Video & Transcript : 'school purchasing' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- It might mean keeping a full fridge, covering the heating bill, or making sure that kids have school
- And that was true for me when I effectively ran away from home at 17, dropped out of high school, and
- And coming from a dirt road of rural segregated Alabama, she's like, law school?
- As a shy freshman in high school...
- This is looking down at the high school and previous level.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Revenue
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing focused largely on tax-credit proposals tied to children, families, caregivers, child care, health care workforce development, and public health. A major portion of the hearing concerned bills to expand the state earned income tax credit and child and family tax credit, including H. 3073/S. 1957 and S. 1975. Testimony from advocacy groups, legal services, tax assistance organizations, and health providers supported increasing the EITC match from 40% to 50% of the federal credit, expanding eligibility to immigrant and mixed-status ITIN filers, larger families, younger and older workers, and SSI recipients, and raising the child and family tax credit to $600 per child with inflation adjustments and possible advance payments. Witnesses said these changes would reduce poverty, improve health and educational outcomes, and help families meet basic expenses; committee members asked questions about ITIN filers and expressed support for the policy goals.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on S. 1938/H. 3159, An Act Supporting Family Caregivers. Speakers described the scale of unpaid caregiving in Massachusetts and supported a package that would create a refundable tax credit, respite vouchers, workplace and housing protections, unemployment insurance access for those who leave work to care for relatives, a permanent advisory council, and a provision allowing spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth. Several witnesses shared personal caregiving experiences, and committee members responded favorably, noting the emotional and financial strain on caregivers and the importance of supporting them as Medicaid and long-term care systems face pressure.
Additional bills discussed included H. 3174 on a child and dependent care tax credit, which was presented as a way to offset the high cost of child care; H. 3197/S. 2019 to improve the financial security of family child care providers through a tax credit; H. 3218/S. 1960 to create tax credits for health care preceptors to address workforce shortages; S. 2064 to establish a living organ donor tax credit; S. 2034 to promote healthy alternatives to sugary drinks through a tiered tax; H. 3015 to create a tax-return checkoff for the YMCA Youth and Government Program; and several public testimony ideas including vaccination, literacy, and grade-improvement tax credits. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing, which ended after all testimony was heard.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Hara, Senior, for whom the firehouse is named, purchased a Maxim water pumper capable of releasing 1,500
- to school district to relating<00:16:47.759><c> to</c><00:16:48.000><c> school</c><00:16:48.240><c>
- districts</c><00:16:48.720><c> pursuing</c> relating to school districts pursuing relating to school
- districts pursuing school<00:16:49.440><c> construction</c><00:16:50.000><c> projects</c><00:16:50.800
- ><c> during</c><00:16:51.040><c> the</c> school construction projects during the school construction
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 124, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Florida Virtual School.
- The bill does not change how Florida Virtual School serves students day by day.
- and coordinates with school districts.
- Senate Bill 124, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Florida Virtual School.
- It must detail expenditures by event and include an accounting of inventory and assets purchased.
Summary:
The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed.
The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1).
A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya, of California, to be Director of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Mar 5th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And our school kids benefited by being in classrooms.
- As you remember, when I was AG, we opened our schools right back up, right away.
- So even as my kids were left out of school, basically out of this. allowed to go back into the school
- Well, Senator, first, millions of children were out of school for. years.
- Declaration that, quote, keeping students out of school is a grave injustice.
Keywords:
NIH funding, healthcare research, chronic diseases, scientific integrity, public trust, pandemic response
Summary:
The meeting of the committee focused on various healthcare and scientific issues, with significant discussions surrounding the impact of recent administrative actions on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its research agenda. Senators expressed concerns over funding cuts and personnel reductions, particularly the reported termination of over 1,200 NIH staff members, which could jeopardize ongoing and future research projects. The session included testimonies on the importance of supporting early-stage researchers and restoring public trust in scientific institutions following pandemic-related controversies. Additionally, the potential for future healthcare management based on diverse scientific ideas was emphasized as crucial to tackle chronic diseases effectively.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- By eliminating the 180-day waiting period before qualified nonprofits can purchase these homes, AB 939
- a new low-income buyer, which is very hard, or buy the home back themselves via a first right to purchase
- County and others, so there are opportunities for families to be able to purchase these.
- County and others, so there is opportunities for families to be able to purchase these.
- obligations that are imposed on cities and counties in order to manage the partnerships and the purchase
Committee:
Senate Housing
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- or these leasing companies um to have the opportunity to allow or authorize the client company to purchase
- or these leasing companies um to have the opportunity to allow or authorize the client company to purchase
- </c><00:23:38.799><c> maintain</c> client company to purchase maintain client company to purchase maintain
- c><00:23:55.919><c> coverage</c><00:23:56.480><c> was</c><00:23:56.799><c> included</c> elect to purchase
- coverage was included elect to purchase coverage was included within<00:23:57.440><c> the</c><00:23:
Committee:
Senate Commerce
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part II) Apr 3rd, 2025
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- Support the separation of tax from overall purchases.
- More than 90% of Texans use credit cards to purchase goods.
- They basically get a tax-free purchase. But they have a corporate card.
- So the corporate card separates out the tax from the core purchase.
- So, let's say if I call and say I didn't purchase that service.
Bills:
SB231 , SB584 , SB600 , SB668 , SB841 , SB986 , SB1003 , SB1244 , SB1625 , SB1960 , SB1963 , SB1964 , SB2026 , SB2056 , SB2368
Committee:
Senate Business & Commerce
Keywords:
temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- From years ago, purchasing or building a brand new community center to thoughtful government of purchasing
- From years ago, purchasing or building a brand new community center to thoughtful government of purchasing
- I know that the School of Reentry, We are not eliminating the Credible Messenger program.
- I know that the School of Reentry, I have still yet to get out to visit the School of Reentry, which
- And when this kid goes to school the next day, they can't talk about the trauma.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership.
Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind.
The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/26
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:05:05.160><c> a</c><00:05:05.280><c> commercial</c> to uh purchase a commercial to uh purchase
- And we planted a plot of Kernza on a high school at Rocori High School.
- Kernza on a high school at the Rocori<01:08:28.600><c> High</c><01:08:28.759><c> School.
- </c> Rocori High School. Rocori High School.
- </c><01:08:32.759><c> students</c> chapter there, high school students chapter there, high school students
Committee:
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Keywords:
higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Four - Wednesday, May 6
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 518 school districts, if you want to 560 schools or the, you know, in the 518 school districts, if you
- School District, the MRH School District, and the Ladue School District.
- I grew up in the public schools. My children attended public schools.
- school, a private school, or homeschool.
- But no, not a public school. A private school.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, approved the House Journal by a 107-1 vote, and then spent much of the day on introductions of guests, family members, interns, and public servants. Members recognized visitors including family of legislators, a park ranger honored for life-saving work, substance-use treatment advocates, nonprofit and apprenticeship program representatives, students, and staff. The chamber also received committee reports and Senate messages, including a conference committee appointment on House Bill 2818 and fiscal review reports recommending passage of Senate Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 1062.
The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 on public education. The budget chair explained the conference report as providing $8.4 billion for K-12 and the Office of Childhood, with disputes over funding sources and the foundation formula. Several members argued the bill underfunded schools by about $190 million and objected to using blind pension and projected ARPA/lottery-related funds; others defended the budget as record-level funding and emphasized that the total education dollars were unchanged, only the funding mix differed. A substitute motion to reject the conference report and send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report on House Bill 2 was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68.
The House then adopted and passed House Bill 3 on higher education, after debate over a proposed performance-based funding model and language directing the department to develop a new formula by the end of the year. Members generally supported keeping funding flat this year while studying a longer-term model. House Bill 4, covering Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27, with discussion of rural roads funding and transportation investments. The House also took up House Bill 5 on the Office of Administration and IT consolidation/accountability, with the sponsor describing it as the central state-government operations bill; debate on that measure began before the transcript ended.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- 00:20:39.800><c> high</c> uniquely positioned on the old high uniquely positioned on the old high school
- 20:41.600><c> now</c><00:20:42.520><c> next</c><00:20:43.120><c> door</c><00:20:43.640><c> is</c> school
- ground, which is now next door is school ground, which is now next door is next<00:20:44.200><c> door
- ,</c><00:37:31.920><c> and</c> County, Alexandria Public Schools, and County, Alexandria Public Schools
- </c> means that business cannot purchase means that business cannot purchase retail<01:21:05.240><c>
Committee:
Senate Taxes
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-EIG, CPN Public Hearings 03-20-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- Just this last year, our wholesaler was purchased by Reyes, which is a great partner of us.
- Just this last year, our wholesaler was purchased by Reyes, which is a great partner of us.
- </c> payers to IPS under power purchase payers to IPS under power purchase agreements.<01:13:58.480><
- </c><01:27:05.520><c> Also</c><01:27:06.080><c> under</c> power and purchase charges.
- Also under power and purchase charges.
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Summary:
The joint Senate committees heard HB 108 HD2, which would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require liquor commissions to adopt rules. Most testimony came from craft brewers and distillers in support, who said the bill would help small and fragile producers reach customers, move limited or specialty products that wholesalers do not carry, and maintain relationships with visitors after they leave Hawaii. Supporters also argued that direct-to-consumer shipping would not meaningfully increase underage access because common carriers age-gate deliveries and require adult signatures, and that the measure would supplement rather than replace the three-tier system.
Opposition came from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association, which said the bill could create problems with minor access and tax revenue and would allow out-of-state manufacturers to ship directly to Hawaii households. Supporters responded that similar concerns were raised when wine direct shipping was adopted and said the existing shipping and reporting systems can track and tax these sales. Several witnesses, including Maui Brewing, Ola Brew, Koloa Rum, Hana Rum, Koulana Rumworks, Koval Distillery, and the Brewers Association, described their small-batch operations, limited distribution options, and the potential for direct shipping to expand sales and jobs.
Committee members questioned witnesses about underage access, tax collection, and the impact on the three-tier system. One witness discussed efforts to protect and potentially scale the Hawaiian spirit Okolehao through geographic and sourcing rules. The transcript does not show a final vote or disposition on HB 108 HD2 in the excerpt provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Covered California is the place where consumers can purchase quality, comprehensive health insurance
- We've put a lot of focus into our more frontline positions and partnering with our local high schools
- Currently, we're hosting 26 students in our hospital from our local high school.
- But we also partner with PA schools, nurse practitioner schools, physical therapy schools, phlebotomy
- schools, nursing schools, etc.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of federal H.R. 1 and related state budget actions on California’s health care system. Opening remarks framed the federal changes as a major threat to Medi-Cal, Covered California, hospitals, clinics, and the broader safety net, with warnings that millions could lose coverage and that costs would shift to providers, counties, and consumers. Testimony from the California Health Care Foundation and the Legislative Analyst’s Office focused on implementation challenges, the administrative burden of work requirements and more frequent renewals, the loss of federal funding, and the need for California to consider long-term structural changes to Medi-Cal, county safety-net programs, and cost containment.
A Covered California enrollee, Chas Franklin, described sharply rising premiums for his family after losing subsidies, illustrating the personal impact of federal policy changes. Committee members raised concerns about whether premium increases were driven by H.R. 1 or insurer pricing, the cost of rebuilding county-based indigent care systems, and the need to account for the cost of inaction. Dr. Hernandez pointed to pre-ACA models such as Healthy San Francisco as examples of coordinated local safety-net care, while also emphasizing the importance of primary care, data interoperability, and the Office of Health Care Affordability in reducing waste and improving access.
Department of Health Care Services officials then outlined the state’s implementation plan for H.R. 1, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced retroactive coverage, cost-sharing, and immigration-related eligibility changes. They said the department would try to automate eligibility checks, expand outreach, and train counties and partners, but estimated up to 2 million Californians could lose coverage over time. Covered California reported that the expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits and new federal marketplace rules are already raising costs and reducing enrollment, with an estimated 400,000 enrollees at risk of dropping coverage. County, hospital, and safety-net representatives warned that coverage losses will increase uncompensated care and strain local systems, while one coalition proposed a temporary state-funded coverage option as a bridge if full-scope Medi-Cal cannot be maintained. The hearing concluded with a policy analyst urging stakeholder engagement, immigrant protections, and new state revenue options to preserve coverage and offset federal cuts.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- If your child wants to run a lemonade stand for a week, you should not have to purchase multiple permits
- dozens of different stores and buy different things that as long as it falls probably within a $200 purchase
- be exempt from paying and collecting and paying sales tax on what they sell, not on what they're purchasing
- be exempt from paying and collecting and paying sales tax on what they sell, not on what they're purchasing
- So, if He comes and purchases a tractor in Oklahoma.
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
Keywords:
education funding, linked deposits, education infrastructure, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Program, rounding, cash payments, public finance, Oklahoma Common Cents Act, political subdivision, youth entrepreneurship, tax exemption, small business, income tax, Oklahoma Youth Entrepreneurs Promotion and Development Act, HB3661, Oklahoma sales tax, sales tax exemption, revenue and taxation
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And so this bill would fix that by setting the required age to purchase nitrous oxide to 21.
- Delivery to anyone under 18 so a straw man purchase would be addressed as well.
- registration for retailers selling nitrous oxide. and enforce an age restriction of 21 and older for purchases
- and flavors like cotton candy, I was just looking online last night to see how easily I could. go purchase
- Herbs had mango flavor, cotton candy flavored, and my 11-year-old could have walked in and purchased
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
Keywords:
municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And so this bill, uh, would fix that by setting the required age to purchase nitrous oxide to 21.
- It also prohibits the delivery to anyone under 18, so a strawman purchase would be addressed as well.
- registration for retailers selling nitrous oxide and enforce an age restriction of 21 and older for purchases
- I was just looking online last night to see how easily I could go purchase this if I wanted to, and the
- in the suburbs had mango flavor, cotton candy flavored, and my 11-year-old could've walked in and purchased
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
Keywords:
municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Human Services Committee May 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But do you find that people don't access the services at your school because it's a school and people
- We're proud to be a school for the blind because there is some pride with that.
- The school for the blind was originally limited to only serving children who were in the school.
- I grew up in North Dakota, graduated from the North Dakota School for the Deaf.
- There's less consensus on what constitutes a school-age child.
Summary:
The committee first heard an update on North Dakota’s Interagency Council on Homelessness and Continuum of Care funding. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported that homelessness remains driven by tight housing markets, low incomes, rising rents, and barriers to rental assistance, public benefits, and disability determinations. She said the state’s one-time North Dakota Homeless Grant is serving all regions but reaches far fewer households than the former Rent Help program, and that aging homelessness, shelter staffing shortages, and limited affordable units are growing concerns. Members discussed the need for more housing supply, better coordination with Health and Human Services, landlord engagement, reentry housing, and possible continued one-time funding for the $10 million Homeless Grant and $25 million Housing Incentive Fund. Henderson also warned that federal Continuum of Care funding is uncertain, with HUD expected to issue a new notice June 1 and possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and other models.
The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described the school’s services for infants, children, and adults, including screenings, mobility training, assistive technology, and outreach across the state. He said the agency works closely with Vocational Rehabilitation and is also involved in improving website and document accessibility, especially for PDF materials. Public testimony highlighted barriers such as inaccessible CAPTCHA systems, online forms, driver’s license requirements on job applications, and limited transportation in rural areas. A deaf resident urged broader use of video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training so people know how to use them effectively.
Finally, Kay Larson presented the final report on the child care provider licensing study. The report recommended streamlining North Dakota’s child care licensing structure into three provider types plus a preschool designation, while preserving health and safety standards and maintaining eligibility for child care assistance. The committee discussed simplifying training and qualification rules, revising ratio and group-size requirements, and adjusting age bands for infants and toddlers. The report also noted that some changes would require statutory amendments and later administrative rule changes, with a transition period likely extending through 2029. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the committee accepted the updates and scheduled follow-up presentations for a later meeting.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/17/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Transcript Highlights:
- to five years, use groundwater to refill that body of water until effluent becomes available for purchase
- Now we've contacted Global Water to see if we could purchase the sufficient amount of effluent water
- times of the year there would not be enough effluent water for us to purchase.
- surplus times, using our lake to purchase that water at reduced cost and to sense and have an abundance
- It modifies the requirement of a DEGS agreement if the system is to be purchased with credit, and then
Committee:
House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Keywords:
underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Washington Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- at Arms Color Guard is composed of the Senate pages Mari Gauche, who is a student at Issaquah High School
- Who is a student at Issaquah High School from Issaquah, and Michelle Sampson, a student at Vashon High
- School from Seattle.
- It focuses in on school zones.
- Previously, of course, schools, airports, voting centers, government buildings.
Keywords:
employment eligibility, firefighters, law enforcement, citizenship, legal authorization, public safety, mortgage lending, fraud, prosecution, financial regulations, consumer protection, broadband, infrastructure, loan assistance, economic development, technology access, criminal offense, fingerprinting, state regulations, SB 5280
Summary:
The Senate opened with ceremonial items, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new introductions. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8669 recognizing National Blood Donor Month after remarks emphasizing the life-saving need for blood donations and the work of blood coalition partners. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8667 honoring Monica Alexander for her long public service with the Washington State Patrol and Criminal Justice Training Commission, with multiple senators praising her leadership, reforms, and mentorship.
The chamber then took up a series of gubernatorial appointments to college boards of trustees, confirming Rosa Peralta to the Seattle College District, Stephen Zimmerman to Wenatchee Valley College, and Tara Lear to Walla Walla Community College, each by roll call vote. After caucus, the Senate returned to third reading and considered several bills, including SB 5068 on law enforcement, corrections, and prosecutors; SB 5252 on property tax exemptions for nonprofit public assembly halls and meeting places; SB 5280 on consumer protections for virtual currency kiosks; SB 5124 on patient access and skilled nursing facility discharge coordination; and SB 5436 on interference with access to places of religious worship. Most of these measures were amended and then passed, with SB 5068 and SB 5436 drawing debate over immigration status and protest activity, respectively.
Later, the Senate passed SB 5705, narrowing traffic safety penalties to focus on distracted driving in school zones; ESSB 5594, delaying implementation of biosimilar drug access provisions; SB 5169, expanding out-of-court testimony options for child victims and witnesses; ESSB 5098, expanding weapons restrictions to additional public buildings and outdoor public spaces, despite opposition over firearm preemption and self-defense concerns; SB 5188, allowing rural broadband repair loans; SB 5109, making the mortgage lending fraud prosecution account permanent with a fee increase; SSB 5240, authorizing schools to use available anaphylaxis medication in emergencies; SB 5420, ensuring veterans and uniformed service members access to benefits and opportunities; SB 5467, simplifying surplus property sales by water-sewer districts; SSB 5331, strengthening insurance enforcement and restitution authority; and ESSB 5071, updating child endangerment law to include fentanyl and synthetic opioids, with an amendment adding a parenting-alternative approach for child defendants. The Senate also adopted an amendment to SB 5581 to include public transportation providers in safe-system transportation infrastructure planning and then advanced the bill toward final passage.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/19/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have the individual plan, where you can purchase your own coverage.
- </c> individuals that have chosen to purchase individuals that have chosen to purchase coverage<01:51
- </c> that have that have chosen to purchase that have that have chosen to purchase they<01:51:27.719>
- You could try to purchase a Medigap policy.
- </c><05:00:02.840><c> that</c> the older you are when you purchase that the older you are when you purchase
Summary:
The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 437, which would change New Hampshire law on undischarged mortgages by creating a shorter period after which certain old mortgages would be treated as unenforceable. Prime sponsor Representative Bill Boyd said the bill was developed with input from bankers, lawyers, realtors, the Attorney General’s office, and the Banking Department, and he noted a drafting correction needed on line 18. He explained that the proposal would replace current law with a new framework modeled partly on Massachusetts, including a five-year expiration after a stated maturity date and a 35-year period for mortgages without an expiration date. Supporters said the bill would help clear obsolete title defects, reduce costly quiet-title litigation, and make real estate transactions easier for consumers, attorneys, and conveyancers.
Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, Susan Cole of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and Michelle Coffin all testified in support, describing the bill as a consumer protection measure. They said undischarged or improperly discharged mortgages often surface during title searches, causing delays, legal expenses, and failed or delayed closings. Coffin and Hakken-Phillips emphasized that many of these cases involve old, effectively obsolete mortgages and that the current process often requires expensive court action even when no one contests the title. Cole described a recent transaction in which a title defect caused a buyer to walk away and later restart the financing process, creating costs for both buyer and seller. A committee member asked about notice to mortgage holders; the response was that the lender bears responsibility for recording and extending the mortgage, and that due process rights would remain if a lender later contested the discharge.
Ryan Hill of the New Hampshire Bankers Association said the banking industry had reviewed the bill and was generally comfortable with it, while requesting a delayed effective date so members would have time to adjust their recording practices. He said the bill’s January 1, 2028 effective date reflected that request. After closing the hearing on HB 437, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 721, the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act. Representative Juliet Harvey-Bolia introduced it as a bipartisan economic justice bill intended to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, protect against inflation, and address concerns about trust, taxes, and government taking. She argued that gold is a stable store of value and discussed tax treatment in neighboring states, federal history, and digital gold platforms. The hearing on HB 721 was still in progress when the transcript ended, with the chair limiting questions because of time.