Video & Transcript : 'State Building Code Council' :
Page 317 of 500
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2019, the state was hit with $225 million in fines flagged to the state for basically the same thing
- I'm not going to go down the list of states.
- I want to simply state that every state that's implemented one of these models has stabilized pharmacy
- Pharmacies across the state are in crisis.
- Go ahead, state and testify. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee:
House Health Finance and Policy
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- All other support and opposition can be stated at the standing mic when called upon to simply state your
- Opposition can be stated at the standing mic when called upon to simply state your name, affiliation,
- However, all language stating that the QR code or other digital disclosures would not refer that information
- You know, this bill just merely builds on existing state public policy and codifies federal requirements
- into state law.
Committee:
House Health
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Indian Affairs Nov 13th, 2025
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, and that includes state and federal money? Just state.
- You stated that you needed help talking to the council delegates to put something in place.
- Once the council approves a project, at least in my village, It comes to the state; the money's already
- I'm sure that the buildings you have were built at a time when there were no building codes.
- No building codes were in place, but now it's different.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- This one stands to cost our state $1.2 billion. This one stands to cost our state $1.2 billion.
- That was a prominent theme in Governor Hobbs' State of the State address.
- It is a common sense pro-taxpayer bill that conforms Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code and
- That was a prominent theme in Governor Hobbs' state of the state address.
- It does not reduce the state income tax. So there's no cost to the state.
Summary:
The House convened, approved the journal, recognized the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several guest groups, including JAG students and students from Heila Ben High School. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 2153, the annual tax conformity bill, which was described by supporters as aligning Arizona tax law with recent federal changes and providing relief through no tax on tips and overtime, a larger child tax credit, a new child care expense deduction, and a deduction for certain retirement income. Opponents argued the measure would primarily benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, reduce state revenue, and leave some seniors out because the retirement-income deduction is tied to retirement accounts. Members also discussed the Department of Revenue’s already-issued tax forms and the need for certainty for filers.
After extended debate, the Committee of the Whole gave HB 2153 a do pass recommendation by a vote of 31-26, and the House adopted the report and sent the bill to engrossing. The House then took up the Senate mirror bill, SB 1106, substituted for HB 2153, and after floor explanations of vote, passed it 31-27 with 2 not voting. Supporters said the bill would help working families, seniors, and small businesses and prevent filing confusion, while opponents repeated concerns about cost, fairness, and impacts on public services. The bill was transmitted to the Senate.
Following the tax vote, members made several announcements, including birthday wishes and a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and committee chairs announced upcoming cancellations. The House then recessed and reconvened for first reading and referral of a long list of new bills covering topics such as elections, health care, education, transportation, public safety, taxation, housing, and appropriations. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until the next scheduled meeting.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Sep 11th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill builds upon the Governor's 2023 executive order to require state departments to review their
- Building and Construction Trades Council, Housing California, The State Building and Construction Trades
- We want to make housing more affordable, streamline the state building code.
- building code.
- And I said, To pause additional regulations in the state building code, and I celebrated that, and this
Summary:
The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance recognizing 9/11. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate or temporarily retained. The chamber also took procedural actions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest access and file-item handling, and later taking a roll-call vote to allow a late-filed journal letter request.
Among the major Senate bills taken up on third reading, the Assembly approved SB 385 on peace officers’ rights, SB 753 on shopping cart recovery, SB 838 on housing and hotel projects, SB 643 on carbon dioxide removal grants, SB 645 on jury peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 761 on CalFresh access for students, SB 774 on real estate licensing sunsets, SB 400 on renewable energy labor tax incentives, SB 24 on utility spending transparency, SB 37 on attorney advertising ethics, SB 258 on spousal rape involving disabled spouses, SB 364 on outdoor advertising near new freeways, SB 403 removing the sunset from medical aid in dying, SB 770 on HOA barriers to EV charging, and SB 22 on gift certificate cash redemption values. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 403 and SB 770 drew more divided votes, while SB 24 was briefly delayed by a call before passing.
The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on Assembly bills covering a wide range of topics, including service of process (AB 747), local clean energy planning (AB 39), firearms (AB 1078), workers’ compensation (AB 1336), public health (AB 1487), survivor leave protections (AB 406), solid waste (AB 70), water reporting for data centers (AB 93), Diwali recognition (AB 268), wildfire workforce recovery (AB 338), educational equity (AB 419), civic education (AB 422), office-to-housing conversions (AB 507), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), privacy/browser opt-out rules (AB 566), housing element transparency (AB 610), tenant appliance requirements (AB 628), code enforcement penalties (AB 632), homelessness and LGBTQ-related policy (AB 678), energy (AB 740), DEIA review in state government (AB 766), inmate firefighter wages (AB 247), children’s health (AB 798), real estate (AB 851), COVID-era rehiring protections (AB 858), hazardous materials (AB 961), real property and housing covenants (AB 1050), aging (AB 1069), health care facilities (AB 1172), endangered species protections (AB 1319), CalWORKs modernization (AB 1324), cannabis access for seriously ill patients (AB 1332), foreign labor contractors (AB 1362), and downtown revitalization financing (AB 1445). Several of these passed overwhelmingly, while a few drew notable opposition, including AB 93, AB 403, AB 770, AB 851, AB 1050, and AB 1319.
The transcript also included extended debate on SB 34, which was presented as a compromise measure on air pollution and port operations in the San Pedro Bay area. Supporters said it narrowed the scope to protect union jobs while preserving AQMD authority, while opponents and supporters alike noted the underlying distrust between labor and environmental stakeholders. The Assembly passed SB 34, SB 515 on disaggregated demographic data collection, and then began taking up AB 495 on immigration, with the sponsor describing family separation and immigration enforcement trauma before the transcript cuts off.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (01/22/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- is funded um but but we use the tax code is funded um but but we use the state<00:17:52.480><c> and<
- As we approach the 60th anniversary of the State Council on the Arts and the 90th anniversary of our
- ><c> the</c> anniversary of the state Council on the anniversary of the state Council on the Arts<04:
- </c><05:10:00.798><c> Council</c> oversees the New Hampshire State Council oversees the New Hampshire
- </c><05:10:34.920><c> Council</c> make up our New Hampshire State Council make up our New Hampshire State
Summary:
New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work.
Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow.
Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money.
On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- local building codes.
- and local building codes.
- We're not just talking about blue states or even red states. Exclusively.
- I know that because we have these discriminatory practices today in this state and other states.
- utilization was in each state.
Committee:
House Insurance
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- Because I imagine this isn't a blue state or red state issue; this is a state issue.
- That's happening in some states.
- state arts agency.
- the building, fix the buildings, do some of the infrastructure support that's necessary.
- We are one of 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils that deliver funding programs and partnerships
Summary:
The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail.
Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts.
Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 15th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill that we've drafted is modeled after the state of Florida and several other states that have
- They've done this in other states.
- Just from a state perspective and a state legislator, I don't know how we mandate the parish.
- That’s the state contribution.
- Many other states do so.
Committee:
House Administration of Criminal Justice
Summary:
The committee first took up HB 74, which would create a Louisiana Spectrum Alert for missing persons with autism spectrum disorder. Representative Eccles said the alert would be modeled on Amber and senior alerts and could be absorbed within existing resources. The committee heard emotional support testimony from a parent describing the dangers of elopement and drowning risks for autistic children, and several members voiced support. HB 74 was reported favorably.
Members then considered HB 1033 and HB 1034 by Chairman Bacala. HB 1033 expands the statutory definition of critical infrastructure to include additional facilities such as airports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, mass transit, government facilities, military installations, and oil and gas exploration platforms. It drew mostly support from economic development and law enforcement groups, with one opposition card from the Sierra Club, and was reported favorably. HB 1034 authorizes parish presidents, mayors, sheriffs, police chiefs, and chief executive officers to establish temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with a warning before criminal penalties attach. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying that the bill cannot be used in a manner inconsistent with state firearms preemption law, heard concerns from the ACLU about vagueness and possible overreach, and then reported the bill favorably as amended.
HB 59, by Representative Marcel, would require East Baton Rouge Parish and its municipalities to fund the 19th Judicial District public defender’s office in a manner parallel to the district attorney funding structure. The bill drew support from the public defender, the district attorney, and the state public defender, but several members raised concerns that the language could create an unfunded mandate or litigation risk for local governments. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 59 favorably. HB 175, as amended, redirected $500,000 annually from Louisiana Lottery net proceeds into a Veterans Service Grant Fund administered by a new board in the Department of Veterans Affairs; testimony emphasized support for veterans programs, treatment courts, homelessness services, and community organizations, and the bill was reported favorably as amended.
The committee also advanced HB 568, which increases penalties for drug-free school zone violations involving open marijuana use and other drug activity. Supporters said the bill would give law enforcement and prosecutors a clearer tool to address visible drug use near schools and large events, while opponents warned it could over-criminalize marijuana and create proof problems. The committee reported HB 568 favorably. Finally, HB 525, which requires DPS&C to publish certain incarceration data online, was amended to remove parish jail census data after DPS&C said it would not post that portion; the department said it would publish the remaining data and codebook online. The committee then reported HB 525 favorably as amended.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> chapters across the state of Alabama. chapters across the state of Alabama.
- </c> Day at the Alabama State Capital. Day at the Alabama State Capital.
- </c> of the code of Alabama." of the code of Alabama."
- Even when I served on city<02:41:38.399><c> council,</c> city council, city council, >> I<02:41
- </c> time when I served on city council. time when I served on city council.
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then adopted the previous day’s journal and excused absent senators. The chamber recognized visiting members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and adopted a Senate resolution designating February 10, 2026, as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the Alabama State Capitol. Senators offered remarks praising the fraternity’s service, civic outreach, and historical significance, and the House later sent over a matching resolution, which the Senate adopted. The Senate also heard a Black History Month presentation highlighting Benjamin Banneker, Dr. Charles Drew, Ralph Bunche, and Carter G. Woodson.
The Senate then processed a large number of House messages and confirmations. House bills and resolutions were referred to committees, including measures on juvenile offenders, administrative rules, state income tax, local legislation, ad valorem tax, multi-member boards, license plates, criminal procedure, and food banks. The Senate confirmed several appointments, including multiple Alabama Army National Guard promotions, Mike Suo to the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees, and Christy Andrews to the Alabama Securities Commission, each by roll call with no opposition.
In motions and resolutions, the Senate adopted numerous commemorative and honorary resolutions, including observances for National Blood Donor Month, Diabetes Month, Booker T. Washington Day, the Alabama Community College Football Study Commission, and recognitions for individuals and organizations such as the Baldwin County Fair, Sheriff Derek Cunningham, William Riley Hawkins Jr., and Clifford Ray Miller. Senator Barfoot’s resolution urging federal funding for the state logging efficiency grant fund was adopted after adding all senators as co-sponsors, and a resolution honoring Sheriff Derek Cunningham was read at length and adopted. The Senate also adopted the Rules Committee’s special order calendar for the next legislative day, which prioritized several bills on libraries, taxation, retired state employees, municipalities, transportation, coal-impacted communities, income tax, the Alabama Space Authority, cosmetology and barbering, security, entertainment incentives, and health. In local legislation, the Senate passed several local bills, including measures for Mobile County, class 2 municipalities, public transportation, Jefferson County, and the town of Morris.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/08/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- and across the street at the Minnesota State Capitol building, about the damage that conversion therapy
- </c> the the state level of $11.55. the the state level of $11.55.
- </c> build on that legacy. build on that legacy.
- </c> facilities in and out of state. facilities in and out of state.
- </c> building a future. building a future.
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 01:59 pm
Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- This would allow beer distributors to move the product through the state and not go through the state's
- Further questions of council. Senior senator from the 13th. Thank you.
- If you would just state your name, please.
- Basically, you want to expire those two subsections in that section of code, effective July 1, 2027.
- This bill amends provisions of the West Virginia Code by adding three new articles to foster economic
Committee:
Senate Finance
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- So at the time of building permit, go to the city or go to the county, pick up your building permit.
- the city building departments.
- industry in the state.
- If growth continues and you keep building and building and building, then maybe there's a way to get
- in another part of the state, in a different part of the state.
Committee:
House Local Government
Summary:
The committee heard four bills, all related to fire district governance and funding. House Bill 797, brought by Rep. Dygert, would require fire district and sub-district commissioners to be electors residing in the sub-district for at least 90 days before appointment or election. Members raised concerns about possible difficulty finding qualified candidates and about overlap with other residency rules, but the bill was moved to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Rep. Sauter presented House Bill 765, which would allow fire districts, and in some cases library districts, to adjust boundaries through a public process without being constrained by the effects of prior law limiting annexation value. Testimony from an Eagle Fire District representative and others described the bill as a way to better match service areas with district boundaries and avoid tax and service mismatches. The committee sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
House Bill 766 would let fire and ambulance districts administer their own development impact fee schedules across multiple jurisdictions, rather than relying on separate approvals from each city or county they cover. Fire chiefs and the Association of Idaho Cities supported the bill as an efficiency measure, while some members questioned whether it would increase fees or reduce local oversight. The committee advanced it to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
House Bill 767 would allow fire district impact fee revenue to be used for up to 50% of the replacement cost of fire apparatus. Fire chiefs argued that growth has increased wear on equipment and that the bill would help districts keep up without raising fees, while the Idaho Home Builders Association opposed it, warning of a slippery slope and potential housing cost impacts. After debate, the committee approved the bill on an 8-6 roll call vote and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant Aug 14th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- buildings.
- add in the state land and state forestry.
- In other states I've worked in, we have comparative data that shows what from what zip code to what zip
- Building.
- I heard 750 in the state.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- , the Secretary of State of the United States, and the congressional delegation representing the State
- Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of State of the United States,
- Exceptions for local building codes, fire safety, and infrastructure capacities ensure no city is asked
- Exceptions for local building codes, fire safety, and infrastructure capacities ensure no city is asked
- So what this does is it makes sure that everyone in our state has the same right to build an ADU on their
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, approved the journal, and moved through routine orders, including committee reports and messages from the House. Several bills and resolutions were introduced, referred to committees, or advanced on the calendar. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider a series of House bills, adopting amendments to measures including House Bills 629, 678, 522, 810, 684, 561, and 860, and reporting them back as amended without recommendation. The committee also reported progress on House Bills 613, 526, 670, and 549, which retained their place on the calendar.
On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1294 on newborn hearing screenings after sponsor testimony emphasized early intervention, support from audiologists and deaf/hard-of-hearing advocates, and no fiscal impact. The chamber also passed Senate Bills 1353 and 1354, both housing bills expanding state standards for twin homes, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units in cities over 10,000; supporters framed them as property-rights and affordability measures, while opponents argued they weakened local control, increased infrastructure and parking burdens, and could benefit investors more than families. Senate Bill 1389, providing liability protection for property owners who allow polling places on their premises, passed unanimously after discussion about balancing voter access with premises liability.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1391, a technical fix preserving surveyors’ lawful entry authority for property and right-of-way work, and House Bill 727, which revises video voyeurism/extortion provisions to address AI-generated or threatened dissemination of intimate images and adds enhanced penalties when minors are involved. Finally, the Senate passed House Bill 542, the “Stop the Harms from Addictive Social Media Act,” after extensive debate over whether it protects children from addictive platform features or improperly shifts responsibility and creates surveillance and enforcement problems; the bill’s supporters argued it targets harmful platform design and parental control, while opponents raised concerns about legacy accounts, privacy, enforceability, and state overreach. Several roll-call votes were taken, with most measures passing by substantial margins, including unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1389 and 35-0 passage of House Bill 727.
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Virginia Commission to End Hunger May 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We have had purple states do this.
- Many other states.
- So I think there is work that we can build upon.
- in the United States.
- Excellent. ...state in the United States. So that's a simple yes? Yes. Excellent. Love it.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1148 provides a simple clarification in the B&P Code that allows state-mandated security
- It was the local council member here for Sacramento because, It was the local council member here for
- Clinical practice requirements vary dramatically from state to state.
- And so it is truly different from state to state on the transition.
- And so it is truly different from state to state on the transition of practice, but the education and
Committee:
House Business and Professions
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Finance (Part II) Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And if anybody in a state building in downtown calls 911, we ought to be able to have a trooper there
- The agency is working diligently with state and county partners to identify two sites for our new builds
- I'm not sure in the counties where there really are no building codes, right?
- The state fire marshal's office has some jurisdiction out there, but building-code-wise, no, you're pretty
- Since 1995, MTC has been honored to operate the state within the state, building valuable partnerships
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools.
Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure.
Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 18th, 2026
County and Municipal Government
Transcript Highlights:
- . state. state.
- </c><00:11:42.000><c> This</c> current bill says of the state. This current bill says of the state.
- </c> and retaliation, and build public trust. and retaliation, and build public trust.
- I think the legislation is, um, because this kind of exempts from state bid law because the state bid
- They're not [laughter] build one.
Committee:
House County and Municipal Government
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Performance Audit Oversight Committee (06/06/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:12:42.240><c> that's</c> standing from another state that's standing from another state that's
- Either way, um it was every every state, Either way, um it was every every state, every<00:14:33.920>
- </c> know, I I want to I'm from the state know, I I want to I'm from the state with<00:16:38.480><c>
- There’s a compact that the vast majority of U.S. states are in, and the reciprocity in all 50 states
- When I say a different jurisdiction, there are some states—the state of New York licenses electricians
Summary:
The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023.
Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification.
The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.