Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a technique wildlife benefits.
• We're not limited to that.
• We're not limited to that. That's >> Yeah. We're not limited to that.
• You know, I mean, we benefit the planet.
• </c><01:03:27.839><c> a</c> Uh this is this certainly can benefit a Uh this is this certainly can benefit

Summary: The meeting was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was led, and the clerk called the roll, establishing a quorum. The committee approved the prior minutes after correcting the date and changing a reference so that a draft-legislation note attributed to Representative Wlette was corrected. After that, the chair introduced a carbon presentation by Mr. Charlie Lebec and invited members and guests to move closer to view the slides. Mr. Lebec’s presentation focused on forest carbon science and forest carbon offset markets, with emphasis on how forests store, sequester, and emit carbon. He explained greenhouse gases and the relationship between atmospheric CO2 and temperature, then defined key terms such as carbon storage, sequestration, flux, sinks, and sources. He also described forest carbon pools, noting that soils contain a large share of forest carbon, and discussed how forest age affects storage and sequestration, arguing that younger forests often sequester carbon faster while older forests store more carbon overall. He also addressed how harvested wood products can continue to store carbon, responding to a question from a member about mass timber and carbon sinks. The presentation included regional comparisons showing New Hampshire’s forest density, carbon storage, and sequestration relative to other New England states, and noted that New Hampshire forests offset more than 30% of the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions from nonforest sources, while Maine and Vermont offset even larger shares. Mr. Lebec said eastern forests are generally carbon sinks, unlike some western forests affected by wildfire, and stressed that forest management, soil protection, and forest age all influence carbon outcomes. No votes or substantive policy actions were taken beyond approving the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have veteran service benefits. We have veteran service benefits.
• The benefits that you deserve. The benefits that you deserve.
• relating to the pharmacy benefit relating to the pharmacy benefit managers.
• So who benefits from Answer this for me. So who benefits from Answer this for me.
• from this on, then who benefits from this on, then who benefits from this legislation?

Bills: HB 10 , HB 12 , HB 147 , HB 1522 , HB 422 , HB 675 , HB 204 , HB 748 , HB 912

Transcript Highlights:

• recognition from the chair before speaking for any purpose, and all questions and remarks must be limited
• As we go into conference, I look forward to working on a solution that benefits all institutions and
• not only the amounts identified within the bill pattern but also indirect costs such as. employee benefits
• This will be based on the decisions adopted by the full committee for employee benefits.
• Adjust the employee benefits appropriations accordingly.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Um the statute provides for limited Um the statute provides for limited guardianship.<01:33:04.800
• guardianship is the court order limited guardianship is the court order would<01:33:14.239><c> limit
• </c> that provided her no benefit. that provided her no benefit.
• </c> did not benefit from any of these loans. did not benefit from any of these loans.
• It's very limited there as well.

Bills: HB0101 , HB0062 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:31:49.840><c> in</c> uh not only does it have benefits in uh not only does it have benefits in
• . benefits and things um support, etc. benefits and things like<02:02:38.080><c> that.
• </c> for the benefit of the child. for the benefit of the child.
• Who are these security benefit from foster children. security benefit from foster children.
• </c> benefits for the children. benefits for the children.

Summary: The Finance Committee met on October 30 to act on a series of House bills that had been moved during the budget process and, in many cases, were already addressed in the state budget. The chair explained that bills covered by the budget would generally be reported inexpedient to legislate, while some others would be placed on the consent calendar or handled separately. Early votes were largely unanimous, including House Bill 54, which would allow alternate treatment centers to operate for profit; the committee voted 25-0 ought to pass and sent it to the consent calendar. The committee then recommended inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 97, a wastewater and infrastructure appropriation bill, because the funding had been replaced in House Bill 2 with $2.5 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Representative Rum opposed the ITL motion, arguing the projects would otherwise burden local property taxpayers and that the funding was important for housing and municipal infrastructure, but the motion passed 14-11. House Bill 111, dealing with the right-to-know ombudsman, was also reported ITL 14-11 on the grounds that the budget already made significant reforms and separate action could create conflicting statutory language. House Bill 164, creating funding for a local government records manager position in the Secretary of State’s office, received a unanimous amendment appropriating $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended, moving to the regular calendar. House Bill 197, the Property Tax Relief Act, drew extended debate over whether restoring a state contribution to retirement system costs would reduce local property taxes; supporters framed it as tax relief for municipalities and school districts, while opponents said the effect would be minimal or offset by other retirement-system changes. The committee ultimately voted 14-11 ITL, with a minority report requested. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a report on potential harms and benefits, was amended and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended. House Bill 216, which would remove a workers’ compensation-related service-credit limit for certain disability retirement cases, was voted ITL 25-0 after the sponsor said the fiscal impact was too uncertain. Finally, House Bill 219, which would redirect renewable portfolio standard funds and was amended to delay its effective date to July 1, 2027, advanced after debate over electricity costs and renewable energy policy; the committee adopted the amendment unanimously and then voted on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Increases in related benefits, and then it's offset by a decrease in the retirement rate.
• Personnel services are increasing due to employee pay raises and related benefits.
• And then the SNAP benefits... Until it reaches 3.5% in 2035.
• The rate is the rate of issue incorrect benefits, either too much or too little.
• One of the benefits from this... Make sure it's robust and it's effective.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation on LSU Health Care Services Division and Lallie Kemp Medical Center. Staff reviewed HCSD’s roughly $74.7 million budget, much of it tied to legacy obligations for former LSU hospital systems and support for Lallie Kemp. Committee members asked about prisoner care, risk management costs, declining admissions and emergency visits, and the hospital’s 340B drug program. Lallie Kemp officials explained that prisoner care serves multiple state and local facilities, that lower admissions largely reflect more patients being placed in observation status, and that the in-house 340B program provides major savings to patients and the prison system. Members also asked about care for unhoused patients and the hospital’s discharge practices, and the hospital said social services works to find placement when possible. The committee then moved to the Louisiana Department of Health budget, which was presented as just under $23.5 billion, with Medicaid making up more than 90 percent of the total. The presentation covered the Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid. Major items included the new Rural Health Transformation Program, the transfer of several functions from DCFS to LDH under the One Door initiative, changes to SNAP administration, and large Medicaid adjustments driven by enrollment, utilization, and federal policy changes. Testimony also highlighted the statewide crisis hub and 988, the commodity food program for seniors, women’s health and maternal outcomes, and the department’s efforts to modernize technology and reorganize services. Members questioned LDH officials on a wide range of budget and policy issues, including the rural health grant, crisis services, Medicaid redeterminations, provider taxes, physician and hospital supplemental payments, nursing home rates, HCBS funding, and the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. LDH said the rural health grant would support workforce, technology, and care-delivery improvements; that the crisis hub and mobile crisis units are being expanded to improve access and reduce emergency room use; and that the department is working to keep the SNAP error rate below 6 percent to avoid a projected state cost increase. Officials also said they expect to return next year with additional funding requests for HCBS and other programs, while emphasizing that current budget changes are largely meant to realign funding with actual expenditures and new federal requirements. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:01.760><c> And</c><00:04:01.920><c> we</c> expungement, and public benefits.
• And we expungement, and public benefits.
• </c> we've utilized some of the limited we've utilized some of the limited engagement<00:18:53.360><c
• And then also we help them get on to other public benefit programs as well.
• And then also we help them get on to other public benefit programs as well.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• suspended on the following petitions: the petition of Jack Patrick Lewis relative to retirement benefits
• 2145, the House bill to encourage donations to local nonprofits; House Bill 3169, the House bill limiting
• The House bill, limiting the use of prison labor, House number 5125, and the House Bill, establishing
• An act limiting the use of prison labor, House Bill 5125.
• An act limiting the use of prison labor, House Bill 5125, and an act establishing a sick leave bank for

Summary: The House began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several committee reports and procedural orders. It adopted a resolution commending the Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts for recognizing March 2026 as Endometriosis Awareness Month. The House also adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines, including for the Committees on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities; Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; Health Care Financing; Revenue; and Transportation. In addition, the House concurred with a Senate referral on legislation concerning Great River Regional School Districts and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send two petitions to committee, one on retirement benefits for Suzanne Garcia and another on senior property tax credits. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling recommended a slate of bills for House consideration, including measures on call firefighter rights, foreclosure protection for recently widowed spouses, wage protections for electronic wage cards and hospital workers, a minimum wage for airline catering employees, incentives for donations to local nonprofits, limits on prison labor, and a sick leave bank for a DCF employee. After suspending Rule 7A, the House gave these bills second reading and ordered them to a third reading. On third reading and final action, the House passed to be enacted a sick leave bank bill for a Department of Correction employee, concurred in a Senate amendment to a land conveyance bill for Brockton, and passed to be engrossed several local and special legislation bills, including measures involving Conway police and fire department employees and an Arlington firefighter civil service exception. The House then adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:53.480><c> women's</c> side effect of further limiting women's side effect of further limiting
• I'm going to have to limit follow-ups at this point and limit you to one opportunity to ask a question
• I'm going to have to limit follow-ups at this point and limit you to one opportunity to ask a question
• I'm going to have to limit follow-ups at this point and limit you to one opportunity to ask a question
• ’s your time limit.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This deals with survivors' benefits.
• This is the last surviving benefit that these kids have that is left from their parents.
• And what states have actually done and have taken that benefit and used it to offset other programs or
• But 35 states still are taking these survivor benefits, and we're now seeing a trend down.
• So we've, letters have been going out to every state that is stealing these survivors' benefits to try

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C would require global emissions reductions of 9% per year.
• as well but I a clean energy benefit as well but I think<00:26:12.919><c> of</c><00:26:13.000><c> it
• We have a five-year time limit to build out our most critical gaps in our network.
• </c><01:19:00.239><c> to</c> counties we have a 5-year time limit to counties we have a 5-year time limit
• Two is to fund a more robust state government employee transportation benefits program.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um do you feel it is a financial benefit um do you feel it is a financial benefit for<00:42:46.160
• </c> to find function so um there's a benefit to find function so um there's a benefit to<01:17:57.280
• </c><02:03:17.679><c> from</c> right of a private owner to benefit from right of a private owner to benefit
• </c><04:33:55.639><c> that</c> that there's really no time limit that that there's really no time limit
• Is it the benefit to the people who receive the exemptions?

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to allow as many people to testify as possible, there will be a two-minute time limit for testifiers
• Limited access. There's not enough access. That's the problem that we're running into.
• Limited access. There's not enough access. That's the problem that we're running into.
• Limited<00:36:22.160><c> access.
• There's not enough Limited access.

Bills: HB1952 , HB1951 , HB1929 , HB2497 , HB2208 , HB2572 , HB1737 , HB1953 , HB2551 , HB2549

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• When the federal government oversteps those limits, it breaks the promise.
• We're very limited in power in what we can do as state legislators. We get that.
• We're very limited power in what we can do as state legislators. We get that.
• And so we are within our bond limits in California to make these investments.
• Talk about a cost-effective investment of limited taxpayer dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• or benefit by this bill would be 21, something like that?
• </c> of benefits of benefits and<00:40:59.440><c> to</c><00:40:59.680><c> also</c><00:41:00.000><c> come
• </c><00:41:34.040><c> or</c> folks that could receive that benefit or folks that could receive that benefit
• or benefit<00:41:34.680><c> by</c><00:41:34.840><c> this</c><00:41:35.080><c> bill</c><00:41:35.440>
• <c> would</c><00:41:35.600><c> be</c><00:41:36.160><c> 21,</c> benefit by this bill would be 21, benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• And benefits from the programs. That was part one of the proviso.
• A couple of other examples: we've increased some grant limits.
• So there are definitely some benefits to this program that we wanted to acknowledge.
• So there are definitely some benefits to this program that we wanted to acknowledge.
• There is definitely some benefits to this program that we wanted to acknowledge.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard presentations from the Department of Commerce, the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a consultant on the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) study. Commerce officials described their agency’s role in housing, energy, local government, broadband, and other capital programs, and reported on a $5 million pilot under Senate Bill 5200 that used trusted community messengers and technical assistance to help historically excluded organizations prepare for capital funding. They said 18 organizations received direct support and 79 smaller projects were also funded, but emphasized that statutory match rules, reimbursement-based payments, site-control requirements, insurance and audit costs, and extensive contracting rules remain major barriers. Commerce outlined efforts to expand outreach, digital modernization, internal contracting improvements, tribal MOUs, and innovation centers, and members asked about small business support, housing program placement, and outreach to Eastern Washington and communities of color. RCO described its grant programs for recreation, conservation, education, and salmon/orca recovery, and reviewed equity work done before and after a 2021-23 proviso. The agency had already created a small-communities carve-out in youth athletic facilities, piloted stipends for advisory committee members, and reduced match requirements where allowed. Under the proviso, RCO completed an equity review and a planning program that funded 54 projects across 34 counties, with many applicants being new or long-absent grantees. Staff said the review led to changes in scoring criteria, clearer application guidance, more objective data measures, expanded technical assistance, and targeted community engagement. Members asked about application burden, project sizes, outreach, and how the agency is broadening participation and representation on advisory committees. The final presentation summarized a planning study on SCAP, which examined rising construction costs, fragmented grant programs, local funding barriers, and uneven district capacity. The report recommended nine major changes, including stronger planning support, a new minor-modernization category, a mechanism to use unused funds more quickly, an education-specification prototype, a SCAP enhancement program for low-capacity districts, acceptance of non-SCAP funds, phased modernization, streamlined D-form and reimbursement processes, and revisions to the SCAP formula to better account for grade-band differences, enrollment projections, and regional cost factors. Additional recommendations included ongoing monitoring and evaluation, facilities-impact reviews, matching SCAP increases to construction-cost inflation, earlier locking of funding estimates, flexible program spaces, and updated statewide building-condition assessments. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $250,000 proposed would also have long-term infrastructure benefits.
• It establishes limits on fees at five times the monthly increase in awarded benefits.
• It limits compensation within the first year after discharge.
• President, I've always argued that veterans benefits should be provided by the federal government.
• The responsibility of the state should be to get veterans to those benefits.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• welcome anyone to come forward and state your name, organization, and position on the bill, but we're limiting
• And only recently, we also learned that there had been efforts to put a protective order in place to limit
• Knowing that it could be copied, shared, or stored without clear limitations reopened wounds I had worked
• Only recently, I also learned that there had been a protective order in place intended to limit access
• The reviewer noted that the available forensic interview documentation from the CAC was limited.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1056 by Senator Grayson, which would require courts to issue protective orders for sexually explicit material involving adult victims in criminal cases and limit copying or dissemination of that material. The author and survivors Aaron Quinn and Denise Haskins-Quinn testified that the bill is meant to prevent revictimization and protect privacy while preserving defendants’ access to discovery. Opposition from public defenders and criminal defense groups argued the bill was too vague, could interfere with defense preparation, and inappropriately modeled adult-material protections on child sexual abuse material. After committee amendments narrowing the bill’s scope and clarifying access, SB 1056 passed out of committee to Appropriations on a due-pass-as-amended vote, with some members voting aye and the bill kept on call. The committee then took up SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, which would restrict law enforcement use of flashbang devices for crowd control and ban their use in immigration enforcement. Supporters, including the author, the mayor of Huntington Park, and advocacy groups, described injuries and fear caused by flashbangs and explosive breaching devices, especially in protests and immigration operations. Law enforcement organizations opposed the bill, saying the definitions were vague, the restrictions could hinder officers in fast-moving situations, and the immigration-enforcement language could conflict with existing task-force arrangements. Members discussed possible amendments to clarify definitions and exigent circumstances, but the bill was ultimately moved due pass to Appropriations and then failed on the roll call, with only one aye and several no votes. Next, SB 1070 by Senator Grove proposed making intentional disruptions of worship services a wobbler offense, allowing felony charges for more serious conduct. The author and faith leaders said the bill was needed to deter coordinated disruptions at houses of worship and protect religious freedom. Opponents, including the Friends Committee on Legislation, ACLU California Action, and public defender groups, argued the measure would criminalize speech, raise constitutional concerns, and impose excessive penalties for conduct that should be addressed through existing law or restorative justice. Several committee members also objected to elevating the offense to a felony, and the bill failed on a due-pass vote, though a motion to reconsider was granted. The committee also heard SB 1130 by Senator Reyes, which would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses by restricting covert recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and limiting devices or technologies that disable recording indicators. Supporters said the bill responds to rapidly advancing wearable technology and surreptitious filming, while opponents from tech and business groups warned it could create liability for manufacturers and be too broad. After committee amendments reduced penalties, removed manufacturer provisions from the criminal section, and shifted them to civil enforcement, SB 1130 passed out of committee to Rules on a due-pass-as-amended vote, with some support and one no vote. Finally, Senator Troy presented SCA 2, a constitutional amendment to bar governors from pardoning themselves or immediate family members; with no opposition testimony, members briefly discussed the proposal, and the transcript ends before any final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully our communities will benefit from it, and I urge a green vote. Thank you.
• In 2000, the state allowed this commission to increase its credit limit, essentially to $15 million.
• Just a quick note on this is that it will not work against our capital investment debt service limit.
• In 2000, the state allowed this commission to increase its credit limit, essentially to $15 million.
• I believe that was the amendment." uh limiting to $1 million as far as any uh limiting to $1 million

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to a federal financial uh limitation to a federal financial uh limitation that<01:02:03.079><c>
• </c> states to pick up an optional benefit states to pick up an optional benefit called<01:04:15.559>
• </c><01:04:23.359><c> we</c> delivering that particular benefit we delivering that particular benefit
• is that maybe a two-edged benefit somehow.
• is that maybe a two-edged benefit somehow.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services