609 focused on reconciling House and Senate drafts dealing with firearms and other personal defense tools, local government preemption, and agency rulemaking. Representative Leyon walked through amendment 21107H, explaining that it narrows undefined terms, clarifies that the General Court has supremacy over local regulation, allows damages actions for violations of preemption law, and adds language limiting agency rules unless specifically authorized by statute. She also described a three-year sunset and a delayed effective date for new rules so existing rules could continue temporarily while the legislature considers any needed statutory carveouts. Members then debated the practical effect of the language, especially whether it would bar agencies from adopting internal employment rules or instead require those rules to come through JCAR and be tied to express statutory authority. Several examples were discussed, including state plow drivers, corrections employees, and other workers who may need to carry personal defense tools in the field. The committee also discussed a provision making a plaintiff a prevailing party if a municipality changes a challenged policy after suit is filed, and a clause stating that good faith or advice of counsel is not a defense, though it may be considered in mitigation. The discussion narrowed to the difference between the House approach, which some members read as an absolute prohibition on agency rules in these areas, and the Senate approach, which some members said would allow rules only when an agency can point to express enabling authority and JCAR can review them. Members agreed that the goal was to prevent agencies from adopting rules that conflict with the statute while still allowing legitimate safety-related regulations where the legislature has authorized them. The conference took a recess and later resumed with the chair stating the parties had reached an agreement in principle based on the latest Senate language, and Representative Leyon was asked to continue reviewing the draft line by line for remaining concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is House Bill 639, House Bill 639, which is an act relating to genetic data privacy, the Committee
• House Bill 639 is an act relating to House Bill 639 is an act relating to genetic<00:01:59.440> data
• the<00:10:35.480> effective Finally, section 6 is the effective Finally, section 6 is the
• The House will stand at ease. Mhm.
• Would the house please come to order? Would the house please come to order?

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up two committee of conference reports. On House Bill 639, relating to genetic data privacy, members suspended the rules for immediate consideration and adopted the conference report. The conference compromise settled a dispute over cure periods by allowing a 30-day cure period for business activities of genetic data privacy businesses, effective January 1, 2027, with the cure period lasting 18 months and then repealing on June 30, 2028. A House member explained the House had sought a narrower cure period than the Senate, and the final report was adopted by voice vote. The House then suspended the rules to take up House Bill 710, relating to defining electricity generating facilities, and also adopted that conference report by voice vote. The bill updates the definition of a “single plant” to focus on facilities using the same point of interconnection, clarifies the change is not retroactive and applies only to new permit and certificate applications, and adds a Department of Public Service report on farmland conversion to solar by January 15, 2027. It also expands Public Utility Commission hiring authority for complex renewable energy cases, creates a decommissioning fund for abandoned clean energy facilities, requires the PUC to report on the decommissioning fee formula, and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026. The conference committee reported unanimous support. After the two reports were adopted, the House stood at ease, then returned briefly for announcements. Members offered remarks thanking the Speaker for her service after news she would not run again, invited members to view an end-of-year legislative slideshow, and wished a member from Randolph a happy birthday. The House then adjourned until the next day at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Will the House please come to order and members kindly take their seats. Welcome back.
• Members, in this block we are going to take up the Committee of Conference report on House Bill 944,
• , uh, since the announcement is that the Dems will be caucusing 5 minutes after we recess here, so House
• <00:01:40.800> Bill suspend our rules to take up House Bill suspend our rules to take up House
• With that, the house will downstairs.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up the Committee of Conference report on House Bill 944, the fiscal year 2027 transportation program and related transportation law changes. The Speaker first suspended the rules to consider the report immediately. A member from Swanton then outlined the conference committee’s main agreements, saying the House Transportation Committee was pleased with the result. The report’s major provisions included a mileage-based user fee for battery electric vehicles beginning January 1, 2027, at 1.4 cents per mile, with multiple payment options and a directive for the Agency of Transportation to return with recommendations on eventually adding plug-in hybrid vehicles. The member also highlighted shifting $1.7 million from town highway aid to state paving, an additional $300,000 from the general fund for volunteer driver and mobility programs, a recommendation to study bonding as a way to advance transportation projects, consumer-protection style rules for EV charging price transparency, and changes to dates related to the Caledonia airport sale. The member noted the conference committee accepted the Senate’s position on making obsolete Connecticut River log-drive rules obsolete. After brief remarks, the House voted on the conference report. The chair called for a voice vote, the ayes appeared to have it, and the report of the committee of conference was adopted. The House then noted that additional Senate bills might come over later and recessed until 4:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you guys interact concurrently with...
• On our state level, we have the data saying how many housing units per those... ...saying how many housing
• For example, if somebody’s going to do a housing project that’s like 16 acres or wants to do a housing
• So Monica is at 11. >> Housing Hawaii's Future. >> Housing Hawaii's Future is... >> residential developer
• It's on House...

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now take up the implementation of House Bill 33.
• The second recommendation involves House Bill 4264.
• Last May 14th, both the House and the Senate unanimously approved a resolution to recognize Both the
• House and the Senate unanimously approved a resolution to recognize that day as Moral Injury Awareness
• I'm hopeful, though, we'll come to a resolution. I'm hopeful, though, we'll come to a resolution.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Rick Hansen carried the bill in the House back in 2023.
• Senator bill in the House back in 2023.
• And that is housed along the soundbar.
• I've heard if 6/10 of a mile a year.
• <02:48:33.439> that Blandon land 15 feet from my house that Blandon land 15 feet from my house

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council met on May 27, 2026, approved the January 7 minutes and the day’s agenda, and reported no conflicts of interest. The executive director gave staff updates, including introductions of new staff member Cara Castanza and DNR liaison Jason Co., both of whom were welcomed by the council. Members were also informed about three minor easement/conveyance matters in the packet, including a small Bowser easement impact with about $1,600 returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, a Minnesota Land Trust easement request involving a DNR trout stream easement, and an access easement revision in Itasca County. The council also noted several upcoming dedication events and a June field tour in southeast Minnesota beginning in Winona on June 16, with visits to Whitewater WMA, bluff prairie and stream sites, and a river segment if a boat is secured. A major agenda item was a legislative session recap on the Outdoor Heritage Fund portion of Senate File 2077, the omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy, and Lands bill. Staff reported that all council recommendations were incorporated into the bill, which passed both chambers on May 17 and was expected to be signed by the governor. The fiscal year 2027 Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations covered 53 programs totaling about $188.9 million, with the February forecast increasing the appropriation slightly so the final total was about $191.16 million; eligible programs were proportionately increased. Staff also highlighted a few changes made during the legislative process, including adjustments to the Roso Lake rehabilitation phase three project, the conservation partners legacy grant language, and statutory provisions affecting the council. The recap also covered policy changes in the bill: a public member term limit of eight years, with a short vacancy exception and transition rules for current members; a revised executive director hiring process allowing the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide support while preserving the council’s final hiring authority and permitting closed meetings for candidate discussions; and an extension of the Upper Mississippi River invasive carp deterrent design deadline to June 30, 2027. Members discussed the Roso Lake amendment at length, with Senator Lang and Representative Burkel explaining that the added delay and injunction-related language were intended to address local concerns and preserve the council’s process while litigation proceeds. The meeting ended without any additional formal action beyond receiving the updates and discussion.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate all the House members coming this morning and Director Gautreaux for his work at the port

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met to receive public testimony and act on port priority applications for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 Port Priority Construction and Development Priority Program. After approving the March 9, 2026 minutes, the committee heard from Commissioner Andrew Kilshaw of the Office of Multimodal Commerce on two applications from the Avoyelles Harbor and Terminal District: a building addition and waterfront industrial improvements project, and a Workforce Training Center redevelopment project. He said both met program criteria and projected substantial state benefits, jobs, and high benefit-cost ratios. Committee members asked about the projected jobs, the unusually high benefit-cost ratio, and the status of other port projects. Kilshaw and DOTD’s Molly Bergoin said the program has a backlog of more than $200 million, but the department is working through it, with some projects nearing closeout. They also said the annual request cap has been increased and that a tiered funding approach is being considered to help projects compete for federal dollars. Members expressed support for expanding investment in ports and for a statewide strategic plan. Chairman Boriak moved to accept the port priority applications received through March 1, 2026, for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 program. There was no objection, and the committee accepted the projects. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Vermont for uh poor chlorinated by um so house bill 928, House Bill 915, Senate Bill 328 and House
• the House on March 25th of this year. the House on March 25th of this year.
• Your House General and Housing Committee met with Ledge Counsel.
• Your House General and Housing Committee met with Ledge Counsel.
• and<00:23:24.960> housing Uh your house general and housing Uh your house general and housing

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up several Senate proposals of amendment and, by voice vote, concurred in each. On House Bill 928, technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes, the House suspended the rules, heard a section-by-section explanation of changes to hunting violation points, license expiration dates, license fees, and Champion Lands reporting, and then concurred after both the committee and Ways and Means reported favorable straw polls of 11-0. On House Bill 915, the extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, the House also suspended the rules and heard a detailed summary of Senate changes affecting handling fees, redemption requirements, PRO administration, collection-site standards, reporting, and effective dates; Environment reported a favorable straw poll and Ways and Means noted a modest fiscal impact from higher liquor bottle handling fees, after which the House concurred. The House then took up Senate Bill 328 on housing and common interest communities. The General and Housing Committee explained the Senate’s further amendments, including changes to the treasurer’s housing credit facility, consultation requirements, VHIP funding provisions, municipal housing planning, duplex and accessory dwelling unit rules, temporary multi-unit provisions, downtown and village center benefits, and common-interest-community reporting on vegetable gardens. Appropriations and Environment both reported no additional fiscal concerns and favorable straw polls, and the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment. Finally, the House considered House Bill 542 on PCB testing in Vermont schools. The Senate strike-all amendment would extend the testing deadline to 2035, create a future special fund for testing and remediation, require PCB testing before major renovation projects using state construction dollars, and direct ANR to report on remaining costs and funding options. After questions about how the amendment would affect schools that had already tested or completed remediation, Education explained that existing remediation reimbursements would continue and that the amendment mainly delays the mandate and sets up a future funding mechanism. The House concurred, then recessed until 5:20 p.m. to prepare for additional Senate bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Okay.<00:24:32.240> House. >> Okay. House. >> Okay. House. >> No.
• to be House report. to be House report.
• House can vote. All in favor? >> Okay. House can vote. All in favor?
• cut. the House position in the House cut. the House position in the House report<00:26:43.840>
• The House language in the report.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 155 continued discussion of a compromise over business tax relief, small-business filing thresholds, and nursing home funding. Representative Sweeney proposed raising the filing threshold to $400,000 and creating a trigger for future Business Enterprise Tax reductions if business tax revenues produce a $200 million biennial surplus, with the Department of Revenue Administration commissioner able to exclude one-time or non-sustainable funds. Supporters said the proposal would provide a clear policy direction, immediate relief to about 4,500 small and micro businesses, and a future path back to the BET’s original 0.25% rate. Opponents, led by the Senate side, argued the trigger language was premature, better handled in a budget year with more revenue data, and inappropriate to decide in a short conference committee meeting. The Senate also emphasized that the tax policy should not be locked in without a fuller public process, while House members argued the trigger would not take effect until a future biennium and was therefore a prudent way to signal New Hampshire’s direction on taxes. A separate point of discussion involved nursing homes: the House said its report would include $2.5 million for nursing homes with non-lapsing language, and senators stressed the importance of that funding for the health care system and county property taxpayers. One senator warned that triggers could encourage revenue underestimation and noted bond rating concerns about a structural deficit. Several motions were made to accept the Senate position with the $400,000 threshold and related amendments, but the first motion failed on a party-line style split, with the Senate voting yes and the House voting no. A second House motion to accede to the Senate position while also including the nursing home funding, the threshold increase, and the future trigger language was also rejected by the Senate. The meeting ended with the report filed without agreement on the trigger language, and the transcript then notes a separate reconvened committee of conference on HB 751 being postponed until 12:30 the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the House please come to order, and members kindly take their seats.
• At this time, we will be moving House Bill 915 to our next block of time, which will be at 4:00.
• House Bill 928 is an act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes.
• Will the House please stand at ease for a moment? >> Could we have a brief recess?
• >> The House will stand in recess for approximately 10 minutes.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first announced that House Bill 915 would be moved to a later time block at 4:00. The chamber then turned to House Bill 928, an act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes, which was on the notice calendar with a Senate proposal of amendment. A member from Poultney moved to suspend the rules so the House could take up H. 928 immediately. The motion was put to a voice vote and the ayes prevailed, so the House suspended the rules and brought the bill up for immediate consideration. The presiding member noted that H. 928 had passed the Senate in concurrence with a proposal of amendment printed in the day’s calendar. After that announcement, the House was asked to stand at ease and then entered a brief recess of about 10 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh is the house good with it? Uh is the house good with it?
• a house to seed with amendment. a house to seed with amendment. Okay. Okay. Okay.
• And it's like, "You mean $6?"<01:00:00.160> Like $6?" Like $6?"
• do the house vote and we'll move on. do the house vote and we'll move on.
• Take a little house distance the last time the House is going to meet.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• with an affirmative vote in the house. with an affirmative vote in the house.
• like they would their home to the house like they would their home to the house seems<01:37:18.240
• that's the House position on that one. that's the House position on that one.
• >> The question is does the whole house >> The question is does the whole house >
• I understand the house position on it. I understand the house position on it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began as a Committee of Conference on House Bill 194, but the discussion quickly centered on whether to remove an attached bill, 504, because of concerns about a possible fee or tax and a House rule issue. Members debated the procedural posture of the bill, whether the House version had been non-concurred, and whether the conference committee could still resolve the issue by adopting the House amendment or reconsidering the non-concur. The exchange became tense, with one side warning that failing to pass the measure could jeopardize a linked rural health transformation grant worth about $20 million. The committee ultimately recessed without resolving the 194/504 dispute and planned to return the next day. The committee then opened conference on House Bill 609, which dealt with use-of-force/self-defense language and restraint/seclusion authority in health care settings. On the self-defense portion, House members argued strongly for restoring vehicle language, saying people should be able to defend themselves in a car the same way they can in a home, especially in carjacking or assault situations where no weapon is displayed. Senate members expressed concern about expanding deadly-force protections too broadly and suggested narrowing the language to focus on imminent harm to the person, not property, while also questioning where the provision should be placed in statute. The second major topic in HB 609 was who may order restraint or seclusion in clinical settings. House members argued that physicians are not always immediately available, especially in hospitals and emergency settings, and that APRNs and physician associates should be able to act in crises if properly trained and credentialed. Senate members raised concerns about scope of practice and asked whether the language implied patient consent was required; the Senate side explained that consent language was intended to address capacity and informed decision-making, not to require voluntary consent to restraint. The discussion ended with the sides still apart, though the Senate floated a compromise allowing physician associates to order restraint when no doctor is physically on the premises, while not yet extending that authority to APRNs. The committee took a short break to continue negotiations on the firearm/self-defense piece.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill ought to pass in concurrence the bill ought to pass in concurrence with<00:01:59.680>
• Members of the Appropriations Committee received testimony from the House Education Committee, House
• House Education Committee, uh House House Education Committee, uh House Committee<00:17:40.320><
• in concurrence as amended. Thank you. in concurrence as amended. Thank you.
• And on a straw poll of 704, the House Committee on General and Housing found the amendment favorable.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development described the bill as part of a broader effort to integrate CTE more fully into Vermont’s education system, with goals including universal access, more consistent admissions and credit policies, better transportation access, updated rules and procedures, and stronger alignment with workforce needs. The committee emphasized that CTE should be treated as a core part of education, not a stand-alone track, and reported the bill favorably 11-0-0 after hearing from education, labor, workforce, fiscal, and CTE stakeholders. The Committee on Education recommended a few changes, including a typo correction and removal of a legislative working group, explaining that broader education reform work already underway would make a separate working group duplicative. It added a task for the Agency of Education to study how to serve adult diploma students in CTE programs amid federal funding changes, and it supported the bill with an amendment vote of 10-0-1. The Committee on Appropriations said the fiscal impact could not yet be estimated because it depends on future rulemaking, and it recommended the bill ought to pass in concurrence as amended by a vote of 10-0-1. The House adopted the Education Committee amendment, then adopted a further amendment offered by Representative Bartley and others that incorporated language from S. 230 while removing a solicitation provision related to Department of Corrections property. The House then agreed to propose the amended bill to the Senate, ordered third reading, suspended rules to place the bill in all remaining stages of passage, passed S. 313 in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. The House then recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the House please come to order and members kindly take their seats.
• At this time, House Bill 928 needs a little bit more prep time.
• we'll do is we will recess, and when we come back at 4:00 p.m., we will pick up where we left off on House
• We will take up House Bill 915 and potentially some other bills, so keep an eye on your email.
• So with that, the House will stand at recess till the fall of the gavel at 4:00 p.m.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House was called to order, but the chamber was then informed that House Bill 928 needed additional preparation time. As a result, the House recessed until 4:00 p.m., when it would resume consideration of HB 928 from where it left off. The presiding member also indicated that House Bill 915 would be taken up during the afternoon session, along with potentially other bills. Members were advised to monitor their email for updates. No votes or substantive debate occurred before the recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the May 26, 2026, meeting of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security. Mr.
• It also shows me that in my house district... ...and I love it.
• It also shows me that in my house district there are apparently three of the major fault lines here.
• During that time, we've met with FEMA headquarters and FEMA Region 6, and the City of New Orleans and
• We incorporated measles from all Where they were running their exercise concurrently.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that was in the uh the house bill.
• House is eager to cut taxes.
• All in favor of the house position. All in favor of the house position.
• contested bill in the House.
• by other House committees and it has been heard by the House.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.