Transcript Highlights:

• The quality of the decisions, we stand behind them and the work of the staff.
• Do you have any staff working overtime? Yes. How many?
• And we went into them and challenged the staff to come up with the remainder.
• It was, I think, interesting for the staff to see that somebody else...
• I commend your staff as well.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a lengthy Auditor General presentation on the Department of Management Services’ fleet management operations. The audit found major problems with oversight, recordkeeping, policies, fee-setting, purchase and disposal approvals, public auction controls, and FleetWave system access and processing. Key findings included that 2,279 vehicles valued at more than $57 million could not be matched between FleetWave and FLAIR, disposal records were missing or incomplete, user access remained active long after employees separated, and the department had not documented a reasonable basis for its $1.75 per-vehicle monthly fee. Members expressed strong concern about the accuracy of the state’s fleet inventory and the risk of waste or misuse. DMS Secretary Allende said the department concurred with the findings, was working with the Auditor General, and planned corrective actions, including better training, clearer guidance, improved reconciliation, and possible centralization or pilot programs for fleet purchasing and management. The committee then returned to vacancy discussions with several agencies. The Division of Administrative Hearings said its two long-vacant judges of compensation claims positions had been hard to fill because of low pay and short reappointment terms, but the chief judge said the division could operate without them and offered those positions up as part of a reduction exercise. The Public Service Commission reported 42 vacancies but said statutory deadlines were still being met, though staff workloads and depth of analysis were affected. The commission also said vacancies help it manage salaries within its trust-fund budget. Members questioned whether some of those positions were truly needed given the lack of delays. The Florida Gaming Control Commission reported 29 vacancies, including a vacant chair that prevented appointment of an inspector general, and said the chair vacancy was a gubernatorial appointment issue. The acting executive director also said the commission’s compulsive gambling prevention program had lapsed after no responsive bids were received for a new contract, but an invitation to negotiate was nearly complete and a new provider was expected soon. The Public Employee Relations Commission reported that its caseload had more than doubled after Senate Bill 256, which increased union recertification work; it said it was meeting deadlines only with overtime and that the workload had not fallen despite decertifications. Members asked for follow-up data on union cases, vacancy needs, and whether some positions across agencies could be reallocated to better match workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• , a highly experienced staff member retired.
• I have one seasoned experienced staff I have one staff<00:10:29.360><c> member</c><00:10:29.560><c>
• </c> a if a staff a highly experienced staff a if a staff a highly experienced staff member member member
• </c><04:00:59.680><c> has</c> that has staff has that has staff has that<04:01:02.120><c> it's</c><04
• </c> commission um additional staff commission um additional staff supporting<04:47:30.798><c> the</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the building is important, but also the staff.
• So we wouldn't need to staff 48 beds immediately.
• We do have a combination of contract staff, temp staff, and full FTEs for that.
• And so we do have to staff up.
• Chairman, and so is the staff who's doing that?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are currently hiring and training new staff and providing H.R. 1 training to existing staff, working
• We are currently hiring and training new staff and providing HR1 training to existing staff, working
• Because of the layoffs and the shortage of staff, that's going to put more burden on the staff that we
• We have to train not only our newly hired staff, but we have to retrain all of our existing staff for
• Our staff do multiple programs.

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on CalFresh enrollment and nutrition, focused on the effects of H.R. 1 on eligibility, administration, and food access in California. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Social Services outlined major federal changes: expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, narrowed eligibility for certain lawfully present non-citizens, and new state and county cost-sharing for both administrative and benefit costs. Officials said about 665,000 Californians could lose benefits under the work requirement, roughly 72,000 non-citizens could lose eligibility, and California could face hundreds of millions to billions in new costs depending on error rates and implementation details. DSS described its mitigation efforts, including county guidance, trainings, automation, outreach materials, and coordination with workforce programs, while county representatives argued the workload is larger than current funding assumptions and that staffing and training needs are urgent. Members also heard from a CalFresh recipient, Lauren Keltz, who described how benefits helped her family during her daughter’s medical crisis and how a clerical error led to the loss of food, health, and cash assistance, contributing to homelessness and food insecurity. Her testimony was used to underscore the consequences of administrative errors and benefit disruptions. Grocery and agriculture representatives said CalFresh is not only an anti-hunger program but also a major economic driver, with benefits spent locally at grocery stores, farmers markets, and farm stands. They warned that cuts would reduce demand for fresh food, hurt independent grocers and small farmers, and increase reliance on food banks, while urging continued support for market match and farm-to-food-bank programs. In the second panel, advocates and local administrators emphasized the human and operational impacts of the federal changes. The California Immigrant Policy Center called for expanding the state-funded California Food Assistance Program to cover more immigrants excluded by H.R. 1. A San Francisco eligibility worker and a San Diego county administrator said the new rules will add substantial casework, require more client outreach and exemption screening, and strain already limited staffing. Justice in Aging stressed that CalFresh is a key anti-hunger tool for older adults and people with disabilities, especially as housing and health costs rise, and supported outreach funding for seniors. Throughout the hearing, members discussed the need for state funding, better automation, and stronger county and community partnerships to reduce disenrollment and protect access to food.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the core for the Office of Director's Staff.
• This is a core for human services staff.
• This is the core for staff training.
• This is the core for the adult institution staff.
• “Page 354 is the core for probation and parole staff.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our job is to listen to them and to protect their rights, those biological women, and the staff that
• There is a reason there are staff shortages there, reasons that staff are leaving in droves, and it is
• for staff shortages and staff leaving in droves, and that it is because they are not being listened
• I recently, in October of 2024, settled a lawsuit over a former staff member, a male staff member, who
• ><c> was</c> member um a male staff member who was member um a male staff member who was providing<00

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> them and as they're hanging on a staff, them and as they're hanging on a staff, but<00:12:21.680
• Maybe it's no longer two full-time staff. Maybe it's one full-time staff.
• Maybe it's part-time staff.
• </c> it's no longer two full-time staff. it's no longer two full-time staff.
• You know, with our staff.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of partial minutes, with members noting that DHS/HHS material was not yet included and that the minutes would be finalized later. The committee then heard from the General Court about several dedicated funds. Testimony explained the Joint Legislative Historical Fund, which receives a $25,000 annual general fund appropriation and transfers from visitor center sales above a $50,000 threshold, and is used for portrait maintenance, chamber work, Hall of Flags upkeep, and other historical preservation needs. Members also discussed the preservation of the Civil War flags in the Hall of Flags, with the General Court stating the flags are monitored through annual high-definition photos and that no immediate stabilization project is planned. A question about Union cemeteries was raised but the witness said he had no knowledge of federal funding for them. The committee also reviewed the visitor center revolving fund and noted that the accounting presentation is confusing because transfers are netted out so the fund ends each year at $50,000. Members suggested the narrative should clearly identify the transfer amounts and actual revenue, and staff agreed to note that in future reporting. The General Court then described its special legislative account as a stability reserve for capital and emergency needs, citing past uses such as the plaza ADA renovation, the legislative parking garage, and moving operations to One Granite Place. Members asked about interest earnings and were told the account is held in the treasury and any interest goes to the general fund unless statute directs otherwise; no additional funding was recommended at this time. The Department of Administrative Services then presented the law enforcement memorial fund, explaining it is a long-standing leftover construction fund with a small balance that has not been needed because the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Memorial Officers Association privately funds memorial upkeep and plaques. Members discussed whether the state should transfer the remaining money to the nonprofit, but no decision was made; the department said it would research whether such a transfer is legally possible. The department also reviewed the former land conservation endowment fund, now moving to Fish and Game under House Bill 2, and explained that it primarily covers administrative costs, management fees, and investment losses for a long-term conservation program. Members asked about the fund’s large balance and the increase in expenses, and were told the fund is intended to last indefinitely and that future reporting will shift to Fish and Game.

Transcript Highlights:

• David Pringle, staff to the committee.
• Imagine somebody classified staff, first-year classified staff, let's just say sub.
• And now we will go to staff briefing. Thank you.
• We’ll go to staff briefing on 2179 with David Pringle.
• Our schools can't function without support staff.

Bills: HB2124 , HB2125 , HB2160 , HB2179

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: retirement, lump sum payment, financial security, pension reform, monthly benefits, retirement system, investment earnings, trust funds, public pensions, financial management, education, benefits, school employees, membership eligibility, employment, public employees, port workers, federal retirement plan, pension, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• staff, and your commitment to protecting our health system.
• staff, and your commitment to protecting our health system.
• ,</c> staff, our board, and hospital staff, staff, our board, and hospital staff, and<00:03:15.640><c
• They I I know many, many of the staff.
• There were don't have to staff those.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We’ve lost our staff because the government chose to pay people to stay home, and we risked losing staff
• We’ve lost our staff because the government chose to pay people to stay home, and we risked losing staff
• So that rate increase in 2023 accounted for the staff wages, and it actually said that the average staff
• I mean, right now, you know, we're at 60, 65% for direct care staff.
• Witness: Staff wages would be way different.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 754, which would add physical therapists to Idaho’s direct primary care statute so they can enter direct payment agreements with patients without those arrangements being treated as insurance contracts. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve access, especially for patients who need frequent therapy or live in underserved areas, and emphasized that it would not expand physical therapists’ scope of practice. One member objected that the bill’s wording could blur the definition of primary care and create scope confusion. After testimony from a physical therapy association representative and a small business health care provider, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with several members recording no votes. The committee then took up House Bill 724, which would add and clarify safety-related rights for children in foster care, including safe placement, access to medical and forensic exams after abuse disclosures, basic necessities, and consideration of safety in visitation and placement decisions. The sponsor said the bill is a narrow child-safety measure that does not alter parental rights or removal standards, while foster parents, a psychologist, former foster youth, and others testified in support with accounts of abuse, unsafe placements, and inadequate oversight. Some members raised concerns about enumerating rights in statute and about broad language that could have unintended future consequences; a substitute motion to send the bill to amending order failed on a roll call vote, and the original motion to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation passed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 759, a budget-related measure to reduce Medicaid residential habilitation funding and require a new audit/rate study of home and community-based services. The sponsor said the reduction reflects a governor’s budget recommendation and that the audit would help determine appropriate rates and spending. Providers and family members of people with disabilities testified that the bill was too vague, that prior rate studies were not fully followed, and that any reductions could harm staffing and services; they asked for clearer standards, collaboration, and assurance that rate-study results would actually be used. A motion to hold the bill until a later date was offered, but the sponsor opposed delaying the budget item and the committee continued discussion toward a floor recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've lost our staff because the government chose to pay people to stay home, and we risked losing staff
• We've lost our staff because the government chose to pay people to stay home, and we risked losing staff
• So that rate increase in 2023 accounted for the staff wages, and it actually said that the average staff
• And it actually said that the average staff wage at that time was around 1670. the average staff wage
• Staff wages would be way different.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with a staff briefing from Ms. Lewis. Ms.
• Lily Smith, staff to this committee.
• Seeing none, staff would please announce the vote.
• Seeing none, if staff would please announce the vote.
• Seeing none, staff would please announce the vote.

Bills: HB2598 , HB2620 , HB2104 , HB2348 , HB2544 , HB2554 , HJM4009

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: anadromous fish, environmental conservation, state coordination, wildlife recovery, fisheries management, forest management, natural resources, collaboration, forest practices, sustainability, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, timber sales, land sales, process efficiency, legislation, department language

Transcript Highlights:

• Jeff Olson, staff to the committee, speaking to Senate Bill 6241.
• For the record, Elena Becker, committee staff.
• Jeff Holson, staff of the committee.
• For the record, Elena Bucker, committee staff.
• And I just want to say you can't thank your staff enough publicly, but certainly our staff has worked

Bills: SB6104 , SB6241 , SJM8015 , SB6318

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Ryan Gianni, staff counsel to this committee.
• For the record, Ryan Gianni, staff counsel to this committee.
• Tim Ford with staff for the committee.
• We will start with staff briefing.
• Any other questions for staff? Okay.

Bills: SB5720 , SB5833 , SB5936 , SB5993 , SB5735

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: consumer debt, judgment, uniformity, legal standards, debt collection, pets, motor vehicles, animal welfare, public safety, legislation, human trafficking, prevention, remedies, victims, law enforcement, support services, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• The staff report, please. Mr.
• Secondly, is staff time... ...charge?
• Kim Weidner, staff to the committee.
• Again, Kim Weidner, staff to the committee.
• And it's very staff intensive.

Bills: HB1496 , HB2182 , HB2196 , HB2242

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: patients' rights, healthcare information, medical confidentiality, health data security, healthcare access, abortion, medications, reproductive health, access, healthcare, PANDA, PANS, treatment access, mental health, legislation, preventive services, state authority, definitions clarification, public health, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have my staff here.
• She's been a wonderful staff interpreter for our agency.
• It's a small staff.
• and Administrative and Program Staff.
• Currently, we have 33 FTEs, including 8 Administrative Staff and 25 Program Staff.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have never worked with a better staff ever. Well, thank you.
• Our training staff find it a burden to run an academy.
• So, it is a drain on your staff to do that.
• That's been great for our nursing staff and our security staff as well.
• Staff injuries have declined each year over the last three years.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:48:08.319><c> that</c> turnover rate and um so the staff that turnover rate and um so the staff
• He said the staff involved in this know that the people up here at this table are cheap, but the staff
• He said the staff involved in this know that the people up here at this table are cheap, but the staff
• The staff involved in this know that the people up here at this table are cheap, but the staff time it
• to do that and we actually assign staff to do that staff<01:17:20.440><c> who</c><01:17:20.600><c> used

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on January 30, 2025, and first organized itself by electing Senator Jim Gray as vice chair, electing Representative F as clerk, appointing Michael Caine as legislative budget assistant, and adopting the committee’s rules and procedures. The committee also adopted an amendment to the rules allowing audits to be automatically released to the public once placed on the Fiscal Committee agenda, with members discussing that the change would improve transparency and reduce paper handling. The minutes from the November 15, 2024 meeting were approved, with members who were absent abstaining. The committee then worked through a consent calendar and several individual items. It removed or noted withdrawals on a few items, including item 25004 for further discussion, item 25016 withdrawn by the Department of Education, item 257 removed by Representative F, and item 25001 removed under Tab 4. Item 25004, concerning the newborn screening program, prompted testimony from the Department of Health and Human Services explaining that the program is mandatory with an opt-out provision; officials said 99.2% of newborns were screened in 2023, meaning the opt-out rate was under 1%. The committee also approved item 25007, related to DHHS community health workers and telework policy, after hearing that the workers are not placed in schools and that DHHS follows statewide telework policy. On the regular calendar, the committee approved a Department of Administrative Services request to extend the release date for fiscal year 2024 numbers to March 31, and approved a Department of Fish and Game item. It also approved winter maintenance funding for the Department of Transportation after hearing that the $5.7 million request might not last through the winter if additional storms occur; DOT said even a small storm can cost more than $1 million and that crews are dispatched based on road conditions and supervisory judgment. The committee then approved items for the Judicial Council and the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant. The final discussion focused on the Health and Human Services dashboard and the Youth Development Center claims. DHHS acknowledged a data error in the APS client line and said Community Mental Health Center caseload data is still not fully accurate because two centers are undergoing EHR conversions. Members also asked about the low census at the Sununu Youth Development Center and about the process for managing future claims related to the YDC settlement fund. Witnesses from the Attorney General’s office said the fund is handled through a unique arrangement involving DOJ appropriations and judicial branch staff, that current judicial budget cuts are not yet affecting the litigation pace, and that the average resolution so far has been about $500,000, though future claims may vary. No votes were taken on the discussion items beyond the approvals noted above.

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve along with my employees as staff to the Judicial Council.
• I serve along with my employees as staff to the Judicial Council.
• </c><00:44:39.640><c> that</c> we have um one of our house staff that we have um one of our house staff
• We have roughly, approximately, a thousand total staff.
• </c><01:15:03.960><c> in</c> unions or with their non-union staff in unions or with their non-union staff

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They cannot keep staff. They cannot even find people to hire.
• So if I lose my staff, then what? Institutional placement?
• I am the staff for my two adult sons, 20 and 23.
• If their needs are so significant, their staff may remain, but that, again, is the staff that just follows
• They, these staff are also... ...these staff are also unappreciated and underpaid so they're leaving.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all