Transcript Highlights:

• :46:25.839><c> the</c><00:46:25.920><c> car</c> a subscription service where the car a subscription service
• We're talking about that in places like human services where we're saying some of these services that
• </c> about that in places like human services about that in places like human services where<01:43:41.920
• if that provides a needed service for them.
• if that provides a needed service for them.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• CONTRACTUAL SERVICE FINDINGS AND SATISFACTORY RECEIPT OF GOODS AND SERVICES.
• DEMONSTRATE IS IN THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST TO PERFORM PROJECTS USING THEIR OWN SERVICES.
• THEY USED STUDENT ACTIVITY AND SERVICE FEES THAT WERE NOT ALWAYS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
• THEY AMENDED THE CONTRACT FOR WHAT THEY CALLED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OR ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
• THEY WERE HIRED FOR STRATEGY SERVICES. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Humane Society, as well as Beth Wyatt, who's the operations manager for Sonoma County Animal Services
• I am Beth Wyatt, operations manager for Sonoma County Animal Services.
• The incident placed an enormous strain on Sonoma County Animal Services.
• Chair members, Alicia Priag, on behalf of Kiva Brands and Kiva Sales and Services, in support.
• fires at my small, underfunded of hazardous waste.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in December of 2017, and now six years later, the Thomas Fire is only the eighth largest wildfire.
• in December of 2017, and now six years later, the Thomas Fire is only the eighth largest wildfire.
• I'm the interim division chief for the Fiscal Services Division at CARB.
• I'm the interim division chief for the fiscal service division at CARB.
• Again, Michelle Buffington, interim chief of the Fiscal Services Division at CARB.

Summary: The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees. The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved. Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• My bill, Senate Bill 1043, will prohibit grossly excessive pricing for energy products or services during
• My bill, Senate Bill 1043, will prohibit grossly excessive pricing for energy products or services during
• occurred only six years ago to flooding in my neighborhoods in my district every year, to tornadoes, fires
• occurred only six years ago, to flooding in my neighborhoods in my district every year, to tornadoes, fires
• . ...a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar materials, items, goods, or services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection met with a quorum, adopted the June 17 minutes, and took testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 1053, sponsored by Chair Kavanaugh, would raise the acreage cap for neighborhood enterprise zones from 15% to 20% for certain zones. Supporters from Invest Detroit and the City of Detroit said the change would help make housing and redevelopment projects viable, especially in high-tax areas like Detroit, and the bill was reported to the floor on a 6-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 988, sponsored by Senator Santana, which would extend from 30 to 35 days the deadline to appeal a denied poverty exemption to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. The sponsor and Detroit’s property assessment director described it as a technical alignment with the Tax Tribunal Act and a correction to conflicting timelines; the bill drew support from the Michigan Poverty Law Program, the Michigan Chamber, and the Tax Tribunal, and was reported unanimously. The committee then adopted S-1 substitutes for Senate Bills 1041, 1042, and 1043, the price-gouging package sponsored by Senators Moss, Chang, and Kavanaugh. Sponsors of the price-gouging bills said the package would strengthen Michigan’s emergency price-gouging protections by defining excessive increases during declared emergencies, covering lodging, essential goods and services, and energy products, and giving the Attorney General clearer enforcement tools. Supporters included the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Attorney General’s office, while the Michigan Chamber, Mackinac Center, and NFIB opposed the package. Despite the opposition, all three bills were reported to the floor on 5-3 votes. The meeting adjourned after all reported bills were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• The, um, we had conversation last year about fire trucks and there was something about that, parades
• </c> more intended for the retired fire more intended for the retired fire apparest<00:17:59.679><c>
• Especially the antique fire trucks. However, um, who's deciding what's primary and not like that?
• U especially the antique fire great.
• I mean, similar to the Internal Revenue Service, if you file a late tax return, you get penalized at

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for the aging and adult services and the behavioral health services that are in this division.
• services.
• services.
• And so we paid for those services through fee-for-service pending that.
• However, Division of Youth Services... ...services, not the other settings.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• access to or from a place of worship immediately prior to, during, or immediately after religious services
• , or willfully or recklessly disrupt the normal functioning of the religious service of a place of worship
• by physically... ...the normal functioning of the religious service of a place of worship by physically
• We will be convening again next week for more rapid-fire public hearings and executive sessions.
• We will be convening again next week for more rapid fire public hearings and executive sessions.

Summary: The committee heard briefings and testimony on several bills, with members repeatedly noting limited time and that some measures were already familiar from prior hearings. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5880 would allow cities and counties to use ISO/IEC-accredited private toxicology labs for blood or breath testing, accept private donations for that purpose, and reimburse the State Patrol for evidence transport costs. Senator Wagoner said the bill is a temporary fix for a major toxicology backlog that delays justice; prosecutors, police chiefs, and the Seattle City Attorney supported it as a way to relieve the backlog, while defense representatives said it would not solve the problem and raised due process concerns about out-of-state labs and access to witnesses. Members discussed possible amendments on in-state/out-of-state labs and litigation logistics, and the bill was set for executive action the following Tuesday. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5436 would create a gross misdemeanor for willfully or recklessly interfering with access to or from a place of worship or disrupting religious services through obstruction, trespass, repeated calls or electronic communications, or threats. Senator Solomon said the bill responds to rising intolerance and is modeled on protections for health care facilities; supporters from the Anti-Defamation League, Faith Action Network, Jewish and Sikh community organizations described harassment, threats, and security costs at houses of worship. Defense and law enforcement groups raised concerns about overbreadth, possible impacts on peaceful protest, and unintended effects on law enforcement or immigration enforcement, and asked for clarifying amendments. The sponsor said he was open to changes, and the committee indicated it would continue working on the bill before executive action next Tuesday. Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5105 would expand child sexual abuse material offenses to cover digitally created or altered obscene depictions, even when the minor is not identifiable, extend the statute of limitations for those felony offenses from three to ten years, and broaden sexual exploitation of a minor to include knowingly causing a minor who is unconscious or unaware to be photographed or part of a live performance. Supporters including the Attorney General’s Office, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ chiefs said the bill is needed to address AI and other technology that can evade current law and to keep pace with rapidly changing digital abuse material. Opponents from the defense bar and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission argued the bill may still be overbroad and raise First Amendment problems under Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, especially where no actual minor is identified. The committee also heard and then quickly acted on other bills: Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, requiring one year of community custody for unlawful possession of a firearm, was amended and reported out due pass as amended; Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, addressing penalties for violence against referees and school volunteers, was reported out due pass; and Engrossed Senate Bill 5286, concerning reimbursement for costs in cities with state psychiatric hospitals, was also reported out due pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• employment services to the Division of Medicaid.
• I’m a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services Office.
• I’m a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services Office.
• It’s comprised of four programs: physical health services, laboratory services, suicide prevention and

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations from Legislative Services analyst Morgan Poloni and Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on the Division of Early Learning and Development, the Division of Public Health Services, and Family and Community Partnerships. Major topics included the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP), the Idaho Home Visiting Program, the Idaho Immunization Assessment Fund, HIV and hepatitis prevention, ARPA-funded public health projects, kinship navigation services, and proposed agency reorganizations and transfer authority changes. Poloni explained that several divisions were recently reorganized, making year-to-year comparisons difficult, and outlined the governor’s and agency’s FY 2027 requests, including additional federal and dedicated funds for child care capacity, public health programs, and prevention services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over nine years of service, he earned the respect of all who served alongside him.
• First, I want to express our gratitude for your son's service.
• or youth services on their IDs.
• that Arlington receives: bus service only, and no commuter rail or subway service within the confines
• My name is Jose Masso, and I am the Chief of Human Services for the City of Boston.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on a wide range of bills and topics, including impaired driving, antique and collector vehicles, roadway maintenance, homelessness-related identification cards, a pedestrian tunnel for Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, a bridge naming in Sandwich, historic route designations, and litter prevention. The chairs outlined the hearing process, including three-minute limits for individuals and seven minutes for panels, and noted that elected officials would be taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and then adjourned. On impaired driving, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and tow lot operator Chris Nolan supported a bill creating a 12-hour tow-yard hold for vehicles involved in drug-impaired incidents, similar to the existing alcohol-related hold. On transportation infrastructure and road safety, Representative Howitt testified for several bills requiring reflective tape on temporary loads, restoring road markings after utility work, requiring roadway restoration after excavation, and improving reporting on roadway damage after crashes. AAA Northeast supported bills expanding the distracted driving law to cover video recording while driving, while noting it preferred the offense remain a primary offense. Several witnesses testified in support of bills affecting vehicle enthusiasts, including restoring year-of-manufacture plates for antique vehicles, creating a single rear collector plate, and changing antique vehicle inspection rules. Another major topic was H. 3750/S. 2399, which would provide no-fee state IDs and flexible residency documentation for youth and adults experiencing homelessness; supporters included the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, social workers, city officials, and people with lived experience, all emphasizing that lack of ID blocks access to housing, jobs, health care, and other services. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2414, authorizing a tunnel connecting the north and south campuses of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, with school leaders and students citing safety, accessibility, and traffic concerns. Finally, the committee heard emotional testimony for H. 4374 to name the Quaker Meeting House Road overpass in Sandwich for Staff Sergeant Raymond G. Torville, and testimony for a resolve creating a roadside litter prevention and cleanup task force.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for your service.
• </c> so much for your service. so much for your service.
• </c> serve on the House Human Services serve on the House Human Services Committee<00:42:20.080><c> by
• </c> and General Services. and General Services.
• </c> response, marine operations, and fire response, marine operations, and fire safety.<01:18:09.320

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:27.399><c> her</c> to being due to pregnancy and fired her to being due to pregnancy and fired
• </c> provides a wide variety of free services provides a wide variety of free services including<00:30
• </c><01:10:36.640><c> industry</c> in the financial services industry in the financial services industry
• </c><01:16:48.719><c> medical</c> providing uh police services medical providing uh police services medical
• :52.040><c> open</c><01:16:53.040><c> uh</c> services keeping grocery stores open uh services keeping

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other reductions elsewhere in the budget to core existing services.
• Dan Reagan, Deputy Director of Fiscal Service Division for the department.
• Certainly, I want to thank you, Secretary, for years of service to the state.
• Amounts of GGRF that would be identified to offset General Fund costs for CAL FIRE.
• The important role of 211 plays in our community, connecting people with vital services.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the state took over the fire and police pensions from the municipalities, there's a gap in there
• It has to be spent on services to people.
• So on the $3 million for Public Health Service Act, can you maybe walk me through?
• I'd say what unites them is a desire for service. Thank you for the question, Minority Leader.
• I'd say what unites them is a desire for service.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of appropriations and budget bills, with most of the early action focused on retirement cost-of-living adjustments. Senate Bills 1144, 1145, 1146, 1148, and 1149 all advanced, covering COLAs for retired teachers, public employees, police, judges, and a special “tweener” group of police and fire retirees. Members questioned the actuarial impacts, funded ratios, and timing of the apportionment changes, and the author explained that the retirement bills were based on TRS or system actuarial estimates and that the 2036 apportionment cutoff could be revisited by future legislatures. SB 1149 was described as a one-time $25,000 payment for a limited group of older retirees, with estimated costs of $3.5 million for police and $5.8 million for fire. Most of these retirement measures passed on votes of 23-24 ayes with one nay. The committee also considered House Bill 4071, creating the Oklahoma Dream Accounts Investment Program to match the federal “Trump accounts” with up to $250 per eligible child, capped at $12.5 million. Democrats criticized it as a poor use of funds and objected to the federal program’s uncertainty and the emergency clause; the bill passed 17-8. House Bill 4072 created a taxpayer endowment trust fund by moving $200 million from the Revenue Stabilization Fund and redirecting a portion of future gross production tax overages into the new fund until it reaches $1 billion, after which it would generate future revenue streams. Members raised concerns about investment risk, oversight, and whether the fund was a “shell game,” but it passed 18-6. Several agency budget and limit bills were also approved, including HB 4057 for $25 million to expand the Bureau of Narcotics headquarters, SB 1158 for $252,000 to fund medication for minors in custody, SB 1164 for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse with $1.2 million in new appropriations plus $5.97 million for the 988 revolving fund, and HB 4040 for the Department of Health rural health transformation cash-flow needs tied to federal reimbursement. The committee also passed HB 4051 on FMAP preservation, SB 1161 for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, SB 1162 for the State Department of Health, and SB 1163 for DHS, where the largest discussion centered on avoiding an Advantage waiver waitlist, SNAP administrative costs, and child abuse multidisciplinary care centers. Most of these bills passed with little or no debate, though some drew questions about federal matching dollars and reporting requirements. Education-related items were also approved, including HB 4030, the State Department of Education budget limits bill, which maintained prior-year funding for textbooks, early intervention, literacy coaching, school security, and other line items; HB 4044 for OEQA’s growth-based teacher compensation and NBCT stipends; HB 4065 for school security funding at the School of Science and Math; HB 4067 for the School for the Blind and School for the Deaf; and HB 4038 directing $5 million of ODOT FY27 appropriations to the eight-year work plan. The committee also advanced HB 4046, which directs funding to the Military Readiness, Innovation, Education, Aviation Revolving Fund for projects including McAlester, Fort Sill, Altus, and Enid, with members questioning why additional money was needed so soon after prior appropriations. Throughout the meeting, most measures were reported as passed by wide margins, with a few dissenting votes on bills viewed as controversial or as reallocating funds away from other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• available to CIDs that would allow an annual fee to be charged for up to five years that would help fund fire
• protection services.
• For up to five years, that would help fund fire protection services and/or emergency medical services

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on March 11, 2026, and heard three bills. House Bill 792, by Rep. Monks, would clarify Idaho’s small seller and occasional seller sales tax exemptions, including how yard sales and other small sales are counted within a calendar year and how taxes apply once sales exceed $5,000 and $7,500. Monks also explained that sellers over $3,000 in annual sales should keep records for four years, though those records are not filed with the Tax Commission. After brief questions about recordkeeping and gun show sales, the committee closed public testimony and advanced the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 722, by Rep. Ehlers, was presented as a follow-up to last year’s utility tax changes, adjusting timing so utilities do not pay under both the old property-tax system and the new kilowatt-hour tax system. The bill sets six-month reporting and payment periods and addresses how new utility investments are handled for budgeting and tax purposes. After a question from Rep. Cheatham about whether the bill covered non-generation or distribution investments in county buildings, and a response from the Idaho Association of Counties that it could not answer the question, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 811, presented by Chairman Cannon, would expand community infrastructure districts from cities to counties, add a sunset structure for districts and their bonds, and allow a temporary fee to help fund fire protection or emergency medical services. Committee members asked about how unincorporated areas would be included, whether the general plan could be amended, and whether district boundaries could be expanded; attorney Jeremy Piscay explained that amendments and expansions are possible through public notice, hearings, and, where applicable, property owner consent. After discussion of the bill’s dissolution and bond-discharge provisions, the committee approved a motion to send HB 811 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned and announced it would meet again the next day at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• available to CIDs that would allow an annual fee to be charged for up to five years that would help fund fire
• protection services.
• For up to five years, that would help fund fire protection services and/or emergency medical services

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on March 11, 2026, and heard three bills. HB 792, by Rep. Monks, clarified Idaho’s occasional seller and small seller sales tax exemptions, including how yard sales and other casual sales count toward the $5,000 threshold, how taxes apply above that amount, and recordkeeping expectations for sellers over $3,000 in annual sales. Monks explained the bill was intended to clean up confusing language and make the rules easier to follow; after brief questions about recordkeeping and gun show sales, the committee closed public testimony and advanced the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 722, by Rep. Ehlers, which revises timing and reporting provisions tied to a prior change moving certain utilities from valuation-based property tax to a kilowatt-hour tax. Ehlers said the bill is meant to prevent utilities from being taxed twice and to ensure reporting and payments line up with the budget cycle, while also preserving review of utility investments such as new substations. A question from Rep. Cheatham about whether the investment language covered county office buildings was not answered definitively by the Idaho Association of Counties representative. With no public testimony, the committee voted to send HB 722 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered HB 811, also presented by Rep. Cannon, which would extend community infrastructure districts from cities to counties, add sunset provisions for districts and bonds, and allow a temporary fee to help fund fire protection or emergency medical services. Questions focused on how unincorporated areas would be included, whether general plans could be amended or expanded, and how the bill’s dissolution and bond-discharge language would work; an attorney representing Tamarack explained that general plans are intended as guiding documents and that adding territory requires notice, a hearing, and owner consent. After testimony and discussion, the committee approved HB 811 and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation, then adjourned and announced it would meet again the next day at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The one person who's been fired. When were they fired?
• </c> The one person who's been fired. The one person who's been fired.
• </c> When were they fired? When were they fired?
• </c> services they need. services they need.
• </c> More cuts to disability services. More cuts to disability services.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not require that they're fired or let go or rehired.
• Minnesotans deserve to know who is providing their services.
• I have high confidence in the folks providing those services to continue to provide those services.
• I have high confidence in the folks are providing those services to continue to provide those services
• &gt;&gt; Let's test to fire Miss Maggie Kirkwood.

Bills: HF3454, HF3917, HF2906, HF3832, HF3769

Keywords: social work, licensure, employment titles, health occupations, professional standards, medication repository, drug donation, healthcare, Minnesota Statutes, pharmacy, public health, controlled substances, psilocybin, psilocin, psychedelic, psychedelic medicine, hallucinogen, mushrooms, magic mushrooms, therapeutic use

Transcript Highlights:

• was on fire that the fire people would come, you know, that the fire department wouldn't come and and
• I not using a lot of city services.
• </c> demanding more city services? demanding more city services?
• </c> agree that if the house caught on fire agree that if the house caught on fire that<01:23:36.560>
• They would need only police, fire, or DPW services for less than half the year.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1596, which would raise New Hampshire’s cigarette excise tax from $1.78 per pack to about $2.80, using an inflation-based adjustment since the rate was last set in 2008. Representative Jerry Stringham, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure would keep New Hampshire competitive with neighboring states, generate revenue, and help offset other budget pressures. He also described the bill as repealing an income-based premium charge in Medicaid/CHIP-related programs and restoring cuts to the University System of New Hampshire, arguing that the combined package would still leave the state in a positive fiscal position. He said the tobacco tax increase would likely have some cessation effect but would remain low relative to other New England states, and he cited prior testimony from health groups supporting a larger increase. Members questioned the sponsor about how the new rate was calculated, the prior tobacco tax reduction and restoration, whether tobacco companies would absorb or pass on the tax, and the fiscal note’s estimates for Medicaid premium revenue and UNH funding. Stringham said he used Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation data, that the earlier 10-cent reduction did not produce the expected sales increase, and that the current bill would eliminate the premium charges now in the budget. He later clarified that the Department of Medicaid Services had updated the revenue estimate, but said the bill still showed a surplus overall. He also said the federal government already imposes a $1-per-pack tax and that New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase. Two public witnesses testified in opposition to the tax increase. Anna Bettincourt, a tobacco category manager, argued that higher tobacco taxes would unfairly target smokers, reduce New Hampshire’s tax advantage, and likely shift purchases to other states or illicit markets rather than reduce use. She said tobacco companies generally do not lower prices and that Massachusetts’ flavor restrictions had not eliminated sales. In response to questions, she maintained that a smaller increase would still be harmful and that enforcement problems make bans ineffective. The sponsor and some members countered that smokers impose higher health costs and that tobacco taxes are a policy tool for both revenue and public health. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourteen of the 20 most destructive fires occurred within the last 10 years.
• And last year's historic LA fires have shown us that property resilience is no longer optional but necessary
• are too quick to take advantage of distress, as we are seeing right now in the aftermath of the LA fires
• Is composed of teachers, administrators, service workers, labor unions.
• Appreciate your service. And you may close if you wish. Thank you very much, Chair.

Keywords: 988, house, all