Transcript Highlights:

• uh uh uh apply<00:32:02.240><c> for</c><00:32:02.440><c> my</c><00:32:02.600><c> mechanics</c><00:32
• </c><00:32:05.360><c> I'm</c><00:32:05.520><c> on</c><00:32:05.640><c> the</c><00:32:05.720><c> board
• actually<00:32:06.720><c> takes</c><00:32:06.960><c> care</c><00:32:07.160><c> of</c><00:32:07.240><
• ><c> I</c><00:32:11.679><c> want</c><00:32:11.880><c> to</c><00:32:11.960><c> do</c><00:32:12.120><c>
• good</c><00:32:12.320><c> for</c><00:32:12.520><c> the</c><00:32:13.280><c> uh</c><00:32:13.720><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The chair explained the 90-minute agenda, the 2-minute testimony limit, and that written testimony had been reviewed in advance. Testimony was generally supportive for each nominee, with agency boards, professional associations, and individuals submitting written or oral support. For the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Michael Basta Jr. described his 40 years in the industry, ownership of two salons, and experience training educators. For the Board of Dentistry, Christopher Woo said he had served as an interim board member since July 1 of the prior year, and Jerry Young said she was a retired pediatrician and former Hawaii Medical Board member; in response to questions, she identified a potential conflict through her role with Pu'ulu Lapa'au and said she would recuse herself when appropriate. For the Board of Psychology, Sean Scanlon and Sherry Takuishi Sara both emphasized long careers in the field and service to the community. Several members questioned psychology and medical nominees about interstate licensing compacts and access to care. Scanlon said he supported expanding the profession but would need to recuse himself on compact issues because of his role at Chaminade University, and he noted growth in local training programs. Sara said her main concern with compacts was cultural sensitivity and Hawaii’s unique cultural milieu, though she acknowledged the need for more psychologists. Pediatrician Robert Watring, nominated to the Hawaii Medical Board, said he supported local providers and was cautious about compacts, emphasizing the need to ensure qualified care in Hawaii; he said he had not seen much change from temporary licensing measures on Kauai. For the Contractors License Board, Jerry Nishik said backlog problems were driven by staff shortages and board vacancies, noting the board lacked quorum for upcoming meetings and needed more members and staff. Other nominees included Albert Dennis and Nolan Miyahara for the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, both of whom said they wanted to continue public service and help ensure legitimate, certified repair shops; Miyahara described his career path from apprentice to automotive technology professor. The committee also heard support for Robert Woltering’s nomination to the Hawaii Medical Board, with Woltering saying he wanted to help ensure quality health care providers, especially for children on Kauai. The transcript does not show any final votes or confirmations during the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:30.159><c> We</c><00:32:30.399><c> stand</c><00:32:30.559><c> on</c><00:32:30.720><c> our<
• House Bill<00:32:33.360><c> 2336</c><00:32:34.799><c> allows</c><00:32:35.120><c> the</c><00:32:35.360
• and further protecting Hawaii<00:32:43.840><c> from</c><00:32:44.000><c> natural</c><00:32:44.399><c
• This bill will<00:32:46.320><c> allow</c><00:32:46.480><c> the</c><00:32:46.640><c> Department</c><00
• 00:32:50.159><c> with</c><00:32:50.480><c> no</c><00:32:50.720><c> additional</c> Hawaii's protection

Bills: HB2264 , HB2336 , HB2298 , HB1518

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: protective orders, military, law enforcement, judicial coordination, victim safety, community safety, federal military installations, disaster response, emergency services, state funding, transportation department, public safety, Hawaii, education, high school diploma, veterans, wartime practices, armed services, HB1518, Hawaii SNAP

Summary: The committee opened by announcing that it would hear testimony but would not take decisions on the day’s bills, with action deferred to a later decision-making agenda. The first measure, HB 2264, would require notification to military security forces when a protective order is issued involving a military-affiliated person. Support came from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Hawaii National Guard, and DBEDT’s Military Affairs office, all emphasizing better coordination and faster notice to help protect victims and support command oversight. Family Court Judge Jesse Hall supported the intent but asked for deferral, explaining that a prior fax-and-email notification system had broken down and that the military had not re-engaged with the court. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the bill but recommended narrowing it so it applies only when the respondent is actually marked as military-connected and delaying the effective date to January 1, 2027 to allow implementation. In questions, members discussed the current breakdown in communication, the number of military-marked TROs statewide, and whether the bill would be necessary if the old system were restored; the military witness said she would try to reestablish contact with the court. The committee then took up HB 2336, which would authorize the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense for services at federal military installations and charge an administrative fee. DOT and the Military Affairs office supported the measure, describing it as a way to speed projects, combine state and federal resources, and strengthen infrastructure that also supports disaster response and the economy. Members questioned why the bill was needed if similar arrangements had existed before, and whether Title 23 federal highway funds could be used; DOT responded that the bill would help expedite projects and supplement, not supplant, federal funding, while each project would still require review of the appropriate funding source. The committee also heard HB 2298, which would allow the Department of Education to award high school diplomas to qualified people whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Hawaii Office of Veterans Affairs, and DOE supported the bill, and DOE said implementation would have only a minimal printing cost. Finally, the committee heard HB 1518, which would require DHS, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to create a pre-release SNAP application process for inmates nearing release by January 1, 2028. DHS said it was already working on a pilot and stood on its testimony; the County of Hawaii, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Public Health Institute supported the measure, arguing it would improve reentry outcomes and would not cost the state additional money. No votes or final committee actions were taken on any of the bills during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 32:23.360><c> any</c><00:32:23.679><c> opposed</c><00:32:24.639><c> seeing</c><00:32:25.279><c> none<
• <c> to</c><00:32:28.200><c> I</c><00:32:28.519><c> I</c><00:32:29.000><c> go</c><00:32:29.200><c> for
• :47.720><c> we've</c><00:32:47.960><c> got</c><00:32:48.679><c> a</c><00:32:48.799><c> lot</c><00:32:
• 00:32:54.480><c> um</c><00:32:55.080><c> it</c><00:32:55.240><c> within</c><00:32:55.519><c> the</c><
• </c><00:32:57.080><c> would</c><00:32:57.200><c> be</c><00:32:57.320><c> a</c><00:32:57.440><c> good<

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If<00:32:02.720><c> we</c><00:32:02.960><c> determine</c><00:32:03.279><c> that</c><00:32:03.440><c>
• And Representative<00:32:23.120><c> Johnson,</c><00:32:23.519><c> if</c><00:32:23.760><c> I</c><00:32
• 32:25.840><c> if</c><00:32:26.080><c> you</c><00:32:26.240><c> recall</c><00:32:26.640><c> during</c>
• > test</c><00:32:28.000><c> during</c><00:32:28.320><c> one</c><00:32:28.480><c> of</c><00:32:28.559>
• 32:30.080><c> we</c><00:32:30.320><c> did</c><00:32:30.480><c> make</c><00:32:30.640><c> adjustments<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36 Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> they</c><00:32:02.720><c> love</c><00:32:02.960><c> so</c><00:32:03.120><c> is</c><00:32:03.240>
• ><c> uh</c><00:32:10.679><c> thank</c><00:32:10.799><c> you</c><00:32:10.919><c> Mr</c><00:32:11.120>
• ><c> in</c><00:32:20.320><c> the</c><00:32:20.399><c> Metro</c><00:32:21.000><c> a</c><00:32:21.799><
• 00:32:26.360><c> so</c><00:32:26.519><c> would</c><00:32:26.720><c> be</c><00:32:26.799><c> open</c><
• ><c> would</c><00:32:30.760><c> potentially</c><00:32:31.200><c> be</c><00:32:31.519><c> as</c><00:32

Bills: HF1439 , HF1004 , HF498 , HF1326

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

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:04.799><c> But</c><00:32:05.120><c> I</c><00:32:05.360><c> would</c><00:32:05.519><c> like
• ATRS<00:32:18.480><c> are</c><00:32:19.039><c> fundamental</c><00:32:19.919><c> to</c><00:32:20.240>
• </c><00:32:22.799><c> As</c><00:32:23.120><c> legislators,</c><00:32:24.240><c> we</c><00:32:24.720><
• As<00:32:35.760><c> legislators,</c><00:32:36.480><c> it's</c><00:32:36.720><c> our</c><00:32:36.880>
• :32:01.760><c> to</c><01:32:01.920><c> talk</c><01:32:02.320><c> to</c><01:32:02.560><c> them.

Bills: HF4893

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c><00:32:05.200><c> the</c><00:32:05.600><c> uh</c><00:32:05.919><c> the</c><00:32:06.000><
• </c><00:32:13.279><c> of</c><00:32:13.399><c> the</c><00:32:13.960><c> operations</c><00:32:14.960><c
• um and farms<00:32:16.080><c> are</c><00:32:16.440><c> relatively</c><00:32:16.919><c> small</c><00:32
• ><c> in</c><00:32:17.880><c> nature</c><00:32:18.200><c> and</c><00:32:18.320><c> so</c><00:32:18.559
• ><c> uh</c><00:32:24.600><c> the</c><00:32:24.799><c> administration</c><00:32:25.320><c> of</c><00:32

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

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> or</c><00:32:12.480><c> the</c><00:32:12.640><c> Church</c><00:32:12.880><c> of</c><00:32:13.039>
• </c><00:32:30.880><c> I</c><00:32:31.039><c> I</c><00:32:31.360><c> just</c><00:32:31.519><c> have</c
• Your<00:32:33.120><c> reading</c><00:32:33.440><c> of</c><00:32:33.600><c> this</c><00:32:33.840><c>
• bill</c><00:32:34.159><c> then</c><00:32:35.120><c> is</c><00:32:35.360><c> that</c><00:32:35.600><c>
• by the<00:32:40.880><c> leader</c><00:32:41.200><c> of</c><00:32:41.440><c> her</c><00:32:41.679><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 291, which would update religious land-use and property tax exemption rules for church-owned parsonages, parish houses, and similar properties. Senator Tim Lang, speaking for the sponsor, said the bill was intended to address situations where former parsonages are no longer occupied by clergy and are instead used for church-related purposes such as housing staff, religious education, or congregate living tied to ministry, including addiction recovery. He emphasized that the bill was not meant to create commercial rental housing and that it also preserves reasonable zoning and environmental regulations. Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would be applied, especially the meaning of “religious purposes,” the six-unit limit, the “same lot” language, and whether churches could use the exemption to rent units for revenue. The sponsor said the six-unit cap was added to prevent large-scale commercial rental use, that congregate housing would be limited and defined, and that the bill was meant to cover uses like substance abuse recovery, homes for unwed mothers, and religious education, but not apartments converted for ordinary rental. He also said churches would still file annual exemption paperwork and towns could challenge claims they believed were commercial. Questions also raised concerns about whether the bill treated religious and nonreligious housing trusts differently; the sponsor responded that the bill was aimed at church-owned property used in pursuit of a religious mission. Several witnesses testified in support. Representative Mark Pearson, an active clergyman, said the bill would not remove additional property from the tax rolls because clergy housing allowances typically lead clergy to buy taxable homes elsewhere, while the church-owned parsonage remains exempt. Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire supported the bill as a modest expansion that could help create more attainable housing by allowing better use of existing religious land and structures, though he noted his organization would support even broader use. The hearing ended without a vote or final action, and the chair closed questions after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• to<00:32:09.039><c> the</c><00:32:09.200><c> legislature</c><00:32:10.080><c> or</c><00:32:10.480><c
• show</c><00:32:19.519><c> you</c><00:32:20.559><c> what</c><00:32:20.880><c> exactly</c><00:32:21.279
• 00:32:22.720><c> are</c><00:32:22.880><c> specific</c><00:32:23.919><c> to</c><00:32:24.240><c> the</
• </c><00:32:35.840><c> So,</c><00:32:36.000><c> I</c><00:32:36.080><c> hope</c><00:32:36.240><c> my</c
• :40.720><c> to</c><00:32:40.880><c> to</c><00:32:41.120><c> hear</c><00:32:41.360><c> that</c><00:32:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• motion</c><00:32:03.200><c> that</c><00:32:03.519><c> I</c><00:32:03.760><c> hope</c><00:32:04.000><c
• :06.480><c> on</c><00:32:06.720><c> it</c><00:32:06.880><c> you</c><00:32:07.120><c> don't</c><00:32:
• :08.240><c> just</c><00:32:08.480><c> take</c><00:32:08.799><c> off</c><00:32:10.159><c> um</c><00:32
• So if that<00:32:20.320><c> could</c><00:32:20.880><c> if</c><00:32:21.120><c> that</c><00:32:21.360>
• <c> could</c><00:32:21.519><c> be</c><00:32:21.679><c> the</c><00:32:21.919><c> way</c><00:32:22.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:32:07.519><c> And</c><00:32:07.679><c> it</c><00:32:07.919><c> may</c><00:32:08.080><c> have</c>
• instruments<00:32:12.799><c> like</c><00:32:13.279><c> the</c><00:32:13.519><c> New</c><00:32:13.679
• </c><00:32:18.320><c> to</c><00:32:18.480><c> follow</c><00:32:18.799><c> in</c><00:32:19.039><c> line
• :32:49.600><c> and</c><00:32:50.000><c> uh</c><00:32:50.159><c> that</c><00:32:50.399><c> is</c><00:32
• The<00:32:53.120><c> act</c><00:32:53.519><c> uh</c><00:32:53.679><c> clarity</c><00:32:54.080><c> act

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met on November 12 and first approved the September 17 and October 15 draft minutes unanimously after brief discussion. Members also identified themselves for the record, including a new member from Bumpsk Bank, a staff attorney from the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Securities Regulation, a prior crypto commission participant, and a uniform law commissioner involved in tokenization projects. The main presentation was by UNH law professor Seth Orinberg, who discussed the federal GENIUS Act and the pending Clarity Act and how they affect New Hampshire’s options in the digital asset space. He described the GENIUS Act as governing payment stablecoins/stable tokens, defining them as blockchain-based assets used primarily for payments, redeemable for a fixed amount of national currency, and required to maintain stable value. He said the law creates three possible state roles: hosting federally qualified issuers, becoming a state qualifier for issuers up to a $10 billion threshold, or exploring state-backed issuance as a sovereign. He noted that the state-qualification path would require conforming legislation, examination capacity, and coordination with Treasury, while the sovereign-issuer theory is legally uncertain and may become a test case. Orinberg also outlined the core compliance framework he said applies to covered issuers: 100% reserve backing in high-quality liquid assets, monthly public reserve reporting, no yield or interest-like rewards, segregation of reserve assets, immediate redemption at face value, and anti-money-laundering/know-your-customer obligations. He then turned to the Clarity Act, describing it as a broader market-structure bill that would create categories such as digital asset, digital commodity, digital security, and ancillary asset, with self-certification procedures for issuers. He said the two federal laws together would separate payments from investments, preempt inconsistent state standards for covered payment stablecoins, and likely reshape the boundaries of state authority over digital assets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Schoffler, please<01:32:27.199><c> read</c><01:32:27.360><c> the</c><01:32:27.600><c> title</c><01:32
• </c><03:32:18.319><c> exposed</c><03:32:18.880><c> to</c><03:32:19.120><c> all</c><03:32:19.279><c> these
• <c> things</c><03:32:20.080><c> in</c><03:32:20.319><c> the</c><03:32:20.479><c> course</c><03:32:20.640
• :27.359><c> So</c><03:32:27.520><c> are</c><03:32:27.680><c> we</c><03:32:27.840><c> to</c><03:32:28.080
• These things only<03:32:39.680><c> happen</c><03:32:39.920><c> to</c><03:32:40.160><c> those</c><03:32

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• constituents and<00:32:38.639><c> I</c><00:32:38.720><c> want</c><00:32:38.880><c> to</c><00:32:39.080
• ><c> also</c><00:32:39.679><c> note</c><00:32:40.000><c> that</c><00:32:40.200><c> there</c><00:32:40.440
• :41.600><c> a</c><00:32:41.760><c> lot</c><00:32:42.039><c> of</c><00:32:43.039><c> Transit</c><00:32
• ><c> we</c><00:32:48.919><c> have</c><00:32:49.039><c> the</c><00:32:49.159><c> Metro</c><00:32:49.519
• :51.159><c> line</c><00:32:51.960><c> the</c><00:32:52.080><c> sea</c><00:32:52.360><c> line</c><00:32

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> and</c><00:32:14.960><c> we</c><00:32:15.120><c> ain't</c><00:32:15.360><c> got</c><00:32:15.600
• You<00:32:25.200><c> I'll</c><00:32:25.519><c> be</c><00:32:25.679><c> glad</c><00:32:25.919><c> to</
• Everybody<00:32:27.039><c> can</c><00:32:27.279><c> look</c><00:32:27.519><c> at</c><00:32:27.760><c>
• :32:30.399><c> their</c><00:32:30.799><c> share</c><00:32:31.440><c> of</c><00:32:31.600><c> the</c>
• &gt;&gt; Okay.<00:32:57.519><c> And</c><00:32:58.559><c> if</c><00:32:58.799><c> I</c><00:32:59.039><

Committee: Joint Finance

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All those<01:32:51.280><c> in</c><01:32:51.440><c> favor</c><01:32:51.679><c> say</c><01:32:51.920><c
• </c><01:32:54.480><c> The</c><01:32:54.639><c> eyes</c><01:32:54.960><c> have</c><01:32:55.120><c> it
• Some<02:32:02.560><c> of</c><02:32:02.720><c> them</c><02:32:02.880><c> may</c><02:32:03.120><c> just
• </c><02:32:03.280><c> choose</c><02:32:03.600><c> not</c><02:32:03.840><c> to</c><02:32:04.319><c> to
• 02:32:12.880><c> kind</c><02:32:13.040><c> of</c><02:32:13.120><c> penalties</c><02:32:13.680><c> so<

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• otherwise<00:32:04.399><c> you're</c><00:32:05.519><c> you</c><00:32:05.679><c> know</c><00:32:05.840
• :32:10.240><c> what</c><00:32:10.480><c> the</c><00:32:10.640><c> changes</c><00:32:10.880><c> to</c>
• <00:32:11.360><c> laws</c><00:32:11.600><c> are</c><00:32:11.760><c> or</c><00:32:12.080><c> know</c>
• ><c> the</c><00:32:17.600><c> idea</c><00:32:17.919><c> here</c><00:32:18.159><c> is</c><00:32:18.399
• :32:29.679><c> to</c><00:32:29.919><c> be</c><00:32:30.159><c> meant</c><00:32:30.640><c> for</c> &gt

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:32:05.760><c> the</c><00:32:05.840><c> spirit</c><00:32:06.240><c> of</c><00:32:06.320><c> the<
• So,<00:32:07.760><c> I</c><00:32:07.800><c> request</c><00:32:08.320><c> a</c><00:32:08.400><c> roll<
• /c><00:32:08.720><c> call</c><00:32:09.360><c> and</c><00:32:10.080><c> a</c><00:32:10.600><c> yes</c
• We<00:32:13.840><c> will</c><00:32:14.000><c> take</c><00:32:14.160><c> a</c><00:32:14.240><c> roll</
• ><c> guess</c><00:32:20.000><c> I</c><00:32:20.080><c> wish</c><00:32:20.280><c> I</c><00:32:20.360><

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:32:02.640><c> be</c><00:32:02.760><c> your</c><00:32:03.000><c> would</c><00:32:03.160><c> it</c
• Well it<00:32:06.040><c> it</c><00:32:06.120><c> would</c><00:32:06.480><c> it'd</c><00:32:06.640><c>
• Theoretically<00:32:12.080><c> you</c><00:32:12.160><c> probably</c><00:32:12.440><c> could</c><00:32
• </c><00:32:15.320><c> Um</c><00:32:15.520><c> do</c><00:32:15.600><c> you</c><00:32:15.680><c> see</c
• > if</c><00:32:20.880><c> if</c><00:32:21.040><c> we</c><00:32:21.200><c> bring</c><00:32:21.400><c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:28 Introduction of Guests 00:02:08 American Electric Power and Kentucky Power Presentation 00:03:31 SB 89 Discussion 00:53:55 SB 89 Roll Call Vote 01:07:46, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for an initial natural resources hearing with a quorum present and introductory housekeeping, including prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests. Chair Smith outlined ground rules for questions and then invited Kentucky Power and American Electric Power representatives to the table to discuss a proposed plan involving the Mitchell Power Plant and future generation needs in Eastern Kentucky. Witnesses Cindy Wiseman, Alex Vaughn, and AEP CEO Bill Fehrman said the company’s goals are to stabilize and lower rates, reduce rate volatility, and expand generation in the Commonwealth. They explained that Kentucky Power seeks legislative authority to securitize its 50% interest in the Mitchell coal plant, describing securitization as a refinancing mechanism that would lower annual plant costs by about $34 million and help offset roughly one-third of the expected cost of adding new generation in Kentucky. They emphasized that the proposal is not intended to close Mitchell, and said Kentucky Power currently has no plan to divest its interest; the company still needs the plant to serve customers while it pursues additional dispatchable generation in Kentucky. Members pressed the witnesses on the plant’s book value versus fair market value, whether the Mitchell interest had ever been assigned a nominal value, how any divestiture proceeds would be handled, whether Kentucky Power owns Wheeling Power, and how long Mitchell can continue operating. The company said it values Mitchell at net book value for accounting purposes, not fair market value, and explained that Wheeling Power is a separate AEP affiliate and that West Virginia affiliates have already proposed securitization of their share. Witnesses said Kentucky Power’s interest cannot technically operate past 2028 without additional environmental control investment, while the West Virginia side is depreciating through 2040. They also described the financing timeline, saying securitization would require enactment of legislation, a PSC financing order, bond issuance, and then parallel work to acquire or build new generation, with any reinvestment terms to be addressed through the regulatory process.

Transcript Highlights:

• 32:13.519><c> me</c><00:32:13.600><c> a</c><00:32:13.720><c> pink</c><00:32:14.200><c> card</c> and at
• ><c> for</c><00:32:24.360><c> allowing</c><00:32:24.720><c> me</c><00:32:24.840><c> to</c><00:32:25.000
• c><00:32:55.720><c> property</c><00:32:56.600><c> settlements</c><00:32:57.600><c> and</c><00:32:58.039
• :10.320><c> sidel</c><01:32:11.320><c> if</c><01:32:11.440><c> you</c><01:32:11.560><c> are</c><01:32
• ><01:32:14.560><c> vote</c><01:32:14.920><c> Yes</c><01:32:15.199><c> if</c><01:32:15.320><c> you</c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee opened its February 4, 2025 hearing with a business item on House Bill 553, appointing a subcommittee chaired by Representative Greg and including several named members. The committee then took up House Bill 486, which would revise New Hampshire’s grandparents’ visitation law. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to address gaps in current law, especially in situations involving divorce, separation, kinship care, and parental substance use, so that children can maintain important relationships with grandparents or other kin caregivers. He emphasized that the proposal was meant to supplement existing law rather than replace it, and said the language was modeled on statutes from other states. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 486, describing painful family separations and arguing that current law can be interpreted too narrowly. One grandmother said the existing statute had been used to dismiss her visitation case because she was restricted while the parents were separated, and she asked for language changes so courts could still order visitation in similar circumstances. Another witness, testifying online, urged passage of the bill as being in the best interest of children. A third witness described a family living arrangement in which grandparents had been a consistent presence in their grandchildren’s lives but were later cut off during a contentious separation, and said the bill would help repair those relationships. Committee members asked about the six-month timeframe in the bill, whether the proposed language would affect cases where a grandparent does not live with the child but is still a regular caregiver, and whether the sponsor had written amendment language; the sponsor said the six-month language was taken from other states’ statutes and that the new language would not change existing visitation rights but would add to them. After hearing the testimony, the chair said the committee would hold HB 486 aside for a week or two while awaiting additional information before voting. The hearing then moved to House Bill 320, an act relative to enforcement of marital property settlements. The sponsor explained that the bill would require courts to enforce final property decrees and would clarify the difference between enforcement and contempt, arguing that courts should have clear authority to fashion remedies and that litigants, especially self-represented parties, need clearer statutory guidance. Committee members questioned the legal distinctions the sponsor drew, including whether the bill was aimed at enforcement rather than contempt and how the proposed language would operate in practice. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 320.

Transcript Highlights:

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• ><c> a</c><01:32:32.880><c> mandatory</c><01:32:33.360><c> mailing</c><01:32:33.679><c> to</c><01:32:
• /c><01:32:36.159><c> notice</c><01:32:36.480><c> and</c><01:32:36.639><c> then</c><01:32:36.800><c> a
• Um that the<01:32:55.040><c> OS</c><01:32:55.600><c> told</c><01:32:55.760><c> me</c><01:32:55.920><c
• > that</c><01:32:56.159><c> they</c><01:32:56.320><c> sent</c><01:32:56.480><c> it</c><01:32:56.639><

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all