Transcript Highlights:

• bill when you take an extreme left Democrat and bring it together to vote no with an extreme right Republican
• with an bring it together to vote no with an extreme<02:56:28.200><c> right</c><02:56:28.560><c> Republican
• </c><02:56:29.320><c> God</c><02:56:29.640><c> bless</c><02:56:29.960><c> you</c> extreme right Republican
• God bless you extreme right Republican.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Republican legislature in Florida passed it after the Parkland shooting.
• Um Republican<01:51:15.520><c> legislature</c><01:51:16.080><c> in</c><01:51:16.400><c> Florida</c><01
• :51:16.719><c> passed</c> Republican legislature in Florida passed Republican legislature in Florida

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know New Hampshire Republicans believe in free markets and limited government.
• I know New Hampshire<04:23:58.720><c> Republicans</c><04:23:59.279><c> believe</c><04:23:59.439><c> in
• </c><04:23:59.600><c> free</c> Hampshire Republicans believe in free Hampshire Republicans believe in

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I echo a lot of the points that have been made by my Republican colleagues
• c> repeal</c> But this lifeline, this life-changing bill, is repealed in this provision because Republicans
• Over the past several months, House Republicans have done what Democrats failed to do. We listened.
• Republicans stood strong and stopped Governor Walz's harmful proposal to eliminate nonpublic pupil aid

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what this is about, not Republican, not Democrat. This is to save human beings' lives.
• c><01:13:09.520><c> is</c><01:13:09.679><c> about</c><01:13:09.960><c> not</c><01:13:10.199><c> Republican
• </c><01:13:10.679><c> not</c> what this is about not Republican not what this is about not Republican

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, and Republicans, we have a caucus in this room.
• yeah didn't say anything okay<02:02:14.480><c> and</c><02:02:14.760><c> and</c><02:02:15.000><c> Republicans
• </c><02:02:15.639><c> we</c><02:02:15.960><c> have</c><02:02:16.040><c> a</c> okay and and Republicans
• we have a okay and and Republicans we have a caucus<02:02:16.639><c> in</c><02:02:16.840><c> this</c

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met to continue work on House Bill 2, with the chair saying the goal was to finish the bill as given by the governor, though additional amendments were expected. Members first discussed the bail section and agreed to hold it for later because a separate House bail bill was expected on Thursday and could have significant county cost impacts. They also generally accepted the proposed reorganization of positions between Fish and Game, DNCR, and the Department of Environmental Services, but noted the need to review effective dates and funding details, including a possible double appropriation of $275,000 for a scientist position already funded in HB 1. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on environmental review and native plant-related sections moving functions from DNCR to DES. Members discussed changing the rulemaking timeline from 180 days to 90 days, and clarifying that “begin” means the public hearing stage. They also reviewed how fee revenue would shift between agencies in HB 1 so the budget impact would be net zero. The committee indicated it would prepare amendments reflecting these changes and revisit them at a later vote. The longest discussion concerned the boathouse provisions. Members debated whether the new definitions and construction standards were appropriate in a budget bill, with one member arguing they should be in a separate bill, while others said the provisions were urgent because of a lawsuit and the lack of clear guardrails. Concerns included the February 20, 2025 effective date, which some thought might be retroactive, the detailed limits on what may be stored in a boathouse, and a fee increase that some felt could discourage homeowners from seeking permits. The committee also questioned whether the fee structure should be tiered for smaller projects and whether permit-by-notification projects should be exempted. No final votes were taken on these sections during the discussion; instead, members agreed to seek legal and policy answers and to return with amendments and public hearing input before voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Polls consistently show that most Americans—Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike—oppose animal
• Prominent Republicans have spoken out against these practices.
• Polls consistently show that most Americans—Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike—oppose animal
• Prominent Republicans have spoken out against these practices.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on a bill arising from the Lee case involving animal seizures and humane society involvement. Members and the commissioner discussed concerns about due process, lack of clear notice to animal owners, the need for owners to understand when they are surrendering ownership, and whether humane agents should have additional training or certification. Several members also questioned the role of the NH SPCA and humane societies, the absence of oversight, and whether there was any financial or policy conflict in their involvement. The commissioner said the Department of Agriculture does not have a direct relationship with humane societies, but does coordinate with police on seizures, and noted that problems tend to arise when agencies do not consult the department first. Testimony and discussion focused on possible fixes to the bill, including clearer written notice of rights, requiring a third-party qualified veterinarian or other neutral evaluator, establishing the condition of animals at the time of seizure for later court proceedings, and possibly using teleconferencing with a veterinarian in limited circumstances. Some members suggested the bill may need a broader study committee, while others said it should be amended now rather than delayed. The chair said the bill would be worked on further and sent to the subcommittee for more detailed review. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 250, which would allow local governing bodies to regulate dog muzzling. Representative Jodi Newell testified that the bill was intended to let municipalities respond to dangerous dogs, citing Keene’s attempt to require muzzling after a serious incident but lack of clear authority under current law. Deborah LeBlanc also testified about a dog attack that seriously injured her dog and said a muzzle requirement could have prevented the attack. Committee members asked about the incident, existing dog-control laws, and whether the dog had been leashed; the discussion suggested the bill was meant to clarify local authority over muzzling as a public safety measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would ask that everyone in the room who is not a member of the Republican caucus, if you could exit
• of</c><02:06:25.320><c> the</c> room who is not a member of the room who is not a member of the Republican
• 26.440><c> if</c><02:06:26.559><c> you</c><02:06:26.679><c> could</c><02:06:26.960><c> exit</c> Republican
• caucus if you could exit Republican caucus if you could exit please<02:06:28.159><c> because</c><02:

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the job for nine years, so I've worked under Democratic governors and Democratic legislatures and Republican
• governors and Republican legislatures, and everybody who has a partisan affiliation has a particular
• the job for nine years, so I've worked under Democratic governors and Democratic legislatures and Republican
• governors and Republican legislatures, and everybody who has a partisan affiliation has a particular

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 442nd veterans spearheaded the political revolution in 1954 that upended decades of Republican rule
• 48:47.520><c> upended</c><00:48:48.240><c> Decades</c><00:48:48.640><c> of</c><00:48:48.839><c> Republican
• </c> 1954 that upended Decades of Republican 1954 that upended Decades of Republican rule<00:48:49.640

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said it is a bipartisan bill with Republicans and Democrats, and more state senators as co-sponsors
• ><c> with</c> correct way it is a bipartisan bill with correct way it is a bipartisan bill with Republicans
• > and</c><02:49:04.800><c> Democrats</c><02:49:05.560><c> somehow</c><02:49:06.040><c> more</c> Republicans
• and Democrats somehow more Republicans and Democrats somehow more state<02:49:06.960><c> senators</c

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a Republican sponsor on the House side. taking my question can you tell me if taking my question
• um</c><01:06:27.680><c> we</c><01:06:27.760><c> have</c><01:06:27.880><c> a</c><01:06:28.039><c> republican
• </c><01:06:28.520><c> sponsor</c> support um we have a republican sponsor support um we have a republican

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 146, which would require longer retention and quicker disclosure of certain video recordings from traffic stops and similar motor vehicle violations when a citation is disputed. The prime sponsor described the bill as a response to a constituent who challenged a speeding ticket but could not obtain a cruiser video before it was deleted under the current 30-day retention practice. Supporters argued the bill is about fairness and access to potentially exculpatory evidence, and one member suggested a simple 60-day retention period might avoid confusion over different timelines. The sponsor also noted that the bill would not affect criminal cases and that victims and complainants should have access to the same evidence as law enforcement when a recording is relevant to a defense. Major Brendan Davey of the New Hampshire State Police testified in opposition. He said the proposal would create a different discovery standard for one type of evidence, could discourage agencies from adopting body-worn or cruiser cameras, and would add cost and administrative burden. He explained that the State Police already retain routine traffic-stop videos for at least 30 days, but keep videos much longer when complaints or possible litigation are involved, and said the current system balances efficiency with accountability. He also argued the underlying speeding case did not make the trooper video directly material to the citation, though he acknowledged the legislature could choose a longer blanket retention period if it wished. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 638, which would allow people serving life without parole sentences to become eligible for a parole hearing at age 60 after serving at least 18 years, provided they have had no major conduct violations in the prior 10 years. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give a narrow second look to a small number of elderly prisoners, citing the high cost of incarceration and the health challenges of aging in prison. He emphasized that the bill would not automatically release anyone, would not apply to capital murder convictions under RSA 630:1, and would still allow victims to participate in the parole process. Testimony on HB 638 was mixed. Alexander Bailey, a survivor of violent crime and domestic violence advocate, supported the bill, saying many survivors favor rehabilitation, second chances, and restorative justice, and that people in prison often age faster and face serious health and safety problems. Another supporter, Russell Roy, began offering a personal story about crime, addiction, and violence in Concord, but the transcript cuts off before his full remarks. Committee members asked about why age 60 was chosen, how released individuals would support themselves, and whether victims or families would be consulted; the sponsor said 60 was meant to limit eligibility and reflect the health realities of prison, and that parole boards already consider support networks and victim input. No action or vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it the case the four committee members cited in this final report, three of them are Republicans?
• final report three of<04:15:17.319><c> them</c><04:15:17.439><c> are</c> of them are of them are Republicans
• :20.040><c> the</c><04:15:20.199><c> case</c><04:15:20.439><c> sir</c><04:15:21.159><c> and</c> Republicans
• that is the case sir and Republicans that is the case sir and would<04:15:21.479><c> you</c><04:15:21.600

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee met on January 28, 2025, and first heard House Bill 322, which would give a parent paying child support the exclusive right to claim the child as a dependent on taxes. Representative Barton, the sponsor, argued that because child support is no longer tax-deductible, the paying parent should at least receive the child tax credit. Committee members and later testimony from New Hampshire Legal Assistance raised concerns that the bill would override court discretion, could disadvantage low-income custodial parents, and would not account for cases where child support payments are small or where parents share support unevenly. Several members noted that judges already allocate dependency claims in divorce orders and can modify those orders when circumstances change. After testimony, the committee moved to ITL (inexpedient to legislate) HB 322. The motion was seconded, discussion continued, and the roll call was unanimous in favor of ITL. The committee then placed the bill on consent and ended the executive session on HB 322. The committee next took up House Bill 325, which would eliminate term and reimbursement alimony in no-fault divorces. Representative Barton testified that alimony in those cases was akin to involuntary servitude and should not survive dissolution of the marriage contract. The hearing then moved into questions about whether alimony is meant to compensate a spouse for sacrifices made during the marriage, such as supporting a partner through school or staying home with children, and the sponsor maintained that post-divorce support should not continue as a marital obligation. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 325 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if Republicans can hold tight real quick, I got about four and a half minutes worth of stuff to talk
• to start our first uh hearings and 1 pm to start our first uh hearings and if<02:11:16.320><c> Republicans
• <c> hold</c><02:11:17.480><c> tight</c><02:11:17.880><c> real</c><02:11:18.159><c> quick</c> if Republicans
• can hold tight real quick if Republicans can hold tight real quick I<02:11:18.960><c> got</c><02:11:

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> It wasn't just the Republicans that doomed it. >> If I may, Madam Chair, um, we're well aware what
• like to clarify that we don't have the support in the House from both sides. >> It wasn't just the Republicans

Keywords: 9:00am HB 155 9:30am HB 1102 10:30am HB 1109 11:00am HB 1356 11:30am HB 1469 1:00pm HB 1323 2:00pm HB 1376, 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with unanimous committee approval of amendment 2026-2021S to HB 2. Senator Lang explained the amendment corrected a drafting error so that $2.5 million in state funds, matched with federal money for a total of $5 million, could be spent during the biennium rather than lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The money is intended to stabilize Medicaid per diem rates for county nursing homes, and members agreed without objection to adopt the amendment and continue working from the bill as amended by the Senate. The committee then discussed HB 155 and a proposed amendment, 2026-201H, dealing with the business enterprise tax. The House side described the proposal as a compromise that would raise the filing threshold from $250,000 to $375,000 and create a trigger that would reduce the BET rate by 0.05% for each $100 million in combined business tax surplus, down to a floor of 0.25%. Senate members opposed lowering the rate at this time, arguing that tax relief should focus on the filing threshold, which they said would remove filing burdens for about 3,500 small businesses, and that rate cuts should be considered in a budget cycle rather than an off-year. Concerns were raised that one-time revenues, such as tax amnesty receipts or federal repatriation-related surpluses, could unintentionally trigger reductions. Representative Sweeney later offered a revised approach by moving the effective date of the trigger mechanism to January 1, 2028, and said he was also willing to carve out tax amnesty revenues or adjust the effective date to avoid using one-time funds. The Senate remained unwilling to agree to a rate reduction, though it expressed openness to raising the filing threshold further. The committee ultimately did not resolve the business tax issue and recessed to continue discussions at a later time. The final item discussed was HB 1102, concerning an increase in the research and development tax credit paired with changes to state park fees. House members supported the R&D credit increase but opposed tying it to higher park fees, citing concerns about tourism, especially at border parks, and noting that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources had said it did not need the increase. Senate members defended the park fee changes as a fairness issue, arguing that New Hampshire residents should pay less than out-of-state visitors and that the department had not raised rates in many years. No vote was taken on this item during the discussion captured here.

Transcript Highlights:

• work for everybody, and we always had a saying: when you became an assessor, you was neither a Republican
• or Democrat, you were for When you became an assessor, you was neither a Republican or Democrat, you

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was not a single Republican that voted for that bill. Okay.
• There was not a single Republican that voted for that bill. Okay.

Bills: HF3665 , HF3002 , HF4217 , HF4125 , HF4174

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: foster care, early childhood education, child care programs, placement plan, social services, extended foster care, kinship care, relative custody, permanent legal and physical custody, Northstar kinship assistance, independent living plan, transition services, youth aging out of care, medical assistance, Medicaid, child welfare, children youth and families, out-of-home placement, case plan, relative placement

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd observe Alaska and Maine are probably some of the places that are very getable to support our Republican
• I'd observe Alaska and Maine are probably some of the places that are very getable to support our Republican

Bills: HF3396

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: property tax, task force, assessment, state revenue, local government, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• However, because of the way that this committee, uh, the agenda was manipulated by the majority, uh, Republican
• Because of the way that this committee, uh, the agenda was manipulated by the majority, uh, Republican

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all