Transcript Highlights:

• Dismantling MTSSB would undo years of alignment, waste taxpayer investment, increase duplication, and
• 05:39:13.600><c> years</c><05:39:13.840><c> of</c><05:39:14.000><c> alignment,</c><05:39:14.798><c> waste
• </c><05:39:15.200><c> taxpayer</c> undo years of alignment, waste taxpayer undo years of alignment, waste

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• haven't run big programs before so they can implement what they promised and so that we can see fewer wasted
• that we can what they promised and so that we can see<01:40:03.840><c> fewer</c><01:40:04.239><c> wasted
• </c> see fewer wasted opportunities. see fewer wasted opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• only violates constitutional rights of New Hampshire and of Americans across the country, but it wastes
• of uh Americans across the country, but of uh Americans across the country, but it<02:22:07.600><c> waste
• 08.319><c> money</c><02:22:08.560><c> on</c><02:22:08.960><c> uh</c><02:22:09.280><c> doomed</c> it waste
• taxpayer money on uh doomed it waste taxpayer money on uh doomed litigation<02:22:10.640><c> and</c>

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't want a repeat of that because it's a waste of taxpayer money.
• didn't want a repeat of that because<04:15:35.040><c> it's</c><04:15:35.279><c> a</c><04:15:35.439><c> waste
• </c> because it's a waste of taxpayer money. because it's a waste of taxpayer money.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't want a repeat of that because it's a waste of taxpayer money.
• didn't want a repeat of that because<04:15:35.040><c> it's</c><04:15:35.279><c> a</c><04:15:35.439><c> waste
• </c> because it's a waste of taxpayer money. because it's a waste of taxpayer money.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would clarify that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary policy for a newborn’s care unless the mother has no coverage or no employer-sponsored coverage. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure simply codifies the department’s long-standing interpretation of existing law. Representative Miles asked whether the coverage would extend to a grandchild if a young woman on her parents’ plan had a baby, and Birdsell said it would. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Senator Kevin Avard. The bill requires insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, when they change Medicare Advantage offerings. Benton Court said the bill was prompted by disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers and the department were confused by carriers exiting, changing plans, or narrowing offerings. He said the department does not regulate Medicare Advantage itself, but does license the carriers, and the notice requirement would help the department advise consumers; he also said noncompliance could affect a carrier’s license and could lead to fines. Members discussed the notice period, and the department and AHIP indicated support for changing it from 120 days to 90 days to align with federal timing. The hearing was closed with plans to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Representative Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole said the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell at a loss. Members questioned whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts, whether the bill would raise consumer prices, and whether it would mainly affect independent pharmacies. Cole and others said the issue has changed over time because PBMs now control a much larger share of the market, and that the bill would let pharmacies refuse loss-making fills and direct patients to mail order instead. The discussion also noted that the bill excludes Medicare and Medicaid and that the current proposal does not create a middle-ground option for patients to pay a premium at the counter.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's the ultimate waste.
• handled by a consumer so that's the handled by a consumer so that's the ultimate ultimate ultimate waste
• waste waste um<04:03:30.479><c> I</c><04:03:30.560><c> don't</c><04:03:30.880><c> know</c><04:03:31.279

Summary: The committee first discussed HB 443, which would change terms and vacancy language for members of a higher education commission. Members raised concerns that the bill was too narrow to address broader issues with commission membership, including expired appointments, attendance expectations, and whether the Department of Education could replace the commission’s role. Several members suggested the bill was not ready for action and favored holding it for further work, possibly through a subcommittee or work session. One member suggested that if attendance standards were added, no more than two unexcused absences should trigger removal, given the commission’s meeting schedule. The chair said he would defer action and form a small subcommittee to report back before the committee deadline. The committee then moved to HB 484, dealing with repurposing Career and Technical Education classroom space after 20 years of exclusive use. The chair explained that the bill was aimed at the Milford CTE project, where shared use of space could allow a school to repurpose part of a CTE facility while still using it for CTE-related instruction. Members discussed other possible situations around the state, including Claremont, North Conway, and Jaffrey/Rindge, and whether the bill should be limited to Milford or broadened to allow local districts more flexibility. Some members favored passing the bill now to help CTE projects move forward, while others argued for an amendment removing the requirement that the space be vacated specifically to expand the CTE program occupying it. Testimony and discussion emphasized that the Milford project had state approval but reduced funding, requiring a smaller scope and repurposing of existing space. Supporters said the bill could help preserve CTE programs while also benefiting general education space needs, and that local districts should have flexibility after 20 years. Opponents or cautious members noted that the language might not fit every district situation and asked for feedback from Director Beard and Steve Rothenberg before final action. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, and instead discussed waiting for an amendment and additional input before acting.

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• "Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near, "You're wasting your strength in building here.
• You're wasting your pilgrim near.
• You're wasting your strength<00:07:58.560><c> in</c><00:07:58.800><c> building</c><00:07:59.120><c> here

Transcript Highlights:

• Public safety, water and sewer, solid waste, planning, housing, and transportation are all examples where
• Public safety, water and sewer, solid waste, planning, housing, and transportation are all examples where
• Solid waste, planning, housing, and transportation are all examples where cooperation already happens

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had a number of conversations in this committee and other committees about fraud, waste, and abuse
• We've had a number of conversations in this committee and other committees about fraud, waste, and abuse
• specifically is just about the transfer Conversations in this committee and other committees about fraud, waste

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• fixures and supply system and pluming fixures and supply system and pluming fixures and supply and waste
• and waste and waste lines if a public building operated by a lines if a public building operated by

Bills: SB 26 , SB 28 , SJR 36 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 28 , SB 28 , SR 131 , SR 168 , SR 174 , SR 175

Transcript Highlights:

• the outset, court monitoring or freestanding restitution orders unnecessarily burden defendants and waste
• the outset, court monitoring or freestanding restitution orders unnecessarily burden defendants and waste
• I'm against raising taxes and feel that we should save by cutting waste and increasing efficiency, so

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the home, but there's more to the size of a lot than simply the area reserved for subsurface solid waste
• Solid Waste Disposal um aquifers are one Solid Waste Disposal um aquifers are one of<03:46:38.439><c>

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where our taxpayers' dollars are being wasted on administrative cost and not actually going
• And that's where our taxpayers' dollars are being wasted on administrative cost and not actually going

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the point from my end is to make sure that we're not wasting time by passing something that then
• The point from my end is to make sure that we're not wasting time by passing something that then would

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want more case managers to reach out to DHS with tips if they are seeing fraud, waste, or abuse
• And I want more case managers to reach out to DHS with tips if they are seeing fraud, waste, or abuse

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• invites a wave of frivolous and most likely politically motivated lawsuits that would clog our courts, waste
• invites a wave of frivolous and most likely politically motivated lawsuits that would clog our courts, waste

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a whole host of program integrity aspects of the Medicaid program that look for fraud, waste,
• We have a whole host of program integrity aspects of the Medicaid program that look for fraud, waste,

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• linked to neuroprotection and sleep in PubMed 3704779798, 37796 540; repeating prohibition's failures, wasting
• for people who have diabetes and even for veterans with PTSD, not exactly great for someone with a wasting

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs