Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, these are nothing more than small modular reactors.
• And he said that the waste would be stored there with a small reactor.
• I'm glad our school district is going to be able to support their CTE programs.
• And carbon emissions for the city of Albuquerque and Las Cruces is all combined.
• And carbon emissions for the city of Albuquerque and Las Cruces is all combined.

Bills: SB78 , SB235 , SB22 , SB310

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 78, which would classify nuclear energy as renewable energy. Senator Thornton and supporters argued that New Mexico needs dispatchable, baseload power and that nuclear should be added to the state’s renewable portfolio standard because wind and solar are intermittent and require extensive land, mining, and battery storage. Supporters also emphasized nuclear’s zero-carbon profile, the safety record of U.S. Navy reactors, the possibility of small modular reactors, and the fact that New Mexico already uses nuclear-generated electricity from out of state. Opponents, including Senator O’Malley and Senator Charlie, argued nuclear is not renewable because it relies on finite uranium and creates long-lived radioactive waste, and they raised concerns about uranium mining impacts, waste storage, and the bill’s lack of a limiting principle. The committee voted 5-4 to do not pass the bill, with Senators Cervantes, Hamblen, O’Malley, Lopez, and Charlie voting yes on the do-not-pass motion and Senators Ezell, Scott, and Thornton voting no; the chair then explained that the vote reflected disagreement over whether nuclear should be labeled renewable, not opposition to nuclear power itself. The committee then heard Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, with a committee substitute. Sponsor Senator Steinborn said the substitute would restore existing renewable benchmarks for microgrids, require large microgrids to meet zero-carbon targets by 2045, add reporting and PRC oversight, and close a loophole that could let utilities buy microgrid power and shift costs to ratepayers. Supporters, including environmental groups and community advocates, said the bill was needed to regulate large data-center microgrids such as Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, which they said could drive major emissions, ozone, and nitrogen oxide pollution, strain water supplies, and undermine state climate goals. They also argued the bill would protect ratepayers and ensure transparency and community benefits. Opponents, including Americans for Prosperity, the Chamber of Commerce, oil and gas associations, Xcel Energy, PNM, Consumer Energy Alliance, and economic development groups, argued the bill would impose unnecessary regulation on private microgrids, slow investment, raise costs, and reduce flexibility for reliability projects and industrial development. They said microgrids are already regulated for safety and interconnection, and that the bill could discourage projects in New Mexico. In response, Steinborn said the bill was necessary because current law leaves a loophole for large polluting microgrids and because several major projects are already planned or underway. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but the transcript ends before a final vote on SB 235 is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:28.839><c> um</c> Development Authority or the cities um Development Authority or the cities
• </c><00:50:42.799><c> have</c> reasons um one I think cities have reasons um one I think cities have
• We are happy on the behalf of cities' consultants and cities' professional organizations to continue
• I have met with the city carefully planned reimagining of that Minnesota city, which of course has all
• </c> um uh going to have an impact on cities um uh going to have an impact on cities and<00:58:40.520

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the program that you oversee, that you oversaw, has the Strong Reader program.
• I recognize that this is a small program by comparison, but it is still your responsibility to provide
• We thought at first that the United Way program was potentially a book program that ended up not being
• a book program either.
• And so no... ...program that ended up not being a book program either.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it's not just cities, it's also rural communities.
• Policy and regulation, community-based programs, policy at points of sale, manufacturing and design,
• We want to work with constituents in the cities.
• it's as much, you know, guns are everywhere and as much as we want to work with constituents in the city
• We want to work with constituents in the cities.

Summary: The committee first heard House Memorial 64, which urges the Indian Affairs Department to quickly fill open positions and build technical assistance capacity to help tribes, pueblos, and nations use capital outlay funds effectively, especially in light of changes made by House Bill 247. The sponsor and several members discussed concerns that the new capital outlay rules could cause tribal projects to lose funding and be forced into a competitive tribal infrastructure process. After brief discussion and no public opposition, the committee voted do pass. The committee then heard House Memorial 65, which asks the Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety to convene a task force and study firearm safety and gun violence as a public health issue, with recommendations to reduce firearm deaths in New Mexico. Supportive testimony emphasized gun violence, school shootings, suicide, rural impacts, and the value of data-driven prevention; several members also raised concerns about including gun safety trainers, rural and tribal voices, and clarifying some language in the memorial. The sponsor said the task force would meet monthly and report by September 15. After debate, the committee approved the memorial on a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:50.720><c> and</c> Disabilities Housing Programs and Disabilities Housing Programs and Affiliated
• Now, we're on to subcommittee announcements. >> Recognizing the gentleman from Baltimore City. >> Thank
• Seeing none, we're going to delegation announcements. >> Recognizing the chair of the Baltimore City
• Instead, I'd like to invite you to join the Baltimore City delegation in celebrating the arrival of our
• </c> you to join the Baltimore City you to join the Baltimore City delegation<00:13:24.480><c> in</c>

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, February 13, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• scoping criteria and the availability of data, LOFT examined only office space located in Oklahoma City
• Last, if an agency implements federally mandated programs, they can be reimbursed with federal funds
• The Oklahoma State Government Asset Reduction and Cost Savings Program of 2011 established the state's
• The Oklahoma State Government Asset Reduction and Cost Savings Program of 2011 established the state's
• We have a small amount in the McConnors building, a small amount in the agriculture building, but I don't

Summary: The LOFT Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then received LOFT’s report on state office space utilization in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LOFT presented three main findings: OMES is not fully exercising its statutory authority over state property and relies on flawed self-reported data; state office space is being used inefficiently and often below policy benchmarks; and better use of state-owned space could save tens of millions in private lease costs. LOFT also described errors in the state’s real property inventory, low utilization rates across OMES-owned, agency-owned, and privately leased space, and recommended stronger data verification, clearer space standards, and more active oversight of underused property. OMES responded that it believes it is meeting its statutory obligations and said it tries to balance oversight with being a partner to agencies, placing them in space that best fits their mission and service needs. OMES officials said they rely on agency-reported data, do not have enough staff to independently verify all inventory information, and do not “police” daily occupancy. Members questioned the distinction between meeting statutory duties and exercising full authority, the use of “shall” versus “recommend,” the lack of enforcement for agencies that decline space recommendations, and whether OMES should more aggressively consolidate or divest underused buildings. LOFT and OMES also discussed the methodology behind utilization calculations, including badge-swipe data, space standards, and common-area adjustments. In the final finding, LOFT estimated that relocating agencies from private leases into existing state-owned space could save roughly $16 million to $28.8 million annually, depending on the scenario used. LOFT cited other states and federal reforms as models and recommended that OMES more actively assess underutilized properties, verify data, and use actual utilization analysis to reduce private leasing. OMES said it would review the comments and work to improve. The committee then unanimously approved a rapid-response evaluation request for LOFT to examine DHS child care subsidy verification and reimbursement processes, citing concerns about possible improprieties and the need to confirm whether fraud or waste is occurring.

Transcript Highlights:

• It deposits fines collected from street parking restrictions into the Safe Routes to School Program special
• It deposits fines collected from street parking restrictions into the Safe Routes to School Program special
• <00:04:15.519><c> routes</c><00:04:15.879><c> to</c><00:04:16.079><c> school</c><00:04:16.479><c> program
• </c> the safe routes to school program the safe routes to school program special<00:04:17.320><c> fund
• This is looking at the future of the program and the needs of the state as we continue to strategize

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several transportation and public safety measures on March 28, 2025. SB 1195 would prohibit parking within certain distances of crosswalks and intersections, direct parking fine revenue to the Safe Routes to School special fund, and remove the need for signs or curb markings in some cases. The Department of Transportation, Department of Health, and Ulupono Initiative supported the bill, emphasizing improved visibility, pedestrian safety, and funding for school-route improvements; written testimony included both support and one opposition. No vote was taken during the hearing segment provided. The committee also heard SB 1102 on the aircraft rescue firefighting unit chief, which would set term-based appointment provisions for the airport division’s fire chief. DOT supported the measure, saying it would give the director flexibility to select leadership and adapt to changing needs, while a member asked about current removal procedures for underperforming employees. The bill was presented as a management and leadership measure, with no action taken in the excerpt. SB 1216, addressing noisy mufflers and safety inspection requirements, drew DOT support in principle but concern that existing rules already cover inspection standards and that enforcement after inspection remains difficult; DOT also described a planned noise-detection camera pilot on Oʻahu. Testimony included support from neighborhood and advocacy groups and opposition from three individuals. For SB 30, which would require helmets for moped riders under 21, DOT and HPD supported the bill, citing crash data and injury prevention; testimony was evenly split overall, with six in support and six in opposition. SB 344 would require helmets for skateboard users under 18; DOT supported it, and a DOT witness explained current helmet rules for other devices such as e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. SB 1095, increasing decal size limits for special number plates, drew DOT concerns that larger decals could interfere with plate readability and automated enforcement. SB 1522 would make proof of filing required vehicle-transfer notice forms a complete defense to actions arising from the vehicle’s later use or abandonment; the Judiciary said it had no position on the bill’s merits but objected to language requiring new court forms and raised access and legal-advice concerns, while Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services supported the measure. The committee then heard SB 597, extending the deadline for the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office to issue written review decisions. The Attorney General and DOT supported the extension, citing limited toxicology capacity and shipping delays for testing, and several law enforcement and public health entities also supported it. In contrast, the ADLRO hearing officer testified with serious concerns about due process, warning that eliminating or delaying the review process could create constitutional problems, disproportionately burden people without attorneys, and jeopardize thousands of cases. Finally, SB 1285 proposed a tiered revocation system for DUI arrests; ADLRO strongly opposed it on due process grounds, while DOT supported it as a safety measure and the Hawaii Public Health Institute commented that evidence is lacking for standalone mandatory revocation and suggested stronger impaired-driving standards instead. The committee had not yet taken final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cybersecurity—we do have local cybersecurity grant programs.
• Program, but also the WIC program, as you know, is another one that potentially could be affected.
• So we have two large programs in the state.
• That's huge when you think about how small their budget is.
• Snap payments are mandatory programs, are they not?

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I am 100% in support of this program.
• . programs. programs.
• </c> are utilizing the unemployment program. are utilizing the unemployment program.
• or a 26-week program.
• programming? programming? &gt;&gt; It's<01:34:25.760><c> more</c><01:34:26.000><c> programming.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:38:59.840><c> parentled</c> distinguish between a small parentled distinguish between a small
• So these are very small groups.
• </c><02:01:15.040><c> in-person</c> "Learning pods involve small in-person "Learning pods involve small
• </c> name to the city. If not, that's fine. name to the city. If not, that's fine.
• </c> where we underwent the HOP grant program where we underwent the HOP grant program to<04:35:39.359

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the city and county of our goal."
• </c> environmental review program of OP. environmental review program of OP.
• :41:37.199><c> an</c><01:41:37.440><c> EIS</c> if the city does an EIS if the city does an EIS or<01:
• Um, this is the city one, right?
• Um this is the city one right? continue. Um this is the city one right?

Bills: HB1881 , HB2218 , HB1956 , HB2151 , HB1845 , HB1844 , HB2103 , HB2424 , HB1650 , HB376 , HB2599 , HB1861

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• people in your district were particularly mentioned in a fraud case regarding Minnesota's Medicaid program
• people in your district were particularly mentioned in a fraud case regarding Minnesota's Medicaid program
• it's taking people from Fargo, using names fictitiously to get mileage reimbursements to the Twin Cities
• what have you heard from them on Program what have you heard from them on the<00:01:42.920><c> issue
• so not are they being handled in Cities so not are they being handled in Faro<00:02:07.439><c> area<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you mentioned scholarship programs.
• And as I mentioned, the nursing program as well.
• top programs in the country.
• Everything from the UHN 4 program to course redesign programs where we're looking at courses where students
• pathway program, which will, uh, expand our physical, uh, therapy, uh, excuse me, PA program, physician

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so you can do one small purchase a year, one small purchase for $25,000 per year for that product
• a year one small purchase for purchase a year one small purchase for $225,000<00:15:38.040><c> period
• </c> right we have three programs right we have three programs preschools<00:21:58.120><c> work</c><00
• </c> Learning apprenticeship grant program Learning apprenticeship grant program and<01:13:13.280><c>
• </c> those people actually doing the program those people actually doing the program it<01:16:50.520>

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:

• PRES., I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE EAST GALLERY, STUDENTS FROM SENATE DISTRICT 32 THE CITY
• SHOW THE BILL PASSES, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE REGULARS GET SCHEDULED PROGRAM OF CS FOR SENATE BILL 232
• WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND ENSURE ALL CHILDREN ARE AWARE OF
• STATE PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID ARE BURDENED WITH RISING DENTAL COSTS.
• SMALL FRUIT RESEARCH IS HOSTING TODAY AND IT'S GOING TO BE. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU JOIN US AS WELL.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first topic is cannabis and tobacco programs.
• tax fund or on a much wider array of programs.
• And three, it updates the programming language to current standards, which will enable easier programming
• This program, this tax credit, will leverage existing low-carbon fuel standard program administered by
• Program, which is around $116... ...programs that are fairly popular, including the Low-Carbon Transit

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several budget proposals from CDTFA, the Board of Equalization, and the Franchise Tax Board. The first panel focused on cannabis, hemp, flavored tobacco, and related enforcement. CDTFA requested ongoing funding to implement cannabis tax changes, enforce the new intoxicating hemp restrictions and flavored tobacco seizure authority, and continue compliance work. The department said it is targeting illicit product, protecting licensed businesses, and using referrals from the public and lawmakers to focus inspections. The LAO supported some of the proposals but urged the Legislature to treat them as part of a longer-term enforcement strategy and raised concerns about the use of General Fund support for cannabis enforcement. Public testimony on the cannabis item largely supported stronger enforcement and funding for the legal market. The committee also heard CDTFA’s request to reappropriate funds for an upgrade to the CROS tax collection system, which would improve taxpayer services, security, and software maintenance without adding new money. A separate CDTFA proposal would make all delivery network companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the change would reduce confusion for restaurants and improve compliance, while the LAO questioned whether the proposal functioned more like a tax increase because it would also capture service fees. Members raised affordability concerns, but the proposal was framed by the administration as a parity and compliance measure. The subcommittee then considered a governor’s proposal for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Finance argued the credit would help decarbonize aviation and support in-state production, while the LAO recommended rejection, citing cost, uncertainty about environmental benefits, possible diversion of diesel excise tax revenues from transportation programs, and concerns about consistency with voter-approved transportation funding rules. Testimony from airlines, labor unions, airports, and refinery workers strongly supported the credit, emphasizing union jobs, refinery conversions, and emissions reductions, while fuel retailers and some others warned about fiscal risk and higher fuel prices. The chair and some members expressed support for the proposal despite the funding concerns. Finally, the BOE presented an IT modernization project for state-assessed property administration, saying the current system is outdated and manual and that a new system is needed to improve accuracy, cybersecurity, and workflow efficiency, especially with a likely increase in workload from new VoIP assessments. The LAO asked for more justification for the timing, but BOE said the urgency stems from aging systems and growing workload. BOE also requested modest funding to implement SB 293 changes to intergenerational property transfers and wildfire relief guidance, which the LAO did not oppose. The Franchise Tax Board began its presentation on the final phase of its Enterprise Data to Revenue modernization effort, describing the project’s rollout across audit, collections, legal, and filing enforcement workloads and noting it is now in a warranty period.

Transcript Highlights:

• I look forward to being a very small part of that, so thank you. Thank you very much, Mr.
• About specific programs in a situation like this is that the watershed task force is already looking
• A million dollars is obviously going to be a very small amount that is going to be needed.
• So, this is a small package in the context of our larger disaster response that's already in law.
• That city has really figured out how to help people, and I think that's really important.

Committee: Assembly Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill Number 47 by Representative Stubs, relating to Elmore County or the city of Eclectic.
• is an evidence-based program.
• or at least be confident that the program is operated under evidence-based principles.
• Some of our cities just don’t have this available.
• She now is running that program today.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Others have commissions that take care of a small area.
• I have a resolution from the Bossier City Council.
• to promotional seniority for the Bossier City Police Department.
• We have already started in the city of Baker.
• Is this something that the mayor has requested, or the city council?

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee heard and advanced a series of local and statewide measures. SB 430 would renew, every 12 years by voter approval, the Shreveport-Bossier hotel occupancy tax that supports tourism and sports-related entities; SB 286 updates the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond-election boundaries; SB 198 requires government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district guidelines for new construction; and SB 172 expands a planning-commission provision so smaller municipalities can waive certain subdivision formalities and costly studies in limited family land-split situations. Each of these bills was described as largely technical or permissive, with supporters emphasizing efficiency, local control, or reduced costs. The committee also advanced SB 439 to add pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s esophageal cancer for firefighters and fire service employees, with firefighters’ representatives explaining the test can detect pre-cancerous cells and prevent later, more serious cancer. SB 458 would allow a local tax for a proposed St. Tammany Parish Inspector General/ethics entity to be allocated and, if excess remains, transferred to the district attorney’s office; members discussed the parish-wide referendum process and the connection to state-required funding obligations. SB 447 changes Bossier City Police Department promotional seniority and civil service classification from competitive seniority to promotional seniority, and SB 281 expands the Baker Economic Development District boundary to include additional commercial areas near the airport and support blight removal and growth. Additional measures moved favorably included SB 385, which changes appointments to the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association board and allows City Park to opt out of certain state insurance coverage because it carries private insurance; HR 84, which urges Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA agents at the regional airport during federal shutdowns; and SB 417, which adds two members to the St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2A board. In each case, the committee heard brief testimony from sponsors and local officials or advocates, asked clarifying questions, and then approved the bills without objection. One member, Representative Murray, recused himself from the City Park bill because of his board membership. The committee then took a short recess, noting a few remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not appear.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, okay, awesome. the ability when there are small little the ability when there are small little things
• </c><01:27:20.159><c> team</c> address your issue we're a small team address your issue we're a small
• </c><03:42:49.520><c> and</c> has worked with all of the cities and has worked with all of the cities
• Page 44 talks about our programs.
• We have an abundance of education programs, a very robust education program for teaching our managers

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.