Transcript Highlights:

• The opportunity to purchase law was a long-negotiated agreement in the legislative session between the
• Exec would probably charge them 5.90, uh, because that's enough and they accomplish things and they don't
• Exec would probably charge them 5.90, uh, because that's enough and they accomplish things and they don't
• Breakmeire and Mr.<01:40:36.639> exec<01:40:37.040> would<01:40:37.199> probably
• Exec would probably charge them 5.90, uh, because that's enough and they accomplish things and they don't

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the sense that the bar association wanted to weigh in on the bill and asked if they could delay the exec
• session until they had a chance to do that.
• Um, unfortunately it was the end of the term session and there was no way to do that.
• asked if they could delay the exec asked if they could delay the exec session<00:02:31.040> um
• and there was no way to the ter session and there was no way to do<00:02:38.080> that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And under SB2, at a deliberative session, the deliberative session can reorder the warrant articles subject
• <01:17:09.120> the under SB2 at a deliberative session the under SB2 at a deliberative session
• OP the and I'm on the county exec OP the and I'm on the county exec committee<03:18:42.399> and
• Um, the new mandate would session.
• , posted and the deliberative session, posted and the deliberative session, which<03:42:35.760>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll close the executive session on Senate Bill 56 and open the executive session on Senate Bill 470,
• Next, I will close the executive session on Senate Bill 470 and open the executive session on Senate
• <02:02:10.880> on I'll close the executive session on I'll close the executive session on
• And I'll notice the executive session for 6:40 immediately to follow the work session that we already
• And I'll notice the executive session for 6:40 immediately to follow the work session that we already

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously in last session.
• With the discussion that happened in last session.
• The bills in the current legislative session.
• If we end up not taking any action from the legislature this session.
• Not knowing how many you're going to do at each session, place.

Bills: SB 28, SB 687, SJR 34, SCR 9, SB 523, SB 62, SB 847, SB 706, SB 869, SB 890, SB 992

Keywords: lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts

Summary: The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a work session, a continued work session by request for the Department of Health and Human Services
• <00:02:43.599> on concerns since our last work session on concerns since our last work session
• legislation going forward this session legislation going forward this session um<01:04:18.839>
• session session um<01:22:44.920> yeah<01:22:45.080> so<01:22:45.199> it's<01:22
• This work session is concluded.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session continued its review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid budget and related policy issues, with CFO Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman presenting updated materials. The discussion focused on a crosswalk between the adjusted FY 2025 Medicaid budget and the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, plus handouts showing service additions, eligibility changes, dental rates, and other Medicaid changes since 2019. The department also said it would provide a clearer breakdown of the pharmacy cost-sharing item by general, federal, and other funds. Members asked detailed questions about the Medicaid enhancement tax, the 80% plan, and how funds are allocated between hospital payments, directed payments, and DSH uncompensated care. The department explained that the MET is being used more toward rates and directed payments to better align with federal matching rules, while DSH remains important for uncompensated care. They also noted that a pending Senate Bill 249 would keep the 80% structure and move to Senate Finance. On the trigger law, the department identified the governing provision as Chapter 342:12, Laws of 2018, and explained that if the federal match for Medicaid expansion falls below 90%, the state must notify legislative leaders and participants and the program would sunset after 180 days unless the legislature acts. The committee also reviewed current Medicaid expansion enrollment and program trends. Officials said enrollment was just under 59,000 as of March 3, with about 87,000 people enrolled over the past year and more than a quarter-million residents having used the program over its lifetime. They said enrollment has fallen from a post-pandemic high of nearly 97,000 and may eventually settle in the low 50,000s. Finally, the department discussed federal DSH funding risk, saying New Hampshire could face a significant reduction if Congress does not extend current protections, which is part of why the state has shifted more funding toward payment rates and directed payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee came out of executive session. are now in executive session.
• um come out of executive session. um come out of executive session.
• motion to go into executive session. motion to go into executive session.
• We're now out of executive session. We're now out of executive session.
• executive session. executive session.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:23:03.600> and we had in the 1998 99 session and we had in the 1998 99 session and compared
• All right, with that I’ll close the executive session on 327.
• session session on<03:47:57.040> 3:27<03:47:58.040> I<03:47:58.120> guess<03:47
• <04:01:50.120> for<04:01:50.479> House executive session for House executive session
• let's say if you pass in public session let's say if you pass in public session uh<04:15:44.279> you

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The session came to order. Representative McKenzie, do you want to lead us in the pledge?
• Seeing none, uh, I close the executive session on 1150 pending next week. today.
• <00:06:01.680> on hereby open the executive session on hereby open the executive session on
• So, I would like to now open the executive session on House Bill 1250.
• We will exec this next week on the 3.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1150, which would require disclosure of complaints to public employees within five business days. Members said the sponsor was still working on an amendment, so the bill was held for another week with the understanding it would be executed next week if no amendment was ready. The chair also outlined the committee’s schedule, including upcoming floor reports and the goal of finishing the remaining committee bills on time. The committee then took up House Bill 1168, concerning employer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the bill would give employers more time to gather payroll records, especially when claims arise years later, and said the current system should be adjusted for fairness to businesses. Opponents, including several members, said payroll records are usually electronic and should be produced quickly so workers waiting on wages are not delayed. The Department of Labor deputy commissioner testified that employers can already request extensions and that further extensions could still be requested under the current process. The committee voted 11-9 to ought to pass HB 1168. Next, House Bill 1250, dealing with notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements for leave related to childbirth, postpartum care, and pediatric appointments, was considered. Members said the statute was newly enacted, had been carefully negotiated, and should be allowed to work before being revised. The committee voted 20-0 to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1043, which would allow private employers to adopt their own minimum pay policies for report-to-work situations instead of being bound by the current two-hour minimum, so long as the policy is established in advance. The sponsor said the bill would modernize an outdated law and preserve the current default if no policy is adopted. Members raised questions about collective bargaining agreements and whether the bill could weaken existing worker protections, while the sponsor and supporters said it was intended to provide flexibility rather than a mandate. The hearing continued with questions and discussion, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 59:25.440> morning Senator we'll be ex make the morning Senator we'll be ex make the morning exec
• :59:27.599> the<00:59:27.720> 11th<00:59:28.200> but<00:59:28.359> not exec
• on the 4th and the 11th but not exec on the 4th and the 11th but not today<00:59:29.079> but<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the special session, we funded those for two years, so this appropriation doesn't really need to happen
• because we funded those for two years in the special session.
• so I'm really proud of that coming in, and we've got a couple of things we need to do on That this session
• I think we're going to show you a little later in the session that we've actually surpassed that. goal
• The orange one is the exec scenario, so that is currently what the executive is recommending in order

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 153 under consideration of the session 153 under consideration of the session would<01:13:58.719
• It was a session, I think. So maybe I'll ask Stacy when... Thanks for your question.
• It was a session, I think. So maybe I'll ask Stacy when...
• or something last week I forget session or something last week I forget it<03:23:25.760> was<
• 03:23:25.960> session<03:23:26.279> I<03:23:26.399> think<03:23:27.199> um

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the rule changes, all of these revisions are due to acts passed in the 2025 legislative session
• We'll have until the start of the session to digest this, formulate our questions, Have until the start
• of the session to digest this, formulate our questions, get our understanding, and then see if there's
• I think that’s going to be a result of this process over the next month in the session, how we get to
• We've got a motion for exec rec. We've got a motion for executive recommendation.

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the rule changes, all of these revisions are due to acts passed in the 2025 legislative session
• We'll have until the start of the session to digest this, formulate our questions, Have until the start
• of the session to digest this, formulate our questions, get our understanding, and then see if there's
• You know, a little bit of time before we get into the session.
• We've got a motion for exec rec. We've got a second. Any discussion on the motion?

Summary: The committee first adopted revised JBC rules, which staff said were updated to reflect legislation passed in the 2025 session. It then heard a presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s proposed balanced budget for FY27, with no action taken. Hudson said the budget reflects three priorities: limiting state-government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income-tax cuts. He highlighted increases for education funding through EFAs, pay-plan costs for Corrections, DPS, and the Attorney General, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, a Corrections medical contract, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction efforts, and an additional $100 million set aside for Medicaid sustainability. Committee members questioned the size of the tax cuts, the balance requirement, public education funding, Medicaid trust-fund levels, EFA funding, and the expected impact of new SNAP cost-sharing rules. The Division of Higher Education then presented its productivity-based funding recommendations. Officials said institutions were 2.61% more productive overall, with funding changes driven by a statutory formula that rewards degree production, underserved populations, and high-demand fields. Members asked about declines at UA Little Rock, the formula’s multipliers, the role of the Arkansas Access Act and a new return-on-investment metric, and how two-year colleges are adjusted for size. The committee also reviewed special items and approved two letters: one authorizing 17 net personnel changes across nine institutions, and another adding special language for North Arkansas College’s entry into the University of Arkansas system. The committee then adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on the University of Arkansas system, especially Fayetteville’s athletics funding and the broader impact of the House/NIL settlement. Chancellor Charles Robinson and system officials explained that the board had waived a longstanding campus transfer and directed the university to provide an additional $6 million to athletics, with some costs likely to be passed through to students but partially offset by existing budget growth. Members debated whether the university should prioritize academics or athletics, how the transfer originated, and whether the athletic changes would affect affordability. The committee also discussed the 1890 extension program at UAPB and the Division of Agriculture’s land-grant funding. UAPB officials said the state match is intended to be one-to-one, that the current recommendation aligns appropriation with actual spending, and that a $2 million set-aside remains available if needed. The Division of Agriculture later clarified that its Smith-Lever extension and Hatch research funds are part of the UA system’s separate budget and that the state matched about $6.2 million in federal extension funding last year. The committee then moved to the Department of Corrections. It approved G1, transferring 51 positions to the secretary’s office to activate a recidivism program, with an estimated cost of about $4 million. Staff then began walking through the department’s FY27 budget, noting an increase of about $8 million for administration and shared services, including a $170,000 sex-offender assessment appropriation moved under Act 723 of 2025 and roughly $6 million more for medical contracts. Questions on the Corrections budget had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last session we had a notice in the House calendar saying we’re looking for public members of the
• after today, so we will not exec any of these bills.
• next week on licensing day, and it being 1:00, I'm opening the hearing. after today so we will not exec
• any of after today so we will not exec any of these<03:01:32.600> bills<03:01:34.000> um
• and fix this or back in the next session and fix this or it<04:51:55.200> it<04:51:55.400>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation-style overview from the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), led by Executive Director Deana Jurus and staff. They described the office’s mission to protect public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and the public trust, and outlined the agency structure: enforcement, licensing and board administration, operations, legal counsel, board counsel, and the hearings bureau. OPLC said it currently supports 57 boards, including seven advisory boards, and has about 104 filled positions out of 120 authorized. They also noted new voluntary certifications for doulas, lactation consultants, and community health workers that are in rulemaking. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on how boards and staff divide responsibilities under RSA 310:4. Staff explained that the office handles application processing, complaint intake and initial review, records retention, 91-A requests, and rule drafting, while boards make final decisions on licensure criteria, complaint dismissals or investigations, disciplinary actions, and some hearing matters. They also described the rule structure by chapter number ranges and the distinction between full licensing boards and advisory boards. The committee asked about complaint notifications, and OPLC said it is tightening policies so complainants are told whether a matter is closed or moving forward. The licensing process was discussed in detail, especially for nursing. Bethany Katrell explained that applicants apply through an online portal, may receive approval to sit for exams, can work under provisional authority in some cases, and then receive full licensure after exam results and criminal background checks are complete. OPLC said the portal now reduces back-and-forth paperwork and that, as of the latest biweekly report, 87% of applications were decided within the statutory 90-day period and 57% within 14 days. Members also raised questions about why some professions require board approval before taking an exam, and OPLC said that requirement varies by statute or board rule. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I call him regularly when I'm in session and I don't understand the bill, I'll call him up and say, hey
• Um, one, as many of you know and participated in, uh, this session, a team of House and Senate members
• Um, so for next session, essentially the thing to think about is, um, Essentially, do you want an even
• earlier deadline, uh, especially considering that we'll be in a 30-day session this year, um, and what
• but I think we need to clarify that this year in Representative Lent, I mean, you negotiate with the exec

Transcript Highlights:

• session on after lunch.
• okay so we're here for a work session okay so we're here for a work session this<00:06:09.319>
• The executive session on HB 221 is closed.
• The next bill is House Bill 710, Executive Session.
• exec session I move is house bill 710 exec session I move the the the adoption<03:39:20.840> of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe if we do it around the time that we exec, at least it's part of the record that we know how the
• least<03:31:38.479> it's<03:31:38.680> part<03:31:38.840> of time that we exec
• at least it's part of time that we exec at least it's part of the<03:31:39.080> record<03:31:
• Yeah, this may be something that we have to discuss during a work session.
• Yeah, this may be something that we have to discuss during a work session.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 135, introduced by Representative Michael Harrington. He said the bill would codify a portion of the New Hampshire Constitution to bar New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect sales or use taxes for other states unless Congress mandates it, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision created an onerous compliance burden for businesses. He described the patchwork of state and local sales tax rules, thresholds, and product exemptions as extremely complex and said the bill was intended to push the issue back toward Congress and the courts. Members questioned whether the bill’s reference to a “foreign government” would apply to other U.S. states, whether the proposal would conflict with the Supremacy Clause, and whether it would create standing for businesses to challenge Wayfair. Harrington responded that “foreign government” meant any government other than New Hampshire, that he believed the state could challenge the decision in court by passing a law contrary to Wayfair, and that businesses were already being harmed by compliance costs. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill was an unfunded mandate or simply a private compliance burden, and Harrington argued that the state itself would not be collecting the taxes, but businesses would still face recordkeeping and administrative costs. Sam Garland of the Department of Justice then testified. He said the department was not taking a formal position on the bill, but offered technical comments. Garland acknowledged that Wayfair created significant compliance burdens and noted that states have become somewhat more uniform, with all states now having a $100,000 economic nexus threshold, though not all use the 200-transaction threshold and local tax variation remains substantial. He said the department’s concerns were legal, describing the issue as uncharted constitutional territory involving both vertical and horizontal federalism. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, this is really important for a lot of things we're looking at in this legislative session: private
• <00:14:20.720> Private<00:14:21.199> Practice legislative session Private Practice
• legislative session Private Practice unencumbered<00:14:22.600> by<00:14:23.120> unnecessary
• <01:15:22.639> the<01:15:22.920> bill forward again before we exec the bill forward
• The executive session is open. The first bill to be considered is HB 73.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• last legislative session, those last legislative session, those reductions<00:32:59.679> have
• ,<01:53:19.599> um, been put forward this uh session, um, been put forward this uh session
• Entertain a motion to go into executive session. Sure.
• Entertain a motion to go into executive session. Sure.
• session. Sure. session. Sure.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all