Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 86, Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens. Thank you very much, Mr.
• who operate aircraft within Florida's geographic boundaries.
• who operate aircraft within Florida's geographic boundaries, and that is a owners or operators who operate
• It adds excess cost to small operators, not the big guys.
• help protect airports from penalizing people for doing those safe operations.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and first took up CS/SB 86, which would make operation of a commercial motor vehicle by an unauthorized alien an imminent safety hazard and require lawful presence, a valid CDL, English proficiency, and ability to communicate with law enforcement. The bill also authorizes impoundment, a $250,000 civil penalty on the motor carrier, and an out-of-service order until violations are corrected. After adopting an amendment and hearing support from the Florida PBA, the committee reported the bill favorably on a vote with Senator Arrington voting no. The committee then considered CS/SB 706, which preempts naming of major commercial service airports to the state and would rename Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport. An amendment added FAA approval, trademark authorization, and a flexible implementation period for Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County representatives supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 1670, a specialty license plate bill for the “outsider” plate, after amending the distribution of proceeds so the Huber Brothers Foundation may receive up to 10% instead of 25%. Next, the committee approved CS/SB 1054, which increases penalties for traffic infractions that result in a crash after running a red light or stop sign, including higher fines, license suspensions, and a one-year bodily injury insurance requirement after an injury crash. Law enforcement testimony supported the bill. The committee also considered CS/SB 422 on ADS-B aviation surveillance data, which would bar use of that data to calculate or collect landing-related fees; an amendment narrowed the prohibition to landing and touch-and-go fee scenarios. Aviation groups and pilots supported the bill as protecting safety and preventing surprise billing, while airport representatives said they could still charge landing fees but would need to rely on more manual methods. The committee reported CS/SB 422 favorably, and the meeting adjourned after all measures were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a county operations work group. H.R. 1 requirements more broadly.
• They don't know if it's coming from the regional center or coming from a totally different system.
• costs, security deposits, moving costs, et cetera.
• I have seen how power and wealth operate firsthand.
• My daughter, my great-grandmother... ...how power and wealth operate firsthand.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:35.920><c> pressure</c> maximum allowable operating pressure maximum allowable operating pressure
• </c> As Fitzky mentioned, uh operating As Fitzky mentioned, uh operating engineers,<00:20:10.880><c>
• </c><00:23:39.080><c> Um</c> Operations Engineering. Um Operations Engineering.
• So this is a truly regionally equitable program.
• Um, I regionally equitable program.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:25.600><c> for</c> study by the Georgetown Center for study by the Georgetown Center for Center
• Mary's Medical Center, the flagship of the Essentia system, and they served in regional schools.
• </c> general fund to help address operating general fund to help address operating cost<01:21:23.440>
• </c> Services as well as other operating Services as well as other operating costs<01:21:36.639><c> um
• </c><01:31:35.520><c> of</c> transition uh the uh operations of transition uh the uh operations of Maintenance

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That being said, there is a federation of regional aggregators that is already in operation across the
• That being said, there is a federation of regional aggregators that is already in operation across the
• That being said, there is a federation of regional aggregators that is already in operation across the
• That being said, there is a federation of regional aggregators that is already in operation across the
• </c><01:53:21.280><c> economic</c> Hawaii's food security economic Hawaii's food security economic resilience

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:18.720><c> our</c> quickly moving legislation to secure our quickly moving legislation to
• Together, we as Americans can lower prices at the pump and protect our national energy security.
• </c> Authority successfully since securing Authority successfully since securing their<05:04:23.558><
• </c> of space in the Constitution Center of space in the Constitution Center building<05:04:38.760><c
• a region that's 65,000 square miles and the compensation is to the tune of millions of dollars.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, January 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. fired missile as part of Operation Epic fired missile as part of Operation Epic Fury.<00:08
• </c> people's lives, their economic security people's lives, their economic security was<01:11:42.960
• But it wasn't until the Security.
• Funding for FEMA disaster response, our Coast Guard operations, and other core homeland security functions
• </c> security tax being refunded to them. security tax being refunded to them.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, unified systems function at a higher level and ensure all public safety access points operate
• National policies created broad conservation goals, but overlooked regional fuel-load differences.
• The 2001 rule imposed uniform restrictions across 58 million acres without considering regional ecology
• for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, and happen to be concentrated in roadless regions
• And I remember one particular time we were at a regional thing, and all the advisors were getting up

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee approved the January 19, 2026 minutes and then considered and passed a temporary and pending rule for the Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission (docket 15-0601-2501). Testimony from Sheriff Andy Creech emphasized that the rule would reduce administrative burden and costs by allowing longer-term contracts for Next Generation 911 equipment and services, helping Idaho modernize degraded legacy 911 systems and improve location accuracy, redundancy, and call routing. The committee also introduced RS 32996, presented by Senator Shippy, which would create a new licensing procedure for “established caterers.” The proposal would allow qualifying caterers operating from a publicly accessible business location and serving at least 50 events per year to obtain liquor licensing for service at catered events, addressing the current limitation that they lack a traditional brick-and-mortar premise for licensing purposes. Senator Harris moved to introduce the bill, and the motion passed. After official business, the committee hosted the American Falls FFA Ag Issues team, which presented a courtroom-style debate on the USDA’s 2025 rescission of the 2001 roadless rule. Students argued both the environmental and tribal concerns tied to preserving roadless forest protections and the opposing case for forest health, wildfire mitigation, economic development, and management flexibility. Committee members praised the students’ preparation and public speaking, asked questions about their research process and views on the issue, and adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than 40 years, Bobby served the cattle industry as a trusted ringman at sales across the region
• For 40 years, Bobby served the cattle industry as a trusted ringman at sales across the region, taking
• we now have a 25-bed critical access hospital, an emergency department, radiology, and a pharmacy operating
• And even educating others in rural Virginia how different the rural coastal region is, where I represent
• guards, that there wouldn't even have been able to be private security guards at the building until

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So finally, this will be the 134th regional branch and So finally, this will be the 134th regional branch
• I'm the executive director of the Arizona Center for African American Resources.
• Continued operation terminates once the board issues or denies the new permit.
• Continued operation terminates once the board issues or denies the new permit.
• Community health centers in Arizona and federally qualified health centers are required to accept unvaccinated

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the March 18 and 19 minutes and heard a presentation from the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix on its new tuition-free, three-year regional medical school branch in Yuma. The presenter said the program is designed to address Arizona’s primary care shortage by training students in a high-need rural area, with 18 months in Phoenix and 18 months in Yuma, and members asked about residency placement, applicant eligibility, and whether students would be required to remain in rural Arizona after training. The program was described as open to applicants from in and out of state, with no post-graduation practice commitment, but with an emphasis on recruiting students already interested in rural care. The committee then heard several health and child welfare bills. HB 2923 would expand judicial review procedures for court-ordered mental health treatment, add timelines and counsel protections, and require clear and convincing evidence to continue treatment; supporters said it updates outdated 1970s law and preserves due process. HB 2434 would change the controlled substances prescription monitoring program by requiring updated patient utilization reports before opioid or benzodiazepine prescribing, tightening reporting rules, and replacing a task force with a compliance workgroup. HB 2035 would broaden kinship foster care to include extended family, strengthen sibling and family placement preferences, require written findings when kin placement is denied, and shift the standard from promoting to presuming kinship placement as in the child’s best interest; DCS said the policy largely matches current practice but raised an implementation concern about a report deadline before preliminary protective hearings. The committee also heard HB 2611, which would expand foster youth rights and safety protections in group homes, including anti-retaliation rules, drug-screening requirements for staff, and new safety rules for DCS and DHS; foster youth and group home staff testified in support, while DCS was neutral and noted possible fiscal and operational impacts. HB 2732 would continue the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy until 2032, and HB 2733 would make various pharmacy regulation changes, including medication delivery flexibility, continuing education timing, change-of-ownership permits, and wholesale distribution permitting. HB 2830, as amended, would require instruction on fetal and prenatal development and initially restricted abortion-provider materials in schools, but the amendment removed that prohibition; testimony split between supporters who framed it as educational and opponents who objected to its implications for reproductive rights. HB 2932, as amended, would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse noncontracting providers for referred lab services and limit prior authorization and retaliation; health plans opposed it as a threat to managed care tools, while lab providers supported it as fair payment for covered services. Finally, HB 4004 would require DCS to investigate credible abuse or neglect reports even when one parent is considered protective, and to report annually on cases where it declined to intervene. Parents testified that abuse was minimized or left uninvestigated because of the “protective parent” concept, while supporters said the bill would close a dangerous gap. The committee also considered HB 2086, which would bar government and businesses from imposing mask or vaccination requirements, though an amendment removed the business prohibition; supporters framed it as bodily autonomy and opponents argued it would weaken public health protections. The committee voted to give do pass recommendations to HB 2035, HB 2086 as amended, HB 2434, HB 2611 as amended, HB 2732, HB 2733, HB 2830 as amended, HB 2923, HB 2932 as amended, and HB 4004, with recorded no votes on some measures, including opposition from members on HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2932, and HB 4004.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 86, Commercial Motor Vehicles Operated by Unauthorized Aliens. Thank you very much, Mr.
• Further, the bill provides that if a law enforcement officer encounters an illegal alien operating a
• who operate aircraft within Florida's geographic boundaries, and that is a bill, Mr.
• It adds excess cost to small operators, not the big guys.
• help protect airports from penalizing people for doing those safe operations.

Bills: S0086 , S0422 , S0706 , S1054 , S1670

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: unauthorized aliens, commercial motor vehicles, safety regulations, civil penalties, law enforcement, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking, surveillance data, Florida Statutes chapter 330, Part 91

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation met and considered several bills, beginning with CS/SB 86 on commercial motor vehicles operated by unauthorized aliens. The sponsor described the bill as a highway safety measure requiring commercial drivers to be lawfully present, hold a valid CDL, read English, and communicate with law enforcement, with vehicle impoundment, civil penalties, and out-of-service orders for violations. After questions about impacts on carriers and interstate operations, the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorably, with one no vote. The committee then heard CS/SB 706, which would preempt naming of major commercial service airports to the state and rename Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport. An amendment added FAA approval, trademark authorization, and a flexible implementation period for Palm Beach County; county representatives supported the amendment and bill. The committee also approved CS/SB 1670 on the Outsider specialty license plate after an amendment reduced the Huber Brothers Foundation’s share of proceeds from 25% to 10%. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 1054, dealing with traffic infractions resulting in crashes with another vehicle. The bill would impose escalating fines and license suspensions for crashes caused by running red lights or stop signs, and require bodily injury insurance for a year when injury results. A clarifying amendment limited the insurance requirement to one year, and the bill was reported favorably after supportive testimony from law enforcement and advocacy groups. The final major bill was CS/SB 422 on automated dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) data; it would bar use of ADS-B information to calculate or collect certain landing-related fees. Supporters argued the technology should remain focused on aviation safety and warned against false invoices and discouraging pilot training, while airport representatives said they currently use the data for fee collection and wanted further discussion. After an amendment narrowing the bill’s application, the committee reported CS/SB 422 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Alliance, and the Soy Excellence Center. Alliance, and the Soy Excellence Center.
• </c><00:30:57.440><c> have</c> green seam region that we have. have green seam region that we have. have
• The Centers for um supports this claim.
• </c> operating adjustment there. Thank you. operating adjustment there. Thank you.
• </c> recognized and put in the operating recognized and put in the operating adjustment<01:19:11.920>

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> security and comfort of all attendees. security and comfort of all attendees.
• Senator Leur. pretty much volunteer operated. We want pretty much volunteer operated.
• , and community centers.
• centers.
• Uh, and just now we're getting more secure capital security.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> staff for Appalachian Regional staff for Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
• We operate in some of the most medically underserved and geographically isolated parts of our region.
• </c><01:24:04.440><c> trauma</c> and its role in a regional trauma and its role in a regional trauma
• One of the things that we do with the funding you provide is we operate a statewide call center.
• </c> communities where they operate. communities where they operate.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee opened its sixth and final interim meeting with roll call, quorum confirmation, approval of the prior minutes, and a brief change in agenda order to preserve quorum and accommodate presenters’ schedules. Members then moved through several proposed health-related items with limited discussion, and the chair noted the committee would reconvene in January for further conversation. The first substantive item was a proposal relating to utilization controls for non-opioid analgesics in Medicaid. Senator Gerald Neal and Tara Hyde of People Advocating Recovery argued that pain parity is needed so patients can access non-opioid options without prior authorization or step therapy barriers, especially in acute pain situations and for people in recovery. Senator Berg supported the concept and suggested expanding the approach to other prescriptions by allowing physicians to explain why step therapy is inappropriate at the time of prescribing; another member cautioned against unintended cost increases if non-opioid drugs are used as add-ons to opioids. The committee then heard a proposal on physician assistants from Senator Scott and Andrew Rutherford of the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants. They described a shift from a supervisory to a collaborative practice model, with practice scope set at the practice level, limited Schedule II prescribing authority under guardrails, and permission for PAs to perform driver’s license vision testing. Supporters said the changes would improve rural access, reduce administrative burden, and align Kentucky with neighboring states; a question from Representative Bratcher focused on experience requirements and how the proposal compares with nurse practitioner rules. No vote was taken. Finally, Representative Nancy Tate, Adia Wuchner, and Representative Jason Nemes introduced a 2026 proposal aimed at “protecting vulnerable people.” They described a broad package focused on abortion pill trafficking, marketing to minors, commercial surrogacy, assisted suicide, and organ procurement safeguards, arguing that current law leaves gaps and that additional criminal and civil penalties are needed. The presentation was informational only, with no action taken before the meeting ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• but we're very rural in my region.
• We go to the west, and there's coastal regions, and there's a lot more urban metropolitan centers.
• Particularly, I'm talking about skilled nursing centers.
• Particularly, I'm talking about skilled nursing centers.
• The law is adopted to facilitate this operation.

Summary: The House debated a series of amendments to a major income tax bill, with repeated arguments over tax fairness, affordability, administrative feasibility, and the role of the Department of Revenue. Early motions to reconsider a failed child care amendment were rejected, and Amendment 2561, which would have restricted data sharing with the IRS, was also defeated after debate over privacy, federal relationships, and whether the proposal was administrable. Amendment 2579, which would have required annual reporting on the tax’s effects on filers, businesses, and charitable donations, likewise failed, with supporters emphasizing transparency and opponents arguing DOR was not the right agency and the report was too speculative. Amendment 2598, proposing to use half of new revenue for a broad sales tax cut, was rejected despite arguments that it would reduce regressivity and provide immediate relief; Amendment 2556, expanding sales tax exemptions for diapers and other child-care essentials to include adult diapers and earlier implementation, also failed after debate over scope and timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• invocation by Pastor Hunter Norwick, Heritage Christian Church, Shelbyville, Kentucky, guest of the center
• has also funded and expanded resources to the University of Kentucky's national comprehensive care center
• /c><00:19:36.400><c> so</c><00:19:36.559><c> that</c><00:19:36.720><c> you</c> comprehensive care center
• so that you comprehensive care center so that you don't<00:19:37.120><c> have</c><00:19:37.200><c> to
• facilities so more people have regional facilities so more people have access<00:19:47.440><c> to</c

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• had the occasion to get in my car that summer and drive the state of Florida, visiting all seven regions
• I even got to sit on the bench with Judge Lifman and watch how he operated mental health court, and I
• And I thought it was a very high-quality, well-run operation.
• These key provisions are: one, prioritizing dignity and patient-centered care, which was recommendation
• This bill also establishes a Center for Substance Use and Mental Health Research within the Institute

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met to consider several bills and the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. SB 1310, relating to reporting of student mental health outcomes, was temporarily postponed. The committee then took up SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entities, adopted a delete-all amendment, and heard support for the bill’s focus on transparency, accountability, audits, referral patterns, and a DCF report due by December 1. Members discussed the capacity of the current reporting system and the need for coordination with school districts. The committee voted the bill favorably. The committee next considered SB 1620 on mental health and substance abuse disorders, which implements selected recommendations from the 2025 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. The bill, as amended, includes reforms on dignity and patient-centered care, crisis response, individualized treatment plans, use of the DLA-20 assessment tool, data analysis by the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, and creation of a research center. Amendments removed a direct medication-provision requirement in favor of a review and report on discharge procedures, medication adherence, and long-acting injectables, and clarified licensure priorities for short-term residential treatment programs. Testimony and debate emphasized the need for action, better data, and efficient use of public funds. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard from Taylor Hatch, the Governor’s appointee to lead DCF. Hatch described her background in state government and her priorities for DCF, including coordination, transparency, prevention, permanency, and responsiveness to vulnerable Floridians. Several members spoke in support, citing her experience at APD and familiarity with the agency’s work. The committee voted unanimously to recommend her confirmation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:03:29.159><c> that</c><00:03:29.280><c> we</c><00:03:29.439><c> call</c> And prosper in the region
• We are proud of our heritage and want to make our contribution to our region, state, and country in the
• They're down to a one-line operation. They used to have 600-plus people; they're left with 300.
• </c><00:14:47.959><c> they</c> they're down to a oneline operation they they're down to a oneline operation
• It's time to secure the future of the Iron Range.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3030 was taken up for discussion and amended with the A1 author’s amendment before moving forward. The bill was presented as an Iron Range package with three parts: a 26-week unemployment insurance extension for workers laid off by Cleveland-Cliffs, and two mining-related provisions dealing with safe storage of reactive mine waste and a site-specific sulfite standard. The authors said the bill was intended both to help laid-off workers immediately and to support the long-term future of mining jobs in the region. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of the unemployment extension and the broader goal of preserving Iron Range jobs and communities. Representatives of affected workers, union leaders, a county commissioner, a tribal elder, and RAMS all described the layoffs as potentially long-term and warned of broader economic harm to families, local businesses, schools, and the region if mining jobs continue to decline. Several testifiers emphasized that mining is central to the Iron Range economy and argued that the bill would give workers time and hope while also helping keep people in the region. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency testified that it generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the environmental rulemaking language in Article 2, Section 2. MPCA said the provision would amount to a new major rulemaking, would require significant time and resources, and should be reviewed by the Environment, Natural Resources, Finance and Policy Committee. During member questions, one legislator said there was strong support for the UI extension in Article 1 but expressed concern about the environmental issues in Article 2 and asked why those provisions were not being reviewed by the environment committee. The meeting ended with public testimony closed and member questions beginning; no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the HEAL Act introduces transformative changes to how government operates.
• The HEAL Act introduces transformative changes to how government operates.
• You are the people that are in the region.
• And there have been discussions with region managers and with region staff about small forest landowners
• , That you only engage in HEAL Act assessments relative to internal agency operations, not agency operations

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on HEAL Act implementation, beginning with an orientation from Environmental Justice Council member David Mendoza. He described the law’s purpose as integrating environmental justice into agency decision-making, community engagement, tribal consultation, strategic planning, and environmental justice assessments, with the goal of reducing environmental health disparities and improving accountability to communities and tribes. He also discussed the council’s role, the interagency work group, challenges with limited volunteer and agency capacity, and concerns about inconsistent assessment formats and future funding pressures. Committee members asked about council composition, including the balance of tribal, community, business, and other representation, whether the HEAL Act increases permitting time or costs, how “overburdened” and “vulnerable” populations are defined, and whether the council should be refreshed or audited. Mendoza said the statute is not limited to racial categories and can include rural and low-income communities, that the council has not quantified permitting delays, and that there is no formal audit requirement, though the council is discussing how to improve its work. Members also raised questions about the relationship between the Environmental Justice Council and the Office of Equity, with Mendoza saying the bodies are complementary but should coordinate more closely. The Department of Agriculture then reported on its HEAL Act work. Director of Equity and Environmental Justice Nicole Johnson said WSDA conducts environmental justice assessments for significant actions, applies an equity lens to licensing, funding, rulemaking, and strategic planning, and has completed 11 EJ assessments to date. She highlighted pesticide regulation, animal health, and weights-and-measures work as examples of environmental and economic justice, and said the department recently hired a full-time tribal consultant and has only 1.5 FTE supporting HEAL implementation. Members asked whether WSDA’s assessments apply to its role on boards such as the Forest Practices Board; Johnson said the department’s current understanding is that assessments are conducted on agency work. The Department of Natural Resources then presented on its HEAL Act implementation, focusing on strategic planning, community engagement, tribal consultation, environmental justice assessments, and equitable funding. DNR officials said environmental justice is being embedded in the agency’s 2025-2029 strategic plan, in its Community Access and Impact Plan, and in its advisory committee and board representation efforts. They reported conducting EJ assessments for sustainable harvest calculations, agency request legislation, and a prescribed burn manager certificate program, and said DNR has invested about $130 million in overburdened communities and vulnerable populations in fiscal year 2025 through wildfire resilience, youth education, and urban forestry programs. Committee members pressed DNR on how it identifies impacted communities, why landowners were not more visible in the process, how agency-request legislation is being assessed, and whether assessments are required for actions taken through other boards and commissions. DNR said its current interpretation is that assessments apply to internal agency actions, that some notices may appear on OFM’s notices page rather than the completed-assessments dashboard, and that it would follow up on specific questions about its posted assessments and process.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know that DES has said that from a regional standpoint there may be a lack of capacity, but there
• standpoint there may be a lack regional standpoint there may be a lack of<00:06:42.960><c> capacity<
• We like to think we provide some security as well. Good afternoon.
• </c> essentially cover all the operating essentially cover all the operating costs<00:48:41.640><c> of
• We currently have 10 operating permitted composting facilities in the state.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.