Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, sir, and any other additional software that it does not cover for us?
• </c> we've already covered we've already covered this and<00:49:15.599><c> one</c><00:49:15.880><c> last
• </c> requests here most of which are covered requests here most of which are covered in<00:56:31.880>
• that is correct sir thank you entities that is correct sir thank you very Okay.
• So who covers the initial two per year? Is that the feds? It's through a program. I assume.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 hearing took testimony from the director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training on the agency’s budget request and operations. He described the agency’s role in setting hiring, education, certification, and discipline standards for police, corrections, probation and parole, and court security officers, and noted that the agency runs the full-time, part-time, corrections, and court security training programs. He also outlined the agency’s staffing, facility, and budget request for FY 2026-27, including a request to keep funding level with the governor’s recommendation while shifting funds to support an IT manager position by defunding a vacant administrative slot. The agency requested several statutory changes in Chapter 106, including clarifying the definition of police misconduct, allowing a temporary member on the Conduct Review Committee, clarifying reporting requirements for misconduct allegations, and codifying the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The director also reviewed new responsibilities added in recent years, including crisis intervention training, statewide accreditation, the Conduct Review Committee, and increased annual in-service training requirements. He explained that crisis intervention funding is carried in a continuously appropriated, non-lapsing account and that some budget lines were reclassified, including software and janitorial services, to reflect actual spending needs. Members asked about national standards, the different academy tracks, crisis intervention funding, maintenance and contract changes, temporary positions, and the court security training program. The agency said it coordinates with national peers through IADLEST, that the part-time and corrections academies are longstanding programs, and that the new court security academy can be delivered either as a full academy or as in-service training depending on resources. The director also said the agency has been running extra full-time academies because of high vacancy rates, but expects to return to three full-time academies this year, with two corrections academies and one or possibly two part-time academies. He also explained the current approach to misconduct records and public disclosure, saying sustained findings under RSA 106-L are heard by the council and published, replacing the older, less standardized exculpatory list process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clayman, will<00:14:56.399><c> cover</c><00:14:56.560><c> it.
• I'm going down now to will cover it.
• I'm not sure who's covering this. Madam Chair, Mr. Clayman, moving on to sales and use tax.
• 11 with the removal of one section that DSO had requested be removed with respect to pass-through entity
• Senate Article 11, Sections 1 and 3 to 11, which had the effect of removing the pass-through entity tax

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are issues that the other witnesses have covered.
• And the ALE doesn't cover our living expenses.
• It was a deal we cut early... ...and the ALE doesn't cover our living expenses.
• But then sure, it would pay the higher premium to cover those costs, right?
• That is a whole separate entity that I'm not involved with.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1315, the “Drive My Car Act,” from Senator Cabaldon. The author explained that the bill was intended to address the overlap between autonomous features and human driving, with a focus on preventing software updates from disabling a purchaser’s ability to drive a vehicle they bought for that purpose. He said the bill would be redirected to the Transportation Committee and amended to remove insurance provisions. Members broadly supported the concept as a forward-looking issue, and the committee voted due pass to Transportation on a roll call vote, with the bill held on call until all members were recorded. The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and the committee chair. The bill would make a broad set of changes to disaster claims handling and coverage after declared wildfires, including stronger replacement-cost and contents coverage, higher additional living expense limits, building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payment timelines, adjuster status updates, insurer emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims practices. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and the Consumer Federation of California, said the measure would help wildfire survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process. Opposition came from insurance industry and related groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad even after amendments, would raise premiums, increase claim severity, reduce flexibility, and potentially worsen availability in an already fragile market. Committee members questioned several provisions, especially the cost and feasibility of mandatory coverage expansions and faster timelines. The commissioner and author said the bill was about disaster recovery rather than rates, that many provisions were optional or limited to declared disasters, and that any cost impacts could be reflected in future rate filings. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to Judiciary on a due pass vote, with one member absent and the bill held open briefly for additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll cover three areas today. We found, uh... It works. That's great.
• We'll cover three areas today. First, the foundation: what digital assets are and how they work.
• It is important to clarify what the law does and what it doesn't cover.
• I think I covered that one plenty enough just a moment ago.
• I'm going to cover nine key points today.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not going to cover all of these.
• We're not going to cover all of these.
• I didn't—you didn't really cover that in your presentation, and I'm curious about that. Thank you.
• He was covered by L&I for years. And those are real impacts. My husband had a very complex claim.
• I'm almost—there's so much to cover.

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Attorney General’s office on a new workers’ rights unit and two request bills. The office said the unit will focus on wage theft and civil rights enforcement, using existing resources for a small staff. It also described a bill to expand civil investigative demand authority for labor, wage theft, prevailing wage, and discrimination investigations, and an Immigrant Worker Protection Act that would require employer notice when federal immigration authorities request employee records, limit access to nonpublic work areas without a warrant, and restrict disclosure of employee data without proper legal process. Senators asked about costs, funding sources, and the scope of the proposed authority, and the office said it would follow up with more detail. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Washington’s workers’ compensation system from Labor and Industries, including how claims are filed, how the medical provider network works, and how treatment authorizations and utilization review are handled. L&I said the network was created to improve care quality and return workers to work, and explained that most routine care is automatically authorized while certain procedures require prior approval or review. A question from Senator Conway focused on the role of the medical director and the appeals process; L&I said decisions can be protested and reconsidered, with exceptions reviewed through a complex treatment unit and medical staff. An experience panel followed with testimony from labor representatives, physicians, and an injured-worker attorney, who argued that the medical provider network and treatment guidelines can delay or deny needed care, especially in complex cases such as PTSD, brain injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. They described long appeals, utilization review barriers, provider shortages, and the impact on injured workers and families, while L&I’s presentation emphasized the system’s structure and review safeguards. The committee then heard a report from the Underground Economy Task Force in the construction industry. L&I summarized the task force’s findings on worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums, and outlined consensus and majority recommendations, including better interagency communication, stronger penalties for repeat offenders, more authority to address successorship, possible contractor notice requirements, and further study of cash payments. The Attorney General’s office, labor, and business representatives generally supported the report’s goals but differed on some recommendations, especially those affecting independent contractors, contractor liability, and administrative burdens. The chair and Senator Conway thanked participants and said the report would inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• agreeing to an extremely long-term lease of 70 years to a piece of prime open space to a private entity
• So there is a separate entity. It is not just an inchoate entity, but it is actually incorporated.
• So Acton owns the building, but they are not the same entity. ...owns the building, but they are not
• the same entity as West Acton Citizens Library.
• entity.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened its hearing with procedural remarks, including a strict three-minute testimony limit, livestream instructions, and a July 1 deadline for written testimony. Chairs Lewis and Rauch then heard testimony on a wide range of municipal home rule petitions and related bills, with many local officials and advocates being taken out of order because of the large turnout. A major topic was firefighter residency. Representatives of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and Sen. Keenan supported H. 2260/S. 1449, which would replace the current 15-mile residency rule for non-civil-service fire departments with a negotiable standard, generally allowing residency within 15 miles and permitting expansion through collective bargaining. Supporters said the change would improve recruitment and retention amid the housing crisis and create parity with civil-service departments. Acton Fire Chief Anita Arnhum and Sen. Senna also backed H. 4168 for Acton, making similar arguments about recruitment, paramedics, and the need for local flexibility. The committee also heard strong support for charter overhaul petitions for Somerville and Lynn. Somerville officials, including Rep. Barber, Mayor Ballantyne, Councilor Jake Wilson, and charter committee member Beverly Schwartz, described a years-long public process to replace an 1890s-era charter with a modern document emphasizing transparency, public participation, clearer governance, and a possible change to the mayor’s term length. Lynn Mayor Nicholson similarly supported a charter update to modernize city operations and financial procedures. Cambridge-related charter and procurement reforms were also briefly endorsed by Rep. Cabral. Other bills discussed included a proposal by Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Scarsdale to create a state grant program for municipal sustainability directors, and regional school finance bills supported by Rep. Lanatra and Jason Frazier to expand special education reserve funds and create a regional school assessment reserve fund. Acton witnesses also supported library governance changes and a checkout bag charge proposal. The committee heard sharply divided testimony on Quincy’s H. 3897, a 50-year lease extension for Quarry Hills/Granite Links: Quincy officials and business supporters praised the public-private partnership and future investment potential, while residents argued the lease was too long, should be competitively bid, and deserved more oversight and auditing. The hearing also included testimony on Boston trash truck noise restrictions and a PEG access/cable funds bill supported by Mass Access, as well as a Southwick petition to elect part of the Conservation Commission, which one select board member opposed as contrary to current law and good governance.

Transcript Highlights:

• So like a social services provider entity?
• It has to have a job creation component; it has to be to an economic base entity.
• We have seven different accounts that we have to cover.
• And that's for all of our local communities and our tribal entities.
• And about the time they learn all the rules and regulations, private entities—private government, private

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it is important to note that we still have a large number of entities in this state, schools
• And those individual entities are also held to the same standard and... us to adhere to the laws in the
• that data from other government sources and other jurisdiction you know other jurisdictions and entities
• we are doing is we are looking again at some of these. other jurisdictions and other government entities
• There was only one piece that we couldn't get directly from another governmental entity or some other

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• those, and Medicaid did not cover them.
• But as far as insurance covers go, like I said, it is now covered by Medicaid.
• it and who does not, but most do cover it now.
• But it's easier for the tribe to partner with private entities.
• But we never get a group of people covered.

Committee: Joint Health Care Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard a detailed annual presentation from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and review findings. He explained the committee’s structure, the de-identified review process, and the distinction between pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths. He said national maternal mortality has declined from its 2021 peak, but mental health conditions, substance use, overdose, suicide, cardiovascular disease, hemorrhage, infection, and embolism remain major causes. He emphasized that many deaths are preventable, with especially high rates among non-Hispanic Black women and in the American Indian/Alaska Native population, and noted that a large share of deaths occur after 42 days postpartum. Committee members asked about suicide, domestic abuse, pregnancy testing in unexplained deaths, and the role of home births and midwife training. Dr. Arnold said the committee is adding a caseworker, exploring post-mortem pregnancy testing in suspicious cases, and working with coroners and forensic officials; he also said home births and untrained midwifery pose safety concerns and that better public education and facility-based care are important. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matt Clark on cigarette ignition propensity standards and fire prevention. He recommended updating North Dakota’s cigarette ignition legislation to the current national standard and also considering legislation requiring fast-breakaway oxygen tubing, citing fatal fires involving smoking around home oxygen. He explained that his office verifies manufacturer testing and maintains certification for cigarettes sold in the state, but does not itself conduct the testing. Members asked about implementation, cost, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Clark said he would follow up with cost information and additional details, and that he had not seen evidence of a major issue on tribal lands but would look further. Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services presented the North Dakota Stroke System of Care report. She described the statewide network of two comprehensive stroke centers, four primary stroke centers, and 30 acute stroke-ready hospitals, along with the stroke registry and quality-improvement efforts. She reported that most strokes are ischemic, that the median stroke patient age is 71.5, and that common risk factors include hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes. She highlighted improvements in door-to-CT, thrombolytic treatment times, dysphagia screening, EMS pre-notification, and interfacility transfer performance, and said new priorities include hemorrhagic stroke quality measures and standardized EMS stroke screening tools. Members asked about the VA hospital’s participation, and Greff said she would pursue outreach. After a break, the committee heard testimony from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals as part of the prior authorization study, focused on non-opioid pain treatment. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to acute pain treatment and may push patients toward opioids, especially in the critical 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window. He cited data showing that even short opioid exposure can increase the risk of long-term use and said prior authorization is often a barrier for physicians and patients. Khan recommended open access with a quantity limit rather than prior authorization, suggesting a 14-day limit supported by the product’s data and an episode-of-care approach. Members asked about dental use, payer discussions, and cost; he said the product’s wholesale acquisition cost is about $16.10 per tablet, with patient assistance available, and that he would follow up on payer and comparison-cost questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:56:47.280><c> my</c><00:56:47.520><c> bases</c> Would you believe, just to cover my bases, that
• Was the police officer, you know, driving drunk and he was caught, and it's all gets covered up under
• Um, so yeah, in that case it helped to cover it.
• up under under the all gets covered up under under the police<02:14:06.079><c> investigation</c><02:
• Even more so than that, the to cover it.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, my district covers from Romney to Pittsburgh.
• You know, my district covers from Romney to Pittsburgh.
• I think it's a general practice that it is covered, but say there's some weird quirk that it's not covered
• Great, thank you very much. so technically they're covered but so technically they're covered but they're
• Situation, and is that covered because of this change?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires that projects covered by the state prevailing wage requirements be registered in the
• And it requires all contractors that are covered by the state prevailing wage requirements to report
• It also requires that projects covered by the state prevailing wage requirements be registered in the
• And it requires all contractors that are covered by the state prevailing wage requirements to report
• </c><00:20:58.200><c> by</c> contractors to be that are covered by contractors to be that are covered

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you have a lot to cover and I... We're almost there, but we're close enough.
• Fentanyl from the list of covered substances because four ounces of fentanyl is far more lethal than
• any of the other covered substances.
• It just would not, they would not be able to cover that cost with their SNAP benefit.
• He reminded us to remember the God, the entity that made us who we are and gave us our identity.

Summary: The House met in a late-session floor session that began with prayer, pledges, quorum, and a series of excused absences and Senate messages reporting action on numerous bills, conference committee appointments, and conference reports. Members also adopted a memorial resolution honoring Mark James Hanna, a Capitol lobbyist and advocate for nurses, and a congratulatory resolution for Rishi Tarumalasetti, an eighth-grade civics bee winner from Katy. The chamber also received and recorded a parliamentary colloquy about an unusual Senate request on SB 293, with the Chair stating the House could not recede from only part of its amendments and could not suspend the rules because the bill had not been returned from the Senate. The bulk of the session was devoted to taking up conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions, especially the state budget. The House adopted a resolution allowing the SB 1 conferees to go outside the normal bounds, then adopted the SB 1 conference report on a 107-21 vote. Debate on the budget centered on public education funding, tax relief, health care, corrections pay, and judicial compensation, with supporters calling it a responsible compromise and opponents arguing it was overly expansive and insufficient on property tax relief. The House also adopted a technical correction resolution tying judicial pay increases in SB 1 to the House version of SB 293, and members discussed at length the relationship between judicial salaries and legislative pensions. The chamber then adopted a long series of conference reports on measures covering topics such as school library review and book challenges (SB 13), SNAP restrictions on sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), hospital price transparency (SB 331), nursing home accountability (SB 457), school district personnel compensation conflicts (HB 3372), property notice rules (HB 2011), research and development tax credits (SB 2018), and several other bills affecting elections, permits, education, and criminal justice. Most reports passed by wide margins, though some drew significant opposition, especially SB 13 and SB 379. The House also granted several Senate requests for conference committees and introduced additional resolutions to suspend conferee limits on various bills as the session moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And depreciation account to cover this.
• So, must have got it covered.
• </c> to cover the cost. to cover the cost.
• Um, and I think general fund covered.
• So our global motion did cover eliminating the position.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our membership believes that adding language to cover actions that go beyond simple fleeing but do not
• Our membership believes that adding language to cover actions that go beyond simple fleeing but do not
• He said these stories have been covered by Fox 9 and others, and that there is no secret here.
• </c><00:51:41.240><c> by</c> mean these stories have been covered by mean these stories have been covered
• </c> the individual departments to cover the individual departments to cover which<01:28:48.199><c> would

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In the case of the Metrodome, it would cover hundreds of subcontractors.
• In the case of the Metrodome, it would cover hundreds of subcontractors.
• 42:40.000><c> for</c><00:42:40.200><c> each</c> Amount that you're thinking for each city or each entity
• </c><00:45:55.160><c> that</c><00:45:55.240><c> would</c><00:45:55.359><c> be</c> third-party entities
• that would be third-party entities that would be providing<00:45:56.080><c> the</c><00:45:56.200><c>

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of the points that were already shared during testimony cover much of what I was going to say.
• I will note that testimony cover much of what I was going testimony cover much of what I was going to
• All right, thank you. entities if a consumer would be allowed entities if a consumer would be allowed
• be created by certificates that would be created by such<01:49:56.239><c> an</c><01:49:56.400><c> entity
• if they were eligible such an entity if they were eligible under<01:49:57.840><c> a</c><01:49:58.080

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pieces to it have either been cost drivers or really large challenges for your local government entities
• </c><01:07:02.200><c> um</c> for your local government entities um for your local government entities
• 23:06.400><c> disability</c><01:23:06.960><c> plan</c><01:23:07.199><c> that</c><01:23:07.360><c> covers
• </c> short-term disability plan that covers short-term disability plan that covers parental<01:23:08.159
• </c><01:23:58.320><c> our</c> our public util our public entities our our public util our public entities

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Pat died in action while providing cover for his fellow soldiers.
• Pat died in action while providing cover for his fellow soldiers.
• Pat died in action while providing cover for his fellow soldiers.
• </c><03:08:10.160><c> operating</c> from an entity operating from an entity operating against<03:08:12.399
• </c><03:12:29.040><c> that</c> dollars and give it to an entity that dollars and give it to an entity

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the owner If the owner, if I pay the general contractor an amount of money appropriate to cover the
• You get another third at about the halfway point to cover To start and buy materials.
• You get another third at about the halfway point to cover materials and payroll.
• The subs have a little bit broader scope of insurance that covers their work comp.
• It's a proven entity for almost 30 years. It works properly.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted several bills do pass. House Bill 2409 was approved 14-0, House Bill 2654 was approved 15-0, and House Bill 2747 was approved after adoption of a House committee amendment and substitute, also by a 14-0 vote. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 1915, which would regulate payment practices in private construction contracts. Representative David Castile, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to ensure timely payment to contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, limit abusive contract clauses, and require written notice before withholding payment. He emphasized that it was aimed at larger private projects and not owner-occupied residential work. Testimony on HB 1915 was mixed. Supporters, including electrical, mechanical, and subcontractor associations, said delayed payment is common, especially for smaller firms, and argued the bill would improve cash flow and reduce the need for liens. Opponents, including general contractors and home builders, said the bill as filed was too restrictive, especially the seven-day downstream payment deadline and the limits on withholding and termination rights, and warned it could increase costs and burden small builders. Several witnesses said they were working with the sponsor on a committee substitute to more closely mirror Missouri’s public prompt pay law and to clarify the residential exemption. The committee then heard House Bill 2151, which would raise income eligibility limits for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant from $40,000 to $50,000 for single filers and from $80,000 to $100,000 for joint filers. Representative Travis Wilson said the change was meant to reflect inflation and expand access for adults changing careers, apprentices, and other eligible students. Supporters from community colleges, chambers of commerce, and workforce groups said the program is working well, is budgeted, and helps fill workforce needs; one witness cited strong completion and retention rates among recipients. No opposition was presented, and the hearing concluded with adjournment of the committee.