Transcript Highlights:

• It's quite the operation.
• It's quite the operation.
• It's quite the operation.
• It's quite the operation.
• It's quite the operation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority officials, led by Executive Director Rob Dapice, briefed legislators on the agency’s structure and funding. They explained that the authority is created by state law but is not a state agency, its debt is not state debt, and it is governed by a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Executive Council. The discussion focused on the Affordable Housing Fund and the lead paint hazard remediation fund, including how state appropriations and federal resources are combined to finance affordable rental housing and lead abatement work. Dapice said the Affordable Housing Fund is used as gap financing for multifamily affordable housing projects, typically alongside federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, and that state dollars leverage roughly 2:1 to 10:1 in additional federal and private investment, averaging about 4:1. He said the fund has received historic appropriations in recent budgets, including $30 million over the last two biennial budgets and an annual $5 million set-aside from the real estate transfer tax. He also said the fund is usually structured as 0% interest, deferred loans rather than grants, with repayments returning to the fund if projects generate cash flow. Members asked about rents, oversight, staffing, revenues, and whether the programs had added positions. Dapice said affordability restrictions generally last 30 to 99 years, rents are tied to income limits and capped so tenants pay no more than 30% of income, and compliance staff inspect properties regularly to verify income eligibility and rent limits. He said the organization has about 130 to 135 employees, down from about 145, with no new positions added because of the appropriations. He estimated total revenues at roughly $300 million, with administrative budget around $22 million, much of it pass-through grant money. On lead paint remediation, he said the state first appropriated $6 million in 2019, plus $1 million in ARPA funds, and that the program has cleared more than 500 units. He said the federal grant program is not annual or predictable, with a recent award of about $7.75 million, and that the maximum federal grant per unit is $177,000, typically paired with up to $100,000 in state loan support. He also noted that the program can address homes before a child is poisoned if lead hazards are identified, but that cases involving an already exposed child are a higher priority. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll open the executive session on HB 1493 FN, relative to health education and requiring pupils to
• view certain videos demonstrating gestational development of the heart, brain, and other vital organs
• </c><04:59:02.240><c> crisis</c> feel that with the mental health crisis feel that with the mental health
• </c> is a growing crisis with mental health is a growing crisis with mental health uh<05:00:47.200><c
• </c><05:01:19.280><c> uh</c> into helping deal with mental health uh into helping deal with mental health

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and their family's health.
• </c><02:38:12.319><c> And</c> health and their family's health.
• And health and their family's health.
• So they do operate differently.
• So they do operate differently.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh um Health really depends on<01:03:24.640><c> when</c><01:03:24.799><c> those</c><01:03:24.960><c>
• Like many Greater Minnesota districts, we face challenges in passing operating referendums, making it
• Greater Minnesota districts face challenges in passing operating referendums, making it difficult to
• </c><01:30:16.719><c> or</c><01:30:17.119><c> medical</c> who have mental health or medical who have
• </c> openening experience about mental health openening experience about mental health with<01:39:22.480

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; topic in labor and health or anywhere else?
• They said it makes the most sense to either be in the Department of Revenue or the Department of Health
• </c><00:10:38.400><c> It</c><00:10:38.600><c> has</c><00:10:38.880><c> also</c> or Department of Health
• It has also or Department of Health.
• It would be better off here or labor and health. Well, we're down to three now.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Joint Revenue committee met with a quorum and heard a series of interim topic proposals focused on tax policy. Representative Brown raised two ideas: reinstating an exemption reporting requirement for corporations and entities receiving tax exemptions, with loss of the exemption for the current and prior year if they fail to report, and revising property tax treatment for wind turbines and related infrastructure by shifting the taxed footprint from agricultural to industrial classification. Senator Case and others then discussed energy taxation more broadly, including a possible generation tax for electricity, how to handle large data-center electricity loads, and whether sales tax revenue from very large electrical loads should be shared statewide rather than concentrated locally. The committee referenced prior bills and studies, including House Bill 300 and Senate File 76, and discussed using a mechanism that would keep local electricity bills net neutral while redirecting revenue distribution. The committee also took up problematic gaming and program funding. Senator Case described personal experiences with gambling addiction and the lack of available resources, while the presenter said the topic had been requested in multiple committees and that the biggest concern from House Bill 171 was protecting county and municipal funding. Members discussed whether the issue belonged in Revenue, Health, Labor, or Transportation, and several suggested it should stay with the standing committee handling gaming. Ideas raised included using gaming-related revenue for prevention and treatment, fully funding the 988 lifeline, and creating a broader trust fund for addiction-related services and law enforcement. The committee appeared to agree to continue the topic for educational purposes and to examine taxation of HHR and other gambling activity. Senator Case then proposed a severance tax on wind energy, arguing that wind development creates permanent landscape impacts and that the state should be compensated similarly to coal, oil, and gas extraction. Curt Meier, the state treasurer, supported reviewing lease agreements and said Wyoming should get more from wind resources, noting the state’s unique wind potential and the loss of viewshed. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to reform property tax relief by extending it to motor vehicle registration. Former Revenue director Dan Noble argued that vehicle taxes should be treated like other property taxes, using fair market value, depreciation, the residential assessment ratio, and local mill levies, which he said could provide broad relief but would be expensive, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $120 million. Representative Chestek followed with a related reform proposal based on Pennsylvania’s base-year assessment model, arguing that Wyoming’s current statewide relief measures treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem of rapidly rising local valuations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, that may be for Senator Hauschild. operational activities. operational activities.
• Legacy funds aren't used for operational funds. They are not for maintenance or general repair.
• And so then three agencies, the Minnesota Department of Health, the MPCA, and the Minnesota Department
• And so then three agencies, the Minnesota Department of Health, the MPCA, and the Minnesota Department
• And so then three agencies, the Minnesota Department of Health, the MPCA, and the Minnesota Department

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Court relative to what the operations Court relative to what the operations are<04:03:10.080><c>
• </c><04:48:42.080><c> of</c> developed for for the health of developed for for the health of children
• </c><05:04:57.718><c> care</c> exceed when we look at the health care exceed when we look at the health
• </c><05:11:24.760><c> is</c> nationally we know that kids health is nationally we know that kids health
• in four times increase in mental health in four times increase in mental health counseling<05:24:54.958

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 659, which would establish the New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Program. A Department of Revenue Administration analyst explained technical issues in the bill, focusing on whether the incentive is intended to operate as a rebate or a tax credit, how it would be administered, and how it would interact with the business enterprise tax and business profits tax. She said the bill’s language was unclear on the administering agency, effective tax years, caps, and carry-forward treatment, and noted that reducing BET can also reduce the BET credit against BPT, though not on a one-for-one basis. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the BET/BPT interaction, administrative costs, and whether the Department of Business and Economic Affairs would need additional staffing. Andrew Horn then testified in support, saying the bill is meant to address the large number of New Hampshire college graduates who leave the state after graduation by encouraging them to stay and by incentivizing businesses to hire them. The chair closed the hearing on HB 659 after no further public testimony. The committee then took up HB 770, a bill to establish a program allowing New Hampshire high school students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service. Representative Schultz described the bill as a “triple play” intended to increase volunteerism, expand service and internship opportunities for students, and make college more affordable. Ryan Casey, a junior at Bishop Brady High School, testified that the proposal would help students reduce future loan debt while benefiting communities and encouraging young people to attend college in New Hampshire. Committee members asked about eligibility, including why private and preparatory school students were excluded, whether public school students would qualify, whether mandatory service hours would count, and how the bill’s references to education and business eligibility should be read. Schultz said the exclusion of private and prep schools was intended because public school students are more clearly New Hampshire residents, and she noted that mandatory school service hours had been excluded in revisions. The Department of Education then testified that the program would require significant administration, estimating at least three full-time staff, software or tracking systems, and rulemaking to oversee volunteer sites, schools, student eligibility, and tuition credit distribution. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the hearing remained in testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for mental health reform. for mental health reform.
• Mental health, drugs, both prescription and non-prescription.
• Mental health, drugs, both prescription and non-prescription.
• Mental<00:55:33.000><c> health,</c> Mental health, Mental health, drugs,<00:55:36.040><c> both</c><00
• We're asking for mental health school.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so I did 30 years in the Army, and what they taught you is when you start off an operation, you
• you read the mission so if an operation you read the mission so if you<00:23:01.960><c> can</c><00:23
• Maybe you're like me and you don't want health insurance at all because you're part of a health sharing
• I deployed from Operation Desert Shield while I was active duty, Desert Storm, all the way through Operation
• Iraqi Freedom and, uh, Enduring Freedom.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:23.480><c> certain</c> the district hours of operation certain the district hours of operation
• Think about that in your brain.
• And that's how we've operated in our city.
• </c><01:04:02.000><c> how</c> wanted to understand how it operated how wanted to understand how it operated
• Uh, and that's how at least how most of them have operated.

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> food</c><00:03:58.320><c> labeling</c> bill 410, public health, food labeling bill 410, public health
• :08:39.919><c> massage</c> bill 975, health occupations, massage bill 975, health occupations, massage
• House Bill 1365, Health bill.
• "Health. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Health Committee from Howard. Thank you, Health Committee from Howard.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so a National Guard service member can get mental health services through our behavioral health
• with the boom operator whatever their with the boom operator whatever their designation<00:43:50.079>
• </c> different um what we call operational different um what we call operational Tempo<00:52:30.160><
• On the health care side, we're not health care professionals, so we let the health care professionals
• </c> and mental health uh the mental health and mental health uh the mental health side<01:49:04.159>

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:20.839><c> autonomous</c><00:54:21.440><c> technology</c> operations autonomous technology operations
• To top it off, they described the outrageous costs for them to endure this process.
• So it's not all of the trunk highway fund needs for things like operating and maintenance, for the money
• and maintenance for the money operating and maintenance for the money that<01:26:52.520><c> goes</c>
• so it's not even close to the operating so it's not even close to the the<01:40:08.840><c> billions<

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• three boxes: substance use disorder, inability to work or not willing to work, mental or physical health
• <c> are</c><01:04:56.240><c> able</c><01:04:56.480><c> to</c><01:04:56.640><c> route</c> physical health
• , we are able to route physical health, we are able to route those<01:04:57.280><c> individuals</c><01
• Uh, 70% struggle with mental health disorder. 76% have a history of substance use disorder.
• Uh, 70% struggle with mental health disorder. 76% have a history of substance use disorder.

Keywords: 0:00:04 Call to Order 0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy 0:51:31 Life Learning Center 1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> mission and vision that they operate mission and vision that they operate under<00:51:57.880><c>
• And under 612, we're just reporting our operations for the commission, the Early Learning in Hawaii.
• </c> 612 we're just reporting our operations 612 we're just reporting our operations for<01:04:54.319
• do résumés or taking interview learning how to interview, or financial management, or behavioral health
• Uh, we wish we could do more, uh, but that's the burden that the school will have to endure.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Kika Kapo with the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network.
• Kayo, Public Health Institute, Farm to School Network. We strongly support this bill.
• Thank you. members of committee again K Kayo Public members of committee again K Kayo Public Health<00
• 03:30.840><c> Bo</c><00:03:31.040><c> Farm</c><00:03:31.239><c> to</c><00:03:31.400><c> school</c> Health
• Institute Bo Farm to school Health Institute Bo Farm to school network<00:03:32.680><c> um</c><00:03

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 110, HD1, which would clarify local food purchase goals for the Department of Education. DOE said it supports the measure and will work toward the 30% local food mandate by 2030. The Department of Agriculture also supported the bill, and outside advocates from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network strongly backed it as consistent with prior farm-to-school laws and helpful for measuring progress toward the goal. The committee then took up House Bill 293, which would exempt certain DOE purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products from electronic procurement rules and allow written-quote purchasing thresholds, including a lower quote requirement for some rural schools. DOE, the Department of Agriculture, the State Procurement Office, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported the measure, describing it as a tool to help the department test and add local products and meet the 30% goal. However, members pressed DOE on the bill’s purpose and mechanics, questioning why the department could not simply add products to vendor lists or use existing procurement flexibility. DOE explained it was trying to test new local products, including products not yet on the USDA-approved list, and said the bill would allow limited pilot purchases while it works through USDA approval and vendor-list updates. Members also raised concerns about whether the bill was being used to bypass procurement and whether small farmers or aggregators could realistically supply the needed volume. House Bill 1069, which would add two voting members representing DOE and the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority, also drew support from DOE and the Board of Education. Supporters said the change would improve accountability, strategic input, and communication on school facilities matters. SFA testified that it has already increased coordination with DOE through regular meetings and that recent discussions have been more robust. Committee members questioned whether voting seats were necessary given that DOE and BOE could already attend meetings and receive updates, and they raised concerns about how a voting representative would report back and whether the measure would actually solve communication problems. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:42.480><c> they're</c> support in whatever operation they're support in whatever operation
• They don't view this as stopping any ICE operations, any drug operations.
• They don't view this as stopping any ICE operations, any drug operations.
• They don't view this as stopping any ICE operations, any drug operations.
• They don't view this as stopping any ICE operations, any drug operations.

Bills: SF0101

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearm regulation, state legislation, public safety, civil penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> enforcement how 287G agreements operate enforcement how 287G agreements operate uh<00:15:21.920>
• </c><00:16:21.199><c> in</c> states and localities to operate in states and localities to operate in
• </c> maybe uh related to COVID or health maybe uh related to COVID or health concerns<02:55:34.399><c
• That unit operates independently.
• That unit operates matters.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:26:57.159><c> problems</c> history of mental health problems history of mental health problems
• </c> the re-entry process a person's health the re-entry process a person's health both<01:27:11.960>
• </c> certain types of mental health certain types of mental health adjudications<06:02:30.600><c> to<
• Let's not do that to our mental health people struggling with mental health issues.
• </c><06:27:36.840><c> it</c> the mental health system by giving it the mental health system by giving

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 146, which would require longer retention and quicker disclosure of certain video recordings from traffic stops and similar motor vehicle violations when a citation is disputed. The prime sponsor described the bill as a response to a constituent who challenged a speeding ticket but could not obtain a cruiser video before it was deleted under the current 30-day retention practice. Supporters argued the bill is about fairness and access to potentially exculpatory evidence, and one member suggested a simple 60-day retention period might avoid confusion over different timelines. The sponsor also noted that the bill would not affect criminal cases and that victims and complainants should have access to the same evidence as law enforcement when a recording is relevant to a defense. Major Brendan Davey of the New Hampshire State Police testified in opposition. He said the proposal would create a different discovery standard for one type of evidence, could discourage agencies from adopting body-worn or cruiser cameras, and would add cost and administrative burden. He explained that the State Police already retain routine traffic-stop videos for at least 30 days, but keep videos much longer when complaints or possible litigation are involved, and said the current system balances efficiency with accountability. He also argued the underlying speeding case did not make the trooper video directly material to the citation, though he acknowledged the legislature could choose a longer blanket retention period if it wished. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 638, which would allow people serving life without parole sentences to become eligible for a parole hearing at age 60 after serving at least 18 years, provided they have had no major conduct violations in the prior 10 years. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give a narrow second look to a small number of elderly prisoners, citing the high cost of incarceration and the health challenges of aging in prison. He emphasized that the bill would not automatically release anyone, would not apply to capital murder convictions under RSA 630:1, and would still allow victims to participate in the parole process. Testimony on HB 638 was mixed. Alexander Bailey, a survivor of violent crime and domestic violence advocate, supported the bill, saying many survivors favor rehabilitation, second chances, and restorative justice, and that people in prison often age faster and face serious health and safety problems. Another supporter, Russell Roy, began offering a personal story about crime, addiction, and violence in Concord, but the transcript cuts off before his full remarks. Committee members asked about why age 60 was chosen, how released individuals would support themselves, and whether victims or families would be consulted; the sponsor said 60 was meant to limit eligibility and reflect the health realities of prison, and that parole boards already consider support networks and victim input. No action or vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> [laughter] >> If Senator Coleman's eyes could roll harder, she would hurt her own brain. >> [laughter

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all