Transcript Highlights:

• When owners cannot pay these assessments and the fallout spreads, associations must delay repairs or
• </c><01:08:43.600><c> or</c> associations must delay repairs or associations must delay repairs or secure
• </c><01:08:58.239><c> The</c><01:08:58.560><c> financial</c> the storm damage repairs.
• The financial the storm damage repairs.
• the roofs for shortfall in repairing the roofs for that<01:12:50.159><c> condo.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the first time, associations were required to have sufficient reserves to maintain and repair critical
• for structural safety first, triaging the most needed repairs before beginning to reserve for future
• And because of those inspections, people were evacuated and now there is renovation and repair going
• And thirdly, very importantly, we want to know where we are on what is happening as far as repairs, .
• It does do some clarifying in how things can be repaired, replaced, and renovated.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a remembrance of former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special order bills. CS/HB 687 on transportation offenses involving death was substituted for SB 138, amended to add warnings and penalties for refusal of breath or urine tests, and passed 37-0. CS/SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours access and network availability for Medicaid enrollees, also passed 37-0. The Senate then took up CS/CS/HB 913 on condominium associations, a major post-Surfside reform bill. Senator Bradley explained that the measure was intended to provide financial relief and flexibility while preserving safety and accountability. The bill was substituted for SB 1742, amended several times to limit milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies to buildings three habitable stories or more, and then passed 37-0 after extensive debate. Senators from both parties praised Bradley, Pizzo, Garcia, and staff for years of work on condo safety and affordability, with several members describing the bill as a balance between protecting residents and avoiding financial hardship. The final major item was CS/HB 1205, the bill on amendments to the state constitution and citizen petition drives. Sponsors Gates and Grohl argued the bill was needed to combat fraud, identity theft, and misuse in the petition process, citing a lengthy Office of Election Crimes and Security report. The House bill was substituted for SB 7016, and the chamber considered a long series of amendments and substitute amendments addressing petition circulator registration, volunteer participation, submission deadlines, invalid-signature thresholds, voter notification, and fiscal impact statements. Several amendments were adopted, while others were debated over whether they would protect access to the citizen initiative process or strengthen election integrity. The transcript ends during debate on the main substitute amendment, before final disposition on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that even if you receive grant money for certain temporary repairs, those temporary repairs
• but we know that this particular repair but we know that this other<03:14:59.239><c> repair</c><03:14
• is something that's more of other repair is something that's more of a<03:15:01.800><c> priority</c>
• temporary repairs that those temporary<03:15:28.399><c> repairs</c><03:15:29.399><c> may</c><03:15:29.640
• that temporary repairs may be something that the<03:15:30.520><c> town</c><03:15:30.880><c> can</c><

Summary: The Finance Division 2 hearing took testimony from the director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training on the agency’s budget request and operations. He described the agency’s role in setting hiring, education, certification, and discipline standards for police, corrections, probation and parole, and court security officers, and noted that the agency runs the full-time, part-time, corrections, and court security training programs. He also outlined the agency’s staffing, facility, and budget request for FY 2026-27, including a request to keep funding level with the governor’s recommendation while shifting funds to support an IT manager position by defunding a vacant administrative slot. The agency requested several statutory changes in Chapter 106, including clarifying the definition of police misconduct, allowing a temporary member on the Conduct Review Committee, clarifying reporting requirements for misconduct allegations, and codifying the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The director also reviewed new responsibilities added in recent years, including crisis intervention training, statewide accreditation, the Conduct Review Committee, and increased annual in-service training requirements. He explained that crisis intervention funding is carried in a continuously appropriated, non-lapsing account and that some budget lines were reclassified, including software and janitorial services, to reflect actual spending needs. Members asked about national standards, the different academy tracks, crisis intervention funding, maintenance and contract changes, temporary positions, and the court security training program. The agency said it coordinates with national peers through IADLEST, that the part-time and corrections academies are longstanding programs, and that the new court security academy can be delivered either as a full academy or as in-service training depending on resources. The director also said the agency has been running extra full-time academies because of high vacancy rates, but expects to return to three full-time academies this year, with two corrections academies and one or possibly two part-time academies. He also explained the current approach to misconduct records and public disclosure, saying sustained findings under RSA 106-L are heard by the council and published, replacing the older, less standardized exculpatory list process.

Transcript Highlights:

• 11 plus percent return on investment in new lines rather than engaging in structure restoration, repair
• repair and replacing structures<00:07:53.360><c> only</c><00:07:53.599><c> when</c><00:07:53.919><c>
• Obviously, one of the things that we're repairing lines for is damage from weather.
• So, we'd like to be able to repair those as fast as possible and get the economy going again.
• in advance uh looking at doing repairs in advance uh looking at their<00:54:51.520><c> assets.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• this includes things like the age and condition of the pipes, the type and the pipe material, the repair
• history, and the cost of repair versus replacement.
• In the system, including 14 that have persisted past their statutory repair-by date, and six of those
• This means that 7% of the leaks were overdue for repair, and nearly half were SEIs.
• This means that 7% of the leaks were overdue for repair, and nearly half were SEIs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:37.120><c> We</c><00:21:37.360><c> are</c> higher repair costs per mile.
• We are higher repair costs per mile.
• And I understand that counties have more road miles, but when it comes to cost of repairing city streets
• <00:30:02.320><c> of</c> miles, but when it comes to cost of miles, but when it comes to cost of repairing
• city streets, um we have an a repairing city streets, um we have an a higher<00:30:06.080><c> cost</

Summary: The committee received reports on special purpose governmental entities from the Department for Local Government and the Fire Commission. DLG staff described SPGEs as limited-jurisdiction political subdivisions and reviewed the department’s registry, reporting portal, compliance monitoring, and planned system upgrades such as a two-way message center, automated noncompliance notices, and tracking for new entities and board expirations. They reported that, as of October 10, 2025, 69% of SPGEs were active and discussed compliance data by cycle, fiscal year, and district type. The Fire Commission reported that fire department mergers have reduced the number of departments by 16 since last year, largely because of volunteer staffing shortages, while financial disclosure compliance had risen to 94%. The commission also noted 509 compliance reviews, 19 in-house inquiries, seven referrals to outside agencies, and one recent federal prison sentence in a theft case. Members asked whether DLG advises SPGEs on tax rates; staff said it only performs calculations and the entities set their own rates. Questions to the Fire Commission focused on whether department reductions meant station closures; officials explained that most changes were mergers that keep physical buildings in place while combining personnel and finances to meet minimum staffing requirements. They said the trend is spread across the state but is especially pronounced in rural areas. The Kentucky League of Cities then presented its 2026 legislative agenda. Its priorities included modernizing city revenue options, increasing equity in road funding, fixing tax increment financing issues, addressing transient room tax collection from web-based platforms, strengthening emergency response coordination, clarifying massage parlor regulation preemption, correcting unintended consequences of House Bill 606, improving newspaper publication rules, and modernizing procurement statutes. KLC also said it supports allowing all cities to collect restaurant tax revenue, wants cities to receive a larger share of road funds and EV-related revenues, and seeks state collection and remittance of any future local sales tax to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Members asked about best-value bidding, road-fund equity, Airbnb tax litigation, EV prevalence, and disaster funding applications; KLC said cities currently must accept the lowest bid, the road split should better reflect city street costs, the Airbnb tax case remains pending, EV data by locality has not been studied, and allowing cities to apply directly for disaster funds would reduce reliance on county officials. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the September meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a need for critical capital repair and improvement at headquarters, which is on page...
• Our building is nearly 50 years old and is in dire need of repair, renovations and upgrades.
• Repair backlogs and emergencies have resulted in disruptions to daily business. at headquarters. would
• Number four is critical capital repair and improvement needs.
• The local government entities are the responsible party for future upkeep and repairs.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2025, engineering helped implement $32 million in CIP and repair and maintenance projects.
• </c><05:12:42.240><c> and</c> million in CIP and uh repair and million in CIP and uh repair and maintenance
• That's $750,000 for Maui baseard office roof repairs and replacement on Maui.
• repairs and replacement on<05:21:56.560><c> Maui.
• </c><06:16:43.440><c> and</c> number of CIP projects, repair and number of CIP projects, repair and maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• due to structural issues, and the state of the deterioration is such that it does not make sense to repair
• It's not feasible to repair; they would have to be entirely reconstructed to make them usable again.
• These are the pipes that are beyond repair. This is the water ponding on the roof.
• </c> uh nearly 103 million in needed repairs uh nearly 103 million in needed repairs for<00:57:40.599
• </c> beyond their useful life uh the repairs beyond their useful life uh the repairs needed<00:59:45.000

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• We repaired that. We've inspected all of it.
• We<00:15:41.760><c> repaired</c><00:15:42.320><c> that.
• <c> We've</c><00:15:43.040><c> inspected</c><00:15:43.480><c> all</c><00:15:43.640><c> of</c> We repaired
• We've inspected all of We repaired that.

Transcript Highlights:

• these irrigation entities to be able to have that boost from the state to go out and accomplish repairing
• It's made repairing or replacing existing infrastructure very difficult for these entities.
• those dollars will be repaid and then available for future use in the water management account. repairing
• It's made repairing or replacing existing infrastructure very difficult for these entities.

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Water Resources budget. Analysts and Director Matthew Weaver explained the agency’s staffing, continuously appropriated funds, and the effect of ARPA and other one-time infrastructure dollars on the budget. Members asked about efforts to stabilize the Snake River Plain aquifer, the impact of budget holdbacks, groundwater monitoring, and the status of major recharge and conversion projects. Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould said the state is working to reduce groundwater pumping, expand recharge, and build infrastructure to reach a long-term managed recharge goal of 350,000 acre-feet annually, with current recharge averaging about 251,000 acre-feet and capacity potentially exceeding 500,000 acre-feet in good water years. They also discussed project delays caused by permitting, federal land access, and coordination with multiple landowners, and said the $30 million infrastructure appropriation was fully obligated and largely spent. The committee also discussed water projects in other basins, including the Palouse Basin, Mountain Home, Elmore County, and the Bear River. Raybould said the board is considering a Bear River study to identify storage, recharge, and irrigation opportunities under the Bear River compact, and estimated that some future projects, such as a Moscow-area pump station and pipeline, could be very expensive. Members raised concerns about data centers, water quality in the Snake River Plain aquifer, and the role of private and local matching funds in water infrastructure. Weaver said data center water use is a public-interest issue that depends on scale and location, and that groundwater contamination issues are generally handled by the Department of Environmental Quality. The committee then heard the Soil and Water Conservation Commission presentation, which focused on the proposed merger/affiliation with the Department of Water Resources and on funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Weaver, serving as interim administrator, said a stakeholder review recommended moving the commission’s affiliation from Agriculture to Water Resources while preserving its current duties, nonregulatory mission, and resources. He said related legislation and a concurrent resolution would support that transition and allow time for further code review and a combined budget in 2027. Analysts also explained a supplemental and FY 2027 enhancement for CREP funding, noting that rising land values increased the state match needed for enrolled acres. Weaver said CREP can help reduce groundwater pumping, that about 11,000 of the 50,000-acre statewide cap are currently enrolled, and that full enrollment could significantly aid aquifer conservation. The committee adjourned after thanking the agencies and noting the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• warranty can explicitly make sure things are covered, like pipes or counters or roof leaks or elevator repairs
• condo into an apartment after seven years, and because of that, there's seven years of nonpayment on repairs
• warranty can explicitly make sure things are covered, like pipes or counters or roof leaks or elevator repairs
• condo into an apartment after seven years, and because of that, there's seven years of nonpayment on repairs

Bills: HB2304 , HB2664

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, HB 2664, unlawful detainer, eviction notice, landlord-tenant, tenant rights, service of process, certified mail, notice by mail, notice posting, possession action, vacate notice, Washington RCW 59.12, housing law, rental housing, forcible entry and detainer

Transcript Highlights:

• warranty can explicitly make sure things are covered, like pipes or counters or roof leaks or elevator repairs
• warranty can explicitly make sure things are covered like pipes or counters or roof leaks or elevator repairs
• condo into apartment after seven years, and because of that there's seven years of nonpayment on repairs
• Seven years, and because of that there's seven years of non-payment on repairs and maintenance and all

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills. Representative Connors testified on two notice-service bills: HB 2452, which would change manufactured/mobile home rent increase notices so they are served like other MHLTA notices rather than by certified mail, and HB 2664, which would remove certified-mail requirements for unlawful detainer and related notices. Connors said the current certified-mail rules are causing notices to go unclaimed and creating unnecessary costs for housing providers, while staff explained the bills would allow service by regular mail in the same manner as other notices. Public testimony on both bills was generally supportive, emphasizing reduced cost and better delivery, though one witness on HB 2452 urged allowing electronic notice options as well. The committee also heard SHB 2269, which clarifies that middle housing in limited areas of more intensive rural development may be served by either a public sewer system or a large on-site sewage system in rural counties, while non-rural counties would still require public sewer service. The sponsor and supporters said the bill resolves ambiguity created by prior legislation and gives county planners more flexibility; questions focused on what kinds of systems and uses would qualify. EHB 1687 was heard next and would expand the housing cooperation law to allow cities and counties to assist social housing public development authorities. Representative Reed and supporters said the bill would give Seattle and potentially other jurisdictions a tool to support permanently public, mixed-income housing with land, infrastructure, and other assistance. In executive session, the committee adopted a due-pass recommendation for EHB 1345 after Senator Gaynor withdrew an amendment that would have removed water-withdrawal and metering requirements for detached ADUs outside urban growth areas. The committee also adopted a striking amendment and moved ESHB 1500 and EHB 1501 forward, both with updated timelines and clarifications related to common-interest-community resale certificates and owner inquiries. Amendments to ESHB 1974 on land bank authorities were rejected, including proposals to remove private negotiation and tax preferences, and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. Finally, SHB 2288 on scissors stairs was advanced without amendment. Later, the committee heard HB 2304, which would expand the 2-10 warranty option to certain four-story stacked-flat condominium projects; testimony from builders, housing advocates, and the Office of Insurance Commissioner supported it as a way to reduce liability costs and increase condo supply. The committee also took testimony on EHB 1687 and HB 2664, and then closed the hearing on SHB 2452 after hearing support from housing providers for easing manufactured-home rent notice service requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• The owner must repair or replace without delay. Non-compliance after 30 days becomes a violation.
• on to state any damaged products or materials protecting duct and air transfer openings shall be repaired
• Within existing buildings, there was a 53% repair rate, a 2% replacement rate, and a 13.6% inaccessible
• when we compare to new buildings as part of this study, within new buildings only 4.2% needed to be repaired

Committees: House Local Government , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re seeing people using this to pay for repairs to their automobiles.
• So a lot of things that are kind of, you know, might be—well, the car repair is pretty much necessary
• hospitality, health care and dental services, education training, professional services, and home and repair
• remember how we would buy the espresso machines, pallets of broken espresso machines, and we would repair

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Transcript Highlights:

• TFM plans for roof repair and roof replacement costs are effective beginning with fiscal year 2028, which
• Down to facilities, the long-term facilities maintenance roof repair and replacement provision has a
• In Article 6, we strongly support the expansion of the LTFM program to allow roof repair and placement
• Likewise, the roof repair and leveling the playing field among school districts is very important.

Bills: HF1388

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, we propose a reasonable 3% cap with exceptions only for verifiable health and safety repairs
• uncontrolled; they're coming from property tax increases, utility rate increases, increases in street repairs
• We also believe that there needs to be some clarity in the provision on page 216 regarding repairs and
• Before the period, insert 'unless the park owner can provide the need for repairs.' was caused by a resident

Bills: HF1143 , HF1548 , HF1340 , HF2549 , HF2559 , HF1673 , HF2740 , HF2507 , HF2461 , HF2381 , HF2695

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• simply cosmetic, yet again it resulted in a citation that stated program materials were not in good repair
• ><00:05:15.960><c> good</c> program materials were not in good program materials were not in good repair
• 17.840><c> dedicated</c><00:05:18.400><c> my</c><00:05:18.600><c> career</c><00:05:18.960><c> to</c> repair
• I have dedicated my career to repair I have dedicated my career to providing<00:05:19.759><c> high</

Summary: The committee took up House File 2617, and first adopted a DE1 amendment. The bill, as amended, was presented as a major child care licensing reform that would narrow licensing to core health and safety requirements, reduce what supporters described as punitive or overly technical citations, and shift quality standards toward accreditation and professional organizations. The author also described the bill as a response to long-standing problems in the current licensing structure and county oversight of family child care. Public testimony was uniformly supportive. Child care providers and directors from Duluth, Rochester, and Esko said the current system penalizes minor clerical or cosmetic issues, creates inconsistent interpretations, and contributes to provider burnout and the child care shortage. They argued the bill would separate health-and-safety licensing from quality measures, which they said are better addressed through accreditation, coaching, and national standards. One testifier also said the bill would help with background study delays by creating a liaison to improve visibility into the process. Members asked about the difference between licensing and accreditation, how other states handle similar models, and how the bill would interact with the department’s licensing modernization work. The bill’s supporters said licensing would remain focused on foundational health and safety items such as ratios, background checks, hygiene, and facilities, while quality standards would be left to national organizations like NAEYC or the National Family Child Care Association. They cited Connecticut, Indiana, and Florida as examples of states using national standards in some form. The committee closed public testimony, took member questions, and the author renewed his motion to lay over House File 2617 as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• They mentioned that it will become increasingly difficult to schedule routine maintenance and repairs
• Maintenance and repairs on the lifts due to their age.

Summary: The commission received updates on several Capitol accessibility and capital planning projects. The ADA chairlift study was reported complete, with the consultant recommending replacement of the lifts in the legislative library, House chamber, and Senate chamber because of compliance and functional issues. Staff said preliminary replacement costs are about $400,000, with design expected to take a few months and construction another month or two, and that a new project will be set up for full design and construction. A separate fall protection project is in preliminary design to provide safe access for maintenance work around the restored stained-glass laylight and roof ladders. Members also discussed the updated capital master plan and the timing of an owner’s representative contract. The commission had previously approved moving forward subject to appropriations, and staff said the RFQ is prepared but cannot be released until budget funds are available. Several members emphasized the need to move quickly once the FY26 budget is approved to avoid delays and added costs. The Governor’s Council on Disability digital wayfinding project was also reviewed. Staff said the project is focused on technical architecture, content creation, and governance, and that the commission’s role at this stage is mainly to approve signage rather than provide funding. Members asked about long-term software and upkeep costs, and staff said those responsibilities are still being worked out, including who will update content for House and Senate areas. Members also stressed the importance of involving House and Senate leadership and administrative staff so the signs and system are reviewed before implementation. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives local fairs the certainty they need to plan projects, repair infrastructure, and keep
• delayed, even by a few months, projects are postponed, costs increase, and in some cases, the critical repairs

Summary: The committee opened with routine announcements, including hearing logistics, public comment instructions, and a brief “fun fact” about National Pecan Month and Ag Day. After establishing a quorum, the committee took up a consent calendar of four bills—AB 2423, AB 2743, AB 2778, and AB 2779—which were approved unanimously. The main item heard was AB 1711 by Assembly Member Conley, which would require more timely distribution of state funds for fairs and fairgrounds and expand allowable uses for those funds. The author and the Western Fairs Association argued that fairs are important for agricultural education, local economies, cultural events, and emergency response, and that delayed funding leads to deferred maintenance and higher costs. Several committee members spoke in strong support, noting the importance of county fairs in their districts and their role as community hubs and emergency shelters. There was no opposition testimony. The committee voted AB 1711 out on a due pass motion to the Appropriations Committee, and the bill ultimately passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.