Transcript Highlights:

• Junior personnel can't usually afford vehicles and are usually having to walk around bases.
• The truth is vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death for our service members.
• And in many blue states, of course, they can get a driver's license.
• And in many blue states, of course, they can get a driver's license.
• :55:32.399><c> proper</c><03:55:32.800><c> ID</c> driver's license, is your proper ID driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• capital improvement projects because what about a million-dollar fire engine and $120,000 in police vehicles
• I'm a licensed real estate broker as well as a real estate educator.
• I am a licensed real estate broker as well as a real estate educator, and I am here on behalf of the

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• um to make a use the bill as a vehicle um to make a change. change. change.
• Um, I'm a licensed special ed administrator and special educator, and I'm also the chair of the board
• Um, I'm a licensed and instruction.
• Um, I'm a licensed special<01:21:44.880><c> ed</c><01:21:45.199><c> administrator</c><01:21:45.760><c
• They do have a licensed guidance counselor, but not all charter schools do.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a couple of vehicle bills that we need to move out.
• We have a couple of vehicle care of.
• We have a couple of vehicle bills<01:53:40.800><c> that</c><01:53:40.960><c> we</c><01:53:41.119><c>
• It is also the vehicle bill that hopefully will not be needed. Any member discussion?
• It is also the vehicle bill that hopefully will not be needed. Any member discussion? All right.

Bills: HF2730 , HF2257 , HF2768 , HF1932 , HF2437

Committee: House Taxes

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• District Court also includes all kinds of motor vehicle cases, fish and game cases, but also small claims
• I'm going to skip Family on here for a moment and just go to probate. kinds of Motor Vehicle cases Fish
• and kinds of Motor Vehicle cases Fish and Game<01:37:44.960><c> cases</c><01:37:45.960><c> uh</c><01
• You've made licensing easier for military spouses. That's really, really critically important.
• You've made licensing easier for military spouses. That's really, really critically important.

Summary: The meeting began with committee process reminders from the chair, including rules for questioning witnesses, time limits for testimony, and how motions and committee reports are handled. The chair also discussed the committee’s history, emphasized a cooperative approach with agencies and the Judiciary, and noted that a special committee on the Family Division of Circuit Court had previously done useful work; he said a new subcommittee could be appointed later to continue looking at judicial-system issues. He also mentioned that the Speaker’s office was expected to name members to the DHHS oversight committee by Friday at 1. The substantive presentation was from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Child Support Services. Attorney John Williams introduced the bureau team, and Bureau Chief Lisa Dekowski described the program’s mission: encouraging responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being by locating parents, establishing paternity, setting or modifying support orders, and enforcing court-ordered child and medical support. She said the bureau operates statewide under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, works with courts, employers, and other partners, and serves both in-state and out-of-state cases, with some international and tribal coordination. She also cited program scale, saying the bureau dispersed about $76 million to families in New Hampshire in fiscal year 2023 and that most collections go directly to families. Members asked about enforcement tools, especially passport denial. In response to a question about a case involving a very small shortfall, the bureau said the federal passport-denial threshold is $2,500 in arrears, not a few cents, and that denial remains in place until the balance is resolved or an arrangement is made with the agency, with hardship factors potentially considered. The bureau also explained that either parent can apply for services when a child support order exists and that the bureau can help initiate income withholding orders. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• license, or a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license.
• license, or a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license.
• license, or a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license.
• license, or a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license.
• that license with the licenses of other entities.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several alcohol-related bills. HB 2128 would expand the sports entertainment facility liquor license to cover publicly or privately owned facilities where patrons engage in sports, amusement, or recreational activities, such as the Leavenworth Adventure Park. The prime sponsor and supporters said it would modernize the license while keeping LCB safety controls in place; one member questioned whether it amounted to an expansion of alcohol access. A fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, and the public hearing was closed without action. The committee then heard HB 2207, which would create a bonded beer warehouse license and make related changes to bonded wine warehouse law. The sponsor said it would help a Ridgefield logistics warehouse store beer the same way it can already store wine and spirits, while supporters from the Washington Brewers Guild said it would give breweries parity with wineries. Distributors and other opponents raised concerns about direct-to-consumer shipping, public access to warehouses, and federal tax-and-trade restrictions; the sponsor said amendments were being considered to address some of those issues. The hearing was closed without action. HB 2536 would allow wineries to hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses, or beer and/or wine restaurant licenses, at additional winery locations. The sponsor and winery representatives said the bill would reduce administrative burden and let wineries operate tasting rooms and restaurant-style spaces more flexibly, while opponents argued it could broaden alcohol access and create tied-house concerns. HB 2476 would remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for theaters seeking a spirits, beer, and wine theater license; the sponsor and theater operators said existing alcohol control plans and other safeguards would remain in place, and the change would help theaters compete and attract patrons. The committee also heard HB 1701, which would allow multiple liquor licensees to operate within a shared facility and was described as a way to support a mixed-use winery/brewery/restaurant project; the sponsor said he was willing to remove the Public Records Act exemption again, and distributors urged transparency and guardrails. In executive action, the committee took up HB 2229, revising the Professional Engineers Registration Act. After adopting Amendment CLA 407 to restore current law on the board’s name, the committee voted to report the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation. Several members supported the bill as a modernization of registration and continuing-education provisions, while some members voted no, citing concerns about changes to board membership requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have folks who are licensed and unlicensed. And the folks who are not licensed engineers...
• The licensed professional engineers are also licensed in D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and other American
• So if there's a license, take myself, for instance, I have a real estate license.
• If I was licensed in the United Kingdom and I had moved to Missouri, this bill would help that license
• So if there's a license, take myself, for instance, I have a real estate license.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill that passed the Senate last week on bipartisan support because the Senate bill was a tax vehicle
• bill</c><00:32:40.480><c> was</c><00:32:40.880><c> a</c><00:32:41.200><c> tax</c><00:32:41.519><c> vehicle
• </c><00:32:41.919><c> and</c><00:32:42.240><c> as</c> Senate bill was a tax vehicle and as Senate bill
• was a tax vehicle and as everyone<00:32:42.720><c> in</c><00:32:42.880><c> the</c><00:32:42.960><c>
• This is a vehicle for the Senate to unilaterally put together their own omnibus tax bill and shoot it

Transcript Highlights:

• It's new uses for electricity like heat pumps and electric vehicles.
• > electric</c> electricity like heat pumps and electric electricity like heat pumps and electric vehicles
• 45.519><c> the</c><00:09:45.760><c> big</c><00:09:46.000><c> sexy</c><00:09:46.320><c> thing</c> vehicles
• And then the big sexy thing vehicles.
• want to point out because I don't think most Americans realize this: how fast the car and light-duty vehicle

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The only difference is if your vehicle—your boat—is only ocean-based, then it's going to be an additional
• , yes, all boats pay those fees in addition to their registration fees, depending on how old your vehicle
• </c><01:03:24.640><c> how</c><01:03:25.280><c> old</c><01:03:25.520><c> your</c><01:03:25.760><c> vehicle
• </c> fees of how um many how old your vehicle fees of how um many how old your vehicle is,<01:03:26.400

Summary: The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future. Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency. James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors. At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.

Transcript Highlights:

• with a food bank network, we used this, modified this, and put the $5 million through this contract vehicle
• put the $5 million through<01:38:19.280><c> this</c><01:38:19.600><c> contract</c><01:38:20.000><c> vehicle
• c><01:38:20.639><c> to</c><01:38:20.960><c> get</c><01:38:21.040><c> it</c> through this contract vehicle
• to get it through this contract vehicle to get it to<01:38:21.440><c> the</c><01:38:21.679><c> food<
• Because we had this existing vehicle, we were able to use this contract and were able to issue or transfer

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, electric vehicle credits have already phased out, and that has been really important for driving
• Um, electric vehicle credits have already phased out, and that has been really important for driving
• raise their energy prices.<00:14:30.800><c> Um,</c><00:14:31.279><c> electric</c><00:14:31.680><c> vehicle
• Um, electric vehicle credits prices.
• Um, electric vehicle credits have<00:14:32.880><c> already</c><00:14:33.199><c> phased</c><00:14:33.600

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I'm not 100% sure that this bill in particular is the vehicle, which is why I am agreeing with
• However, I'm not 100% sure that this bill in particular is the vehicle, which is why I am agreeing with
• However, I'm not 100% sure that this bill in particular is the vehicle, which is why I am agreeing with
• That this bill in particular is the vehicle, which is why I am agreeing with the interim study recommendation
• we don't define biological sex, it means anyone can define biological sex and use this bill as the vehicle

Summary: The committee first recessed for a subcommittee meeting on HB 313, which concerned an open-meetings-related issue. In the subcommittee, members discussed concerns that the bill might be unnecessary because current law already allows a person to request an open meeting in advance; the subcommittee then voted ITL on HB 313 by voice vote and closed its work session. The full Judiciary Committee then reconvened and took up CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” with members debating whether the language was too broad and could create unintended consequences. Supporters framed it as a forward-looking protection for computation resources and strong encryption, while opponents said it was too open-ended and better addressed by future legislation. The committee voted ITL on CACR 6 by a 17-0 roll call. The committee next turned to HB 232, as amended, concerning the rights of conscience for medical professionals. The amendment narrowed the bill to abortion-related objections, removed sterilization and artificial contraception, aligned the abortion definition with existing state law, and reduced damages from treble damages to actual damages. Supporters said the bill would protect conscience rights, give physicians and patients more choice, and could help attract providers to New Hampshire. Opponents argued it was overly broad, unclear in key definitions, and could interfere with employers’ ability to assign staff, especially in rural health settings. Members also raised concerns about the bill’s scope and enforcement, including the broad definition of “participate,” the lack of clarity around exceptions for providers whose services include abortion as a “major part,” emergency determinations, and the inclusion of nursing homes in the definition of health care institution. Some members argued the bill singled out abortion while other controversial medical procedures were not treated similarly, and others criticized the minimum-damages provision as potentially punitive and designed to deter participation. The discussion continued without a final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• state money, but I think it's a two-year cost of $300,000 for two years if you were to pass this vehicle
• state money, but I think it's a two-year cost of $300,000 for two years if you were to pass this vehicle
• were to $300,000 um for two years if you were to pass<00:18:20.480><c> this</c><00:18:21.120><c> vehicle
• </c><00:18:22.400><c> um</c><00:18:22.960><c> not</c><00:18:23.280><c> not</c> pass this vehicle. um
• not not pass this vehicle. um not not incorporating<00:18:24.240><c> any</c><00:18:24.559><c> of</c><

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This notice must be visible to voters who vote from their vehicles and must also be available in all
• This notice must be visible to voters who vote from their vehicles and must also be available in all
• This notice must be visible to voters who vote from their vehicles and must also be available in all
• This notice must be visible to voters who vote from their vehicles and must also be available in all
• notice may also need to be in multiple languages, as was described, and it must be visible for motor vehicles

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• producing a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to removing over 7,000 gas-powered vehicles
• If you go with a separate vehicle, a separate cart, you have three carts, let's say, at your curb, uh
• If you go with a separate vehicle,<00:45:41.839><c> a</c><00:45:42.000><c> separate</c><00:45:42.480>
• <c> cart,</c><00:45:43.119><c> you</c><00:45:43.280><c> have</c><00:45:43.440><c> three</c> vehicle,
• a separate cart, you have three vehicle, a separate cart, you have three carts,<00:45:44.000><c> let's

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• pass this bill over to Finance as well and ask Cher Yamashita to figure out which is the appropriate vehicle
• pass this bill over to Finance as well and ask Cher Yamashita to figure out which is the appropriate vehicle
• 02:09:09.360><c> is</c><02:09:09.520><c> the</c><02:09:09.679><c> appropriate</c><02:09:10.119><c> vehicle
• </c><02:09:10.480><c> to</c><02:09:11.119><c> meet</c> which is the appropriate vehicle to meet which
• is the appropriate vehicle to meet the<02:09:11.520><c> intended</c><02:09:12.000><c> purpose</c><02

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• license.
• licenses in the future.
• of the license.
• , on the application and the license, were not owning and operating the license.
• License types.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Licensed cannabis production and cannabis units that are sold are up, yet the number of active licenses
• Licensed cannabis production and cannabis units that are sold are up, yet the number of active licenses
• The remaining licensing programs were placed within the Department of Consumer Affairs, which licenses
• to annual licenses.
• licenses to annual licensure.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the Department of Cannabis Control’s report on the condition and health of California’s cannabis industry. Department staff reviewed the evolution of state cannabis law, the creation of the current regulatory framework, licensing and compliance efforts, and enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. The department said the licensed market has grown in production and retail units sold, while active licenses and retail sales value have declined, and that the illicit market remains a major competitive factor. The department also highlighted consumer education efforts, product testing and recalls, and coordination through the state enforcement task force and other agencies. The department’s economist said the data show continued growth in licensed production and a rising share of consumption through the licensed market, but falling wholesale and retail prices have reduced overall industry value. He identified major headwinds as taxes and fees, illicit-market competition, local prohibitions that limit retail access, regulatory costs, and broader business pressures, while noting opportunities in product innovation and possible hemp-market changes. Committee members pressed the department on enforcement, public health concerns, equity ownership and employment, delays in grant administration, pesticide testing, and whether the legal market is truly viable for small businesses and farmers. Several members argued that stronger enforcement and lower costs are needed, while one member raised concerns about cannabis-related health harms and said the hearing focused too narrowly on supply-side issues. Public commenters from industry groups and advocacy organizations largely echoed concerns about high taxes, regulatory burdens, limited retail access, and the size of the illicit market. Many urged the Legislature not to let the excise tax rise from 15% to 19% and called for tax relief, compliance reform, more enforcement, and broader retail access. Some speakers said the report was too optimistic and did not reflect business failures, debt, and closures, while others emphasized the need to protect small farmers, address wildfire insurance, and support equity businesses. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.