Transcript Highlights:

• do the boat fee.
• So yes, all boats pay that.
• Please introduce yourself and... than that, yes, all boats pay those fees than that, yes, all boats pay
• And I think it was boats pay that.
• </c> boats now. Okay. Uh any other questions? boats now. Okay. Uh any other questions?

Summary: The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future. Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency. James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors. At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.

Transcript Highlights:

• examine all of the things that we were doing and what we needed to do in Dutchess County to prevent fatalities
• increase in not only domestic violence cases, but a lot of those cases have unfortunately ended in fatalities
• I think this legislation is an important measure because it not only helps to predict potential fatalities
• FATALITIES.
• I THINK THIS LEGISLATION IS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY HELPS TO PREDICT POTENTIAL FATALITIES

Summary: The Senate met on May 6, 2026, approved the prior journal, and accepted a Rules Committee report advancing the government appropriations bill to third reading. The chamber then took up the tenth budget extender, which sponsor Senator Serrano said would keep state government operating through Monday, May 11 and contained $482 million in new spending, bringing the total across extenders to $20.3 billion. In questioning, Senator O’Mara and Senator Helming pressed Serrano for details on the reported $268 billion budget deal, policy outcomes, revenue raisers, and whether local governments, schools, and rural health programs would receive certainty; Serrano said final budget bills were not yet in print and declined to speculate on unresolved issues. The extender passed 60-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate also adopted several previously adopted resolutions honoring the North Tonawanda High School girls varsity basketball team, the Tappan Zee High School girls basketball team, and SUNY student Chriss-Ann Pryce. Members praised the teams’ state championships and Pryce’s academic and leadership achievements through the Educational Opportunity Program. The chamber then returned to legislation and passed a bill designating May 9 as Overdose Awareness Day in New York; Senator Fernandez said it recognized the harm of overdose and the need to continue funding harm reduction and recovery services. Additional bills passed included a statewide domestic violence lethality assessment measure, with Senators Murray, Rolison, Webb, and Ramos describing it as a tool to identify dangerous situations and prevent fatalities; a mental health insurance bill limiting step therapy/prior authorization for serious mental health medications, supported by Senator Fahy; and measures on education, real property tax, election law, general business law, kitchen incubator economic impacts, public buildings, state finance, and mental hygiene. Several bills drew recorded opposition, including the real property tax bill and the election law and general business law measures. The Senate concluded by adjourning until Monday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days designated legislative.

Transcript Highlights:

• or near child fatalities.
• Child fatalities, as it relates to being able to substantiate child fatalities or near child fatalities
• when they can see this information—transparency and accountability—when they've had near child fatalities
• Child fatalities, as it relates to being able to substantiate child fatalities or near child fatalities
• when they can see this information—transparency and accountability—when they've had near child fatalities

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 135, which would redirect a portion of wagering dedications from the sports fund to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund and remove a cap affecting that funding stream. The author and staff explained the amendment was designed to avoid any impact on the State General Fund while increasing support for early childhood education. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. Senate Bill 202, from the Secretary of State’s office, would increase the number of compensated days for parish board of election supervisors to cover additional election-related duties. Secretary Landry and election officials testified that the change was needed because supervisors now perform more work, including ballot tabulation, machine sealing, and verification tasks. The committee adopted technical and appropriation-related amendments and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then took up several health and human services bills. Senate Bill 155 would require insurance coverage for medically necessary dental procedures needed before cancer treatment; testimony from medical and dental professionals emphasized that untreated dental problems can delay chemotherapy or radiation and worsen outcomes. After adopting amendments to narrow the fiscal impact, the bill was reported favorably as amended, with discussion of a possible subject-to-appropriation amendment to be worked out later. Senate Bill 237, a major DCFS reform bill, drew extensive testimony and debate over child welfare oversight, mandatory reporter training, law enforcement coordination, and the bill’s large fiscal note. The committee adopted amendments, including a subject-to-appropriation provision, and reported the bill favorably as amended after emotional testimony from supporters and former DCFS employees. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 465 on prompt-pay insurance reform after an amendment reduced the fiscal note to zero; Senate Bill 261 on unclaimed property after a substitute bill was adopted; Senate Bill 295 on expanded coverage for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation after amendments narrowed the mandate and added subject-to-appropriation language; Senate Bill 157 providing six weeks of paid parental leave for K-12 educators and staff, also subject to appropriation; Senate Bill 276 requiring bail bond producers to certify outstanding obligations before new appointments; Senate Bill 83 on human trafficking services after removing the age-expansion cost; Senate Bill 143 on bulletproof vests after shifting funding away from a direct state appropriation; and Senate Bill 450 on school safety assessments after an amendment limited implementation to available funds and resources. In each case, the committee’s actions focused on reducing or eliminating fiscal notes while keeping the bills moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• should be able to have and receive information as they do from other agencies as it relates to child fatalities
• or near child fatalities.
• Child fatalities, as it relates to being able to substantiate child fatalities or near child fatalities
• when they can see this information, transparency and accountability, when they've had near child fatalities
• Child fatalities as it relates to being able to substantiate child fatalities or near child fatalities

Bills: SB83 , SB135 , SB143 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB237 , SB261 , SB276 , SB295 , SB450 , SB465 , SB506 , HB1070

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking prevention, school safety, public schools, elementary and secondary education, charter schools, mandatory reporting, victim identification, victim services, child trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, commercial sexual activity, DCFS, Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana State Police, governor's office of human trafficking prevention, counselor training, mental health professional, administrator training

Transcript Highlights:

• The overdose fatality examiner. Yes, so she has all the numbers.
• I'm the overdose fatality examiner in the Office of the Medical Examiner, Hi, I'm Megan Brockmeyer.
• And so we're just here to talk a little bit about the fatal drug overdose data and what we're seeing
• So during this period, there were 158 fatal overdoses that involved kratom.
• In June of 2025, so during this period, there were 158 fatal overdoses that involved kratom.

Committee: Joint Health and Human Services Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Gossett Seidman: With over 1,200 people moving to Florida every day and sales of vessels and boats up
• an upside down mushroom with a series of heavy duty chains slowly coming to the surface where the boat
• Gossett Seidman: There are moored and anchored boats and three times in the past two years southeastern
• and downdraft storms have shoved the boats into the docks and into the restaurant and into the floating
• There are some boating enthusiasts and boating associations who might have some issues with this and.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, according to the Consumer Federations of America, in 2023 there were 498 OHRV fatalities
• In addition, the Consumer Protection Agency in 2024 said that OHRV fatalities surged by 127% over the
• In addition, according to the Consumer Federations of America, in 2023 there were 498 OHRV fatalities
• In addition, the Consumer Protection Agency in 2024 said that OHRV fatalities surged by 127% over the
• When, in 2025, there were 137 fatalities on New Hampshire public roadways, and as of Monday, 20 just

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:53.279><c> fatalities</c> motor vehicle fatal fatalities motor vehicle fatal fatalities at
• </c> rangemaster in New Jersey was fatally rangemaster in New Jersey was fatally shot<00:38:38.000><c
• Our fatal and non-fatal overdose numbers are both declining precipitously in the state.
• </c><01:18:01.120><c> and</c> fatal our overdose numbers fatal and fatal our overdose numbers fatal and
• Uh, I think it's similar declines in non-fatal overdoses. similar declines in non-fatal overdoses.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The second part of that question was how does the department expect the boating inspection...
• And recreational boating happening.
• Really in the boating space, because they are boating access funds.
• all the things, you basically just dip the whole trailer and boat into the water.
• People can safely travel their boat from one location to another. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's not always two boats every day at Port Townsend and Coupeville.
• Is a portion of that to service the debt service on bonding for building the boats?
• But then when I say that doesn’t include a lot of new boats in the future.
• I believe it is generally for the two-engine boats, the cost. More questions.
• Okay, and then the cost of those boats, do you have that information, the cost of that third boat?

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a line item for almost $509,000 worth of boats.
• We were going to be there for a year, so we needed boats for monitors, for safety, protecting people
• So when we did the cost-benefit analysis to lease boats, by your example, the leasing of boats over a
• And I believe in that situation, half of those boats went to FWC and half of those boats went to the
• They have mechanics for boats. And we're not going out and buying 500 boats.

Summary: The Economic Development Budget Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster costs, recovery operations, sheltering, and major capital projects. He reviewed the 2024 hurricane season impacts from Debby, Helene, and Milton, explaining how FEMA public assistance and state reimbursement work, how cost shares can shift from 75/25 to 90/10 after a federal threshold is reached, and how Florida uses prior storm data and inflation to estimate recovery costs. He also described the state’s faster reimbursement timelines, crediting legislative investments in technology and digital field documentation, and said the division is working to reduce disaster closeout timelines from decades to about seven years. Members asked about debris removal, FEMA de-obligations, local preparedness, and whether regional shelters or co-located emergency operations centers could be used more efficiently. Guthrie said debris assistance is complicated and should generally remain tied to local contracts and planning, though the state will help fiscally constrained communities when needed. He explained de-obligations as FEMA clawing back previously approved funds after later review, and said Florida’s FROC program is helping local governments reduce those risks through standardized documentation, procurement review, and training. He also urged more mandatory emergency-management training for local and state officials and cautioned against weakening the FEMA 50% rule for rebuilding damaged structures. Guthrie provided updates on the new central Florida warehouse in Auburndale and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. He said the warehouse will improve logistics, include cold and ultra-cold storage, and be run by a private vendor with virtual inventory tracking, while the new EOC is designed for Category 5 conditions and expanded partner capacity. He acknowledged budget pressures that reduced the size of the EOC project and said an additional IT request was needed because those costs were not originally included. The meeting ended with praise for FDEM’s work and no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you can also launch your boat.
• Some people have historically said, well, all I want to do is launch my boat.
• And you can also launch your boat.
• Some people have historically says, well, all I want to do is launch my boat.
• So if you use state parks very much, like to launch a boat, it's quite the bargain.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're at the point where everything, even to run a boat, to get a boat out, is a lot of money for
• But it costs us a lot to fish on our boats, with everything we have to put in our boats just to get them
• My husband is a disabled veteran, and he's the owner and the captain of the boat.
• On the boat, shrimping in Florida, we're trying for our business to survive.
• To fill up a boat, it's very expensive. Getting people to work here is hard work. Why?

Bills: HB1958 , HB2031 , HB2879 , HB3285 , HB3995 , HB4487 , HB4558 , HB4560 , HB4876 , HB4899 , HB5212 , HB5317 , HB5543 , HB5567 , SB1333

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: firearm possession, tenant rights, landlord regulations, civil penalties, property code, justified use of force, deadly force, property rights, home defense, smart devices, data privacy, personal data collection, user consent, mobile application, data transparency, HOA, property owners association, property owners' association, Texas Property Code, Chapter 202

Transcript Highlights:

• Preeclampsia can be fatal.
• And we found out one of them had a fatal anomaly. Fatal meaning would have, I would have given.
• So I had a fatal anomaly as well. But.
• It does not include rape or infanticide. fatal fetal abnormality.
• It doesn't include fatal fetal abnormality. I wish it did include fatal fetal, but it doesn't.

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergencies, fatalities can happen in seconds when you're in health care, and I have Scott Jungstack
• of having to investigate with them a double fatality of a conductor and engineer when they tout this
• So we've all experienced the lockdowns of the intersections based on traffic fatalities.
• And then we have an investigative team that comes out and focuses on fatality investigations.
• Forty-five, what was it, 49% less fatalities or serious injuries.

Bills: HB2163 , HB2256 , HB2305 , HB2367 , HB2369 , HB2669 , HB2772 , HB2916 , HCM2007 , HCR2004 , HR2003

Committee: House Transportation & Infrastructure

Keywords: lighting laws, construction equipment, farm equipment, vehicle safety, Arizona Revised Statutes, salvage vehicles, insurance claims, abandoned vehicles, salvage auction dealers, vehicle title, neighborhood electric vehicles, alternative fuel, vehicle license tax, tax exemption, electric shuttle, photo enforcement, traffic violation, mayoral signature, civil traffic, jurisdiction

Transcript Highlights:

• weekend, with all lanes open to normal traffic, a serious accident occurred involving injuries and fatalities
• The crash resulted in a fatality.
• they do negligently, if they do something negligent or try to hide something and there would be a fatality
• they do negligent, if they do something negligent or try to hide something and there would be a fatality
• or a wreck or something, they are still liable. try to hide something, and there would be a fatality

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• At a time when our communities are facing rising traffic fatalities of bicyclists and other vulnerable
• A dismissal after diversion does not change the fact that a fatality occurred, and some people on the
• Without points, these drivers now remain invisible to the system even after a fatal incident.
• It simply ensures that a fatality is not erased—that Connor is not erased.
• It simply ensures that a fatality is not erased, that Connor is not erased.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• There were no fatalities reported during that time. But again, this is a small data set.
• seen an incident where an autonomous vehicle in Level 3 or 4 autonomous mode has been involved in a fatal
• So we did a study looking at fatal accidents on I-45 between 2018 and 2022 that involved Fatal accidents
• There were, I think, 15 or 18 collisions that involved heavy trucks that led to fatalities.
• The fatal accidents are comparatively rare on our roadway, even though there are a lot of them.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard an informational hearing on California’s newly finalized autonomous vehicle regulations, with DMV and CHP officials describing the updated framework and committee members pressing them on safety, enforcement, and first-responder impacts. DMV said the rules, effective April 28, 2026, expand reporting, create a phased permitting system from testing to deployment, add requirements for safety cases, remote operations, and first-responder coordination, and open a path for heavy-duty AV testing and deployment while still prohibiting oversized loads and hazardous materials. CHP said it worked with DMV on enforcement tools, first-responder interaction plans, and training local agencies on the new notice of noncompliance process. Members asked about crash data, immobilizations, freeway and construction-zone safety, weigh-station enforcement, and whether foreign licenses can qualify for remote assistants or drivers; DMV and CHP said the rules are intended to keep AVs accountable and that heavy-duty AVs will be held to the same roadway standards as human-driven commercial vehicles. A second panel focused on data collection and enforcement. Consumer attorneys argued the prior rules were too limited because DMV stopped collecting meaningful data once AVs moved from testing to deployment, making it difficult for the public and litigants to understand incidents; they supported the new regulations but urged that the collected information be made public. The industry association said California now has the nation’s most robust AV oversight, with monthly or quarterly reporting of collisions, system failures, immobilizations, harsh braking, vehicle miles traveled, and notices of noncompliance, plus broad DMV authority to restrict or suspend operations. In response to questions, the industry said it generally supports the new framework, believes the regulations are clear, and does not favor full federal preemption of state AV rules, though it wants federal standards for design, construction, and performance. A third panel addressed first-responder interaction and remote operations. The San Francisco Fire Department described repeated AV interference with emergency scenes and said AVs have generated hundreds of “sleeper calls,” where passengers fall asleep and trigger 911 responses; the department said these incidents consume significant staff time and it wants better protocols to reduce unnecessary dispatches. Waymo said it has trained thousands of public-safety personnel, maintains a 24/7 emergency line, uses geofencing/avoid-the-area messages, and can allow first responders to manually override or move vehicles when needed. Committee members asked about sleeper-call prevention, remote assistant licensing and drug testing, communication redundancies during outages, and how manual overrides work for vehicles without traditional controls; Waymo said it is collaborating with responders and that its vehicles are designed to reach a safe stop if connectivity is lost. The final panel began with testimony on heavy-duty autonomous vehicles. A transportation researcher said freight is essential to California’s economy and that heavy-duty AVs pose distinct safety risks because of their weight, stopping distance, and the potentially severe consequences of crashes or immobilizations on highways. He said the new regulations are important because they create a regulated pathway for heavy-duty AV deployment, require a safety case, set mileage thresholds, and add reporting categories that can serve as leading safety indicators. The hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended, with additional testimony expected from labor and industry witnesses on heavy-duty AV deployment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Traffic crashes and fatalities are not going in the right direction in recent years.
• In 2024, there were 478 fatalities on Minnesota roadways, in 2023 402, and in 2022 444.
• </c> priority traffic crashes and fatalities priority traffic crashes and fatalities are<01:24:43.719
• on Minnesota roadways in 2023 fatalities on Minnesota roadways in 2023 402<01:24:56.440><c> and</c><
• occur on two-lane roadways fatalities occur on two-lane roadways where<01:25:04.560><c> there's</c><

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I've got it right on my boat, but, uh, you know, some people have it.
• I think I've got it right on my boat, but, uh, you know, some people have it.
• I think I've got it right on my boat, but, uh, you know, some people have it.
• I think I've got it right on my boat, but, uh, you know, some people have it.
• I think I've got it right on my boat, but, uh, you know, some people have it.