Video & Transcript : 'coast guard authorization' :

Page 352 of 500
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (01/22/2025)

Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Can you tell us exactly who the author of that study was and what their background is?
  • The union boss then demands government-enforced authority to extract mandatory dues or fees from that
  • The union boss then demands government-enforced authority to extract mandatory dues or fees from that
  • The union boss then demands government-enforced authority to extract mandatory dues or fees from that
  • He closed with a quote from Martin Luther King in their fight for civil rights: they must guard against
Keywords: 1189, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • And there will be guards, juvenile detention center staff.
  • And there will be guards, juvenile detention center staff.
  • There will be mental health professionals there, and there will be guards, juvenile detention center
  • Uh, my understanding is if they are committed to the cabinet, the judge would have the authority to do
  • And she said, "Matt, there are boys in my class that are your size that have no respect for authority
Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on February 6, 2026, took roll, approved a motion to convene, and heard agency updates from materials in the packet. The council then took up Senate Bill 125 out of order because Senator Carol was present. The bill was presented as a collaborative effort focused on creating a secure, state-run high-acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth who need specialized psychiatric care and cannot be appropriately served in detention or by private hospitals. Speakers said the facility would fill a gap in services, improve safety and treatment outcomes, and be designed with trauma-informed, medically equipped spaces rather than a jail-like setting. The presenters also outlined other parts of the bill, including a placement process in which DJJ and CHFS would evaluate youth and provide recommendations before the judge makes the final decision, with certain hospital-declination provisions to be delayed until the new facility is operating. They described payment incentives for hospitals treating high-acuity youth, confidentiality and escape-related disclosure provisions, and contracts with a public teaching university for clinical services. The proposed facility was described as a 24-bed center at Central State, with staffing to include mental health professionals and juvenile detention staff receiving enhanced training. Dr. Clark Lester said staffing needs would vary by youth and could include one-to-one supervision for some patients. The bill also addressed female juvenile detention capacity. Speakers said the number of detained girls has risen sharply since 2024, peaking at 51 in 2025, and that current facilities cannot meet the separation requirements for boys and girls or high- and low-level youth. The proposal would build two female detention centers, with possible locations discussed in central Kentucky and western Kentucky, and a third or fourth center could be added if population data show the need. Members asked about hospital placement authority, staffing, and average length of stay for girls; the presenters said the current court-order process would remain until the new facility is built and that they would provide additional data later. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 04/09/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> that</c> She authored this legislation that She authored this legislation that started<00:14:17.279
  • </c> is the author of the A4 amendment. is the author of the A4 amendment.
  • </c> author of the bill yield for a question? author of the bill yield for a question?
  • We heard the author say direct motans.
  • </c><01:45:28.719><c> Seeing</c> then the author of the bill? Seeing then the author of the bill?
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Judiciary (01/27/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • What the authors of this bill are also doing is trying to sprinkle in wording about fetal personhood
  • about their authority to offer legal<01:45:32.560><c> care</c><01:45:33.320><c> as</c><01:45:33.400>
  • But currently, the department has not been given authority to do so.
  • we have the legal authority to collect this kind of data, and to report the data.
  • </c><03:54:39.279><c> legal</c> whether we have the authority legal whether we have the authority legal
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened with procedural remarks, including notice of an overflow room and a brief apology from Representative Andress about returning to his seat after introducing HB 114. The committee then took up HB 476, a proposed 15-week abortion ban. Chairman Lynn explained that a request to withdraw the bill had been filed, but because the bill was already scheduled for hearing, the committee would proceed with testimony and the withdrawal would require later House action. The chair also reminded witnesses to keep remarks to three minutes and asked the audience to remain respectful. Most testimony focused on abortion access, maternal health, and the likely effects of a 15-week limit. Opponents, including Nancy Pariser, Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen, Dr. Young, Bonnie Bruno, and others, argued that abortion restrictions increase maternal mortality, worsen miscarriage care, create “OB deserts,” and can delay emergency treatment in cases such as sepsis or ectopic pregnancy. Several speakers cited experiences from Texas and Georgia and warned that HB 476 contained no exceptions for rape, incest, or maternal health. Supporters of the bill, including Paul Galasso and Lynn Hill, framed abortion as the loss of unborn life and argued that 15 weeks still allows most abortions while saving lives; they also said New Hampshire’s current law is already adequate and that the bill should be strengthened rather than abandoned. Other witnesses emphasized practical and economic concerns, saying unwanted pregnancies can worsen poverty, childcare burdens, housing insecurity, and women’s lifetime earnings. Some speakers urged lawmakers to focus instead on affordable housing, childcare, and family support. No committee vote or final action on HB 476 occurred during the hearing; the meeting consisted of opening remarks and public testimony only.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 4/16/26

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, the first bill on the agenda is going to be House File 3874, and I am the author of that bill.
  • So, the first bill on the agenda is going to be House File 3874, and I am the author of that bill.
  • This is only one-time money, though, so it won't pay for personnel or more security guards.
  • </c> Maybe that's a question for the author. Maybe that's a question for the author.
  • So, yeah, I don't think it's the chairs of rules who have the authority to waive it.
Bills: HF3874, HF962
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • I don't know that the county auditor has the authority to make that determination. Thank you.
  • up with the work, supposed to be in that 90 to 100% range— Representative, Doctor, we do have the authority
  • as the tax— Authority as the tax director to go through our sales.
  • Kind of caught me off guard here. Sorry.
Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee met to begin its study of whether the content of the real estate tax statement should be revised to improve transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive from HB 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, legacy fund share, discounts for early payment, and special assessments. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statewide statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from NDACO, including auditors from McKenzie and Richland counties, described the full annual property tax timeline from budgeting through mailing final statements. They explained how counties gather budgets, calculate levies, verify taxable values, handle centrally assessed property, and prepare required notices and statements. They also said public attendance at budget hearings is generally very low, though the notices and statements generate some calls, mostly about whether attendance is required or why taxes are changing. Several members questioned the usefulness of the legislative tax relief line and the complexity of the 5% discount calculation, and county officials said the current process can be confusing and depends on manual data entry and coordination among counties, vendors, and taxing districts. The committee also discussed assessment frequency, valuation equalization, the 3% cap, and whether more frequent reassessment would reduce large jumps in taxable value. County officials said they try to use rotating reassessments and sales-ratio reviews to keep values within statutory tolerance, but staffing, training, and local market changes make the work difficult. NDACO staff estimated, based on a small county survey, that tax statement preparation and mailing costs average about 74 cents per statement, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing, and said HB 1176 added some mailing and administrative costs even if the tax statement itself did not change dramatically. Software vendors from CPT and Tyler then began presentations showing how their systems handle budgeting, valuation notices, tax statement generation, primary residence credit processing, and levy worksheets, emphasizing that many of the required calculations and reports are still manually entered or verified by county staff.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Wed Mar 18, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> Hurricane Relief Fund with the authority Hurricane Relief Fund with the authority as<00:20:48.240
  • hasn't ever seen a bill like this, but there's no question that states have that authority.
  • They used it all the way authority.
  • that</c><00:59:07.000><c> clarification</c> The authority to make that clarification The authority to
  • </c><01:15:29.000><c> come</c> "Where does the source of authority come "Where does the source of authority
Summary: The committee heard SB 1166 SD2, a bill on insurance and climate-related damages that would authorize the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and, in amended versions discussed during testimony, other public and private entities to pursue civil actions to recover losses tied to climate disasters and extreme weather. DCCA’s Insurance Division and the Department of the Attorney General raised legal concerns, saying the bill’s scope may not fit the insurance code section being amended, that it could create subject-matter and title issues, and that some subrogation language may be duplicative of existing rate-filing practice. Lawyers for Justice opposed the measure, arguing it conflicts with existing subrogation law and recent Hawaii Supreme Court rulings that treat the judicial lien process as the exclusive remedy. The American Petroleum Institute also opposed, warning the bill would add liability and litigation risk for companies operating under existing permits and could undermine energy reliability and investment. Supporters said the bill would help shift climate-related insurance costs away from residents and onto fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties. Testimony in support came from the Polluters Pay Hawaii Coalition, Center for Climate Integrity, Hawaii Island Council, Our Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, who described recent flooding, storm damage, rising premiums, non-renewals, and underinsurance as evidence of a worsening climate-driven insurance crisis. Several supporters urged amendments to give the Attorney General explicit authority to recover insurance-related losses for the Hurricane Relief Fund, HPIA, and private insurers, and to ensure recovered amounts benefit policyholders. Committee members questioned whether HPIA is a private entity, whether the Attorney General could represent it, whether the bill could create double recovery or affect pending climate litigation, and whether insurers would have standing or damages if they are only paying contractual claims. The committee then took up SB 888 SD2, a consumer protection bill that would restrict smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a judicial order, and would bar conditioning device use on such consent. The Office of Consumer Protection testified in support and said an Illinois law could serve as a useful template for exceptions to the warrant requirement. An individual supporter said the measure would protect immigrant communities, judges, and others from surveillance and misuse of private data. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair noted additional written testimony submitted in support of SB 1166.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 05/15/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • shown as co-author, and the name of Senator Suadinski be added as chief author to Senate File 2255.
  • And Senator Umou Verbeten moves that her name be stricken as chief author, shown as co-author, and the
  • </c> the author of the bill to speak last. the author of the bill to speak last.
  • </c> the author? Uh, Senator Lucero. the author? Uh, Senator Lucero.
  • She sustained a co-author. co-author.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Tue Feb 17, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • >> Yeah, we have the authority. Um, it does take time.
  • But we do have that authority. >> Okay. >> I have a question.
  • I would ask that you leave us as an authority in this group.
  • So we two, you know, two um millennial descendants as an authority.
  • We would be enhancing authority group.
Summary: The committee heard HB 1817, which would create a daily bag limit for amaa/ama fish to protect Hawaii’s fisheries. DLNR said the biggest stressor on amaa populations is diversion of freshwater flows that cut off food sources for juvenile fish, and suggested that place-by-place rulemaking with fishers and stakeholders would be the most effective approach. A teacher and several Waialua Elementary students testified in strong support, describing research on declining catch data, cultural importance, and the need to preserve the fish for future generations. Other supporters said the fish is being outcompeted by invasive species and cited historical declines, including testimony that bag limits in Hilo Bay have helped increase populations. Committee members asked DLNR about traditional and cultural gathering rights, whether the bill’s bag limit would apply to native Hawaiian practices, and whether the limit was 10 per day or per season. DLNR said constitutional Hawaiian practices are protected, but also noted that if the bag limit is set in statute it would limit the department’s flexibility to tailor rules by area. Members also asked about other conservation efforts, and DLNR said fish pond revitalization and amaa production are underway statewide. One member raised concern that a statewide statutory limit might not fit conditions on every island, and DLNR said it has authority to adopt area-specific rules through rulemaking, though that process can take months to more than a year. The committee then moved to HP 206, an appropriations measure for the City and County of Honolulu involving school land transfers, and HP 266B relating to Banyan Drive. On HP 206, the county said the request is a one-time item and estimated costs were about $3.25 million, with the city and county already spending more than $350,000 on the transfers. On HP 266B, HCDA said it is conducting a master planning effort for Banyan Drive and plans a community visioning exercise this summer. Testimony from the Banyan Drive redevelopment agency emphasized the need for more flexible land-tenure rules, while OHA supported the bill with amendments to include cultural specialists and lineal descendants in the redevelopment process and to protect ceded lands. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 689 provides the statutory authority for Kentucky to implement a Medicaid state-directed payment
  • One of the security guards at our clinic happened to see a man walking in the woods behind our clinic
  • One of the security guards at our clinic happened to see a man walking in the woods behind our clinic
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Board met on March 9 with a quorum present and no minutes to approve. The chair reordered the agenda to hear House Bill 689 first. Representative Amy Neighbors presented HB 689, which would authorize Kentucky to seek CMS approval for a Medicaid state-directed payment program for physician and non-physician professional services delivered through qualifying hospital-affiliated groups, beginning January 1, 2026, with retroactive payments for that year. She said the bill is intended to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas, support workforce retention, and generate about $29 million annually in federal Medicaid funds without using general fund dollars. Representatives from Owensboro Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare testified in support, describing staffing and subsidy pressures, lower Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, and the importance of the program for maintaining access and quality in rural and safety-net settings. Committee members noted the bill had already passed the House Health Services Committee unanimously and discussed broader concerns about Kentucky’s low reimbursement rates and the need to consider other systems not covered by the proposal. The board then heard Senate Bill 2011 from Senator Donald Douglas and Cody Hunt of the Kentucky Medical Association. The bill would address a Medicaid coding issue by ensuring that coverage limits do not reduce payment to fewer than two evaluation and management service units per provider, per patient, per day. Douglas argued the current one-visit, one-issue limitation forces multiple visits, increases no-shows, and prevents providers from treating the whole patient. Hunt explained that the bill is meant to correct a longstanding regulation that limited E&M services to one per physician per recipient per date of service, which can prevent providers from coding additional medically necessary work during the same visit. He said DMS has already filed a regulatory amendment to fix the problem, but a statutory change is still needed to prevent the issue from returning. He also said the bill is not intended to change reimbursement policy, only coding rules, and that MCO payment practices vary. Members generally supported the concept. Senator Berg asked about fiscal impact and private-payer billing; Hunt said there should be no fiscal impact because the bill does not change payment policy, only coding. Representative Moore said the proposal could reduce costs and improve convenience by avoiding extra visits. Chairman Meredith said the bill illustrated problems with fee-for-service care and supported moving toward a more holistic delivery model. Dr. Schuster raised a drafting concern about the bill summary language, and Hunt responded that the regulatory amendment should address the issue generally for providers. No votes were taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JHA Info Briefing - Tue Sept 16, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, it's really coming together to that agreement on what the policy looks like and what those guard
  • Uh, it's really coming together to that agreement on what the policy looks like and what those guard
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Motion to take up HF5084, proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution 5/13/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I am proud to be a co-author of this bill. I am proud to stand for life.
  • </c><00:16:09.360><c> I</c><00:16:09.600><c> am</c> to be a co-author of this bill.
  • I am to be a co-author of this bill.
  • I'm proud to be an author of this bill.
  • </c> I'm proud to be an author of this bill. I'm proud to be an author of this bill.
Keywords: 1183, house
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Mar 19th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • We provide authority to NMED to hold polluters responsible for pollution that may threaten groundwater
  • We establish rulemaking authority, clarify cleanup and financial liability language, and align our law
  • Speaker, gentlemen, we're adding the authority for the Water Quality Act to regulate these organisms.
  • The second is electric school buses through the Public Schools Facilities Authority.
  • And both my Senate co-sponsor and my have stated that yes, it would be already authorized. So, Mr.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Howard said the author of the bill did not mean to leave out half of the horse population
  • <04:06:15.080><c> of</c><04:06:15.239><c> the</c> authorization of the authorization of the owner<04:
  • I was completely knocked off guard. I couldn’t think of or comprehend what was going on.
  • :40:37.040><c> off</c> vehicles I was completely knocked off vehicles I was completely knocked off guard
  • I couldn't think of or comprehend guard I couldn't think of or comprehend what<04:40:39.878><c> was<
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee met in a work session on several environmental bills, beginning with HP 152, which would prohibit the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to allow professional pest control use while restricting retail sales to the public. Testimony and member comments focused on animal welfare concerns, the relative humaneness and effectiveness of glue traps versus snap traps, consumer education, enforcement difficulties, and whether the bill should instead be limited to professionals. No vote was taken on HP 152 during the discussion. The committee then turned to HB 171, establishing a moratorium on new landfill permits. Representative Gruber distributed an amendment shortening the proposed moratorium from five years to three years as a compromise. Members supporting the moratorium said it would give the Department of Environmental Services time to update rules and reflect recent landfill-siting reforms, while opponents argued that three years was too long, could tie the hands of a future legislature, and might be difficult to pass in the Senate. Others noted the House, Senate, and governor had each discussed different lengths of moratorium, making the bill a likely bargaining position in later negotiations. Throughout the landfill discussion, members emphasized that the three-year version was intended as a middle ground between a one-year proposal associated with the governor and a six-year Senate bill. Several members said the moratorium reflected years of bipartisan work on solid waste and landfill policy and would help create time for new rules to take effect. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote or other action on HB 171 during this segment.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Protection and Victim Services Committee May 13th, 2026

Protection and Victim Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2012, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program was authorized at a federal
  • And then the way that the authorization went, it was a latter approach to the matching funds.
  • The only thing I can speak to is that that was in the original McVee authorization federally.
  • The only thing I can speak to that is that that was in the original McVie authorization federally.
  • Is that that was in the original McVee authorization federally.
Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division I (02/05/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • authority to to recommend<00:32:10.240><c> increasing</c><00:32:10.760><c> those</c><00:32:10.960><c
  • One of the first things I realized is that we had 38 authorized full-time positions; only 32 of them
  • One of the first things I realized is that we had 38 authorized full-time positions; only 32 of them
  • So I'll start with the broad authority of the AG.
  • of the AG the attorney general authority of the AG the attorney general has<05:42:40.680><c> uh</c><
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, April 28, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><02:51:54.479><c> programs</c> programs or set or authorize programs programs or set or authorize
  • Congress must create guard children.
  • </c> colleagues to update its authorizing colleagues to update its authorizing statute<04:20:56.000><
  • Without objection. authorizations, licenses, or other authorizations, licenses, or other grants<04:51
  • <04:51:56.480><c> the</c> grants of authority issued by the grants of authority issued by the commission
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Mar 26th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • as Representative Tepper and co-author Mr.
  • Yeah, and it may have been a question for the author, but.
  • So really, our authority comes from those two places.
  • Do you have the authority to reach out to them and discuss it with them?
  • Yeah, acting outside of our authority.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • One last thing I want to say about this bill, as I'm a co-author on it: when I met with Safe Passage
  • </c><00:16:57.199><c> on</c> about this bill as I'm in co-author on about this bill as I'm in co-author
  • They're caught off guard and suddenly lacking the support they had planned for.
  • </c> for a bill that we are both co-author for a bill that we are both co-author I'm<01:30:34.600><c>
  • </c> I'm carrying and and she's a co-author I'm carrying and and she's a co-author on<01:30:36.679><c
Bills: HF1346, HF1169, HF1276
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, July 3, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . and we secure Medicaid for Authority. and we secure Medicaid for those<01:07:22.000><c> who</c><01:
  • Of course, the Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson, makes the famous statement
  • authored authored by<02:29:47.760><c> Thomas</c><02:29:48.160><c> Jefferson,</c> by Thomas Jefferson
  • One of the first authors. There are more than 18 million Americans over the age of 65.
  • One of the<05:04:00.000><c> first</c><05:04:00.480><c> authors.