Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially another small hearing.
• Small animals they use very have.
• </c><03:32:40.240><c> city</c><03:32:40.480><c> councils,</c> gave the town, the city city councils,
• </c> for the cities. for the cities.
• We've got um a for this program.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have to offer for a money-back guarantee program, and that is the bill.
• Say they put the county in the city area or city in the county area.
• We yield to the gentleman from Panama City Beach, Representative Griffitts.
• of Coral Springs and the city of Parkland, Broward County.
• of Coral Springs and the city of Parkland, Broward County.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Deputy Will May of the Walton County Sheriff’s Department, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and CS for HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then took up several special-order bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, including SB 36, SB 42, SB 40, and SB 38, all of which passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief explanations that they updated or cleaned up Florida statutes. Members also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection orders. HB 615, on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email when both parties agree in writing, passed after adoption of a tenant-protection amendment offered by Rep. Gottlieb. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance and wellness programs passed unanimously. HB 1145 on workforce education passed 100-4, expanding CAP grant eligibility to public charter schools for CTE startup/expansion and increasing minimum program offerings tied to a money-back guarantee program. HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements passed unanimously, and HB 649 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 77-30 after structured debate. The most extensive debate centered on CS for HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill would require a $1 million bond after 25% of required signatures are collected, require petition handlers and circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose background checks and training for paid circulators, shorten petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increase penalties, add signature revocation notices, require more identifying information on petition forms, and create felony penalties for certain misconduct. Supporters argued the changes were needed to combat fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make ballot initiatives harder for ordinary Floridians to pursue. Multiple amendments sought to roll back or soften the bill’s requirements, protect personal information, restore longer deadlines, lower validation thresholds, and bar public funds from being used to advocate for or against amendments. Some amendments were adopted, but several key ones failed as debate continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• The point of the program is very intentional.
• programs for middle and high school students?
• Community schools are not a side program.
• Community schools are not a side program.
• and Targeted Assistance Program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Law enforcement agencies shall participate in any future program or successor to an existing program.
• If that section of 'shall participate in any future program or successor to an existing program' was
• To wrap up with this program, the police officers in my city forced to take on duties outside their current
• A few years ago, the legislature passed a law that required cities over 100,000 residents to elect city
• We want cities, and I live in a city that hit 100,000 and has districts for their city council members

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are hearing a number of bills: H. 5013, An Act to Establish a Celiac Disease Screening Pilot Program
• Celiac Disease Screening Pilot Program.
• This pilot screening program will not only catch children earlier...
• This pilot screening program will not only catch children earlier.
• The pilot program proposed is a reasonable, evidence-informed first step.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on four bills: H. 5013 and S. 2928, which would establish a three-year celiac disease screening pilot program for children during routine cholesterol/lipid screening around ages 8 to 12; H. 5087, regulating the operation of medical spas; and H. 5115, establishing statewide food truck regulations, though the hearing focused almost entirely on the celiac and medical spa bills. Committee chairs outlined three-minute testimony limits and noted members present in person and online. Supporters of the celiac screening bills, including Rep. Badger, Sen. Lovely, patients, clinicians, and researchers, described long delays in diagnosis, the lack of a cure beyond a gluten-free diet, and the potential for early screening to prevent years of damage, missed school and work, and long-term complications. Testifiers said celiac disease is common but frequently undiagnosed, that a simple blood test can identify many cases, and that a pilot would help assess feasibility, cost, accuracy, and family acceptance. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposal includes education and support for families after diagnosis, and some cited international screening efforts, especially in Italy, as evidence that population screening can work. Testimony on H. 5087 was largely opposed by medical spa owners, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and a plastic surgeon. Witnesses argued the bill is outdated, duplicative of existing Massachusetts licensing and public health rules, and inconsistent with current scopes of practice and team-based care. They said the proposal could restrict access, burden small and women-owned practices, and fail to address the real issues of training, compliance, and patient safety. Some said they support regulation in principle but want the bill revised to reflect current law and modern practice. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about celiac testing methods and the relationship between the medical spa bill and current state law, but no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , this program or any other particular program, and I don't know how it's going to play out.
• </c> of evaluating School District programs of evaluating School District programs uh<00:25:44.960><c
• ><c> other</c><00:25:46.200><c> particular</c> uh this program or any other particular uh this program
• </c> the District special education programs the District special education programs that<00:28:30.399
• </c> leaders about policies programs leaders about policies programs practices<00:42:49.920><c> and</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and noted weather-related absences and a large number of new bills. The chair said a subcommittee would be formed to review three cell phone bills, and a full committee work session on bullying would be scheduled for the week after next. The committee then began a hearing on House Bill 121, which would create local special education advisory councils in school districts. Representative Glenn Cordelli, the sponsor, said the councils would be parent-driven, with parents of children with disabilities advising districts on education, safety, program development, evaluation, planning, policies, and communication with administrators. He said the bill would require at least quarterly meetings with district administration, an annual parent workshop, and a year-end report to the school board. He also cited federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on parent advisory councils and said the goal was to improve collaboration between parents and schools. Members raised questions about the use of “shall,” how councils would be formed in districts without PTAs/PTOs, whether the councils could function in very small districts, privacy concerns about parents disclosing their children’s disabilities, whether the councils should include guardians or educational professionals, and whether the councils would have any direct tie to the state advisory council. The sponsor said the requirement was intended to make the councils mandatory, that local districts could organize them organically if needed, that participation would be voluntary, that parents would not be required to disclose private information, and that the councils would remain advisory rather than determinative. He also said costs should be minimal. Testimony then began from Nicole Sheath, a pediatric occupational therapist and parent of four children with disabilities, who described her experience balancing advocacy, school collaboration, and the demands of her children’s therapies and education.

Transcript Highlights:

• The solution is not to cut funding to education or other programs, but rather we have more options.
• I'm a leader with Twin Cities United Performers, a group of over 500 performers in the Twin Cities organizing
• I played everywhere from small neighborhood bars to beloved larger venues, and like so many musicians
• Today, we're saying that this has to change, and by putting a small sales tax on digital advertising,
• Support for working artists, resources for struggling independent venues, investment in music programs

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a press-style discussion in support of House File 4343, which would end Minnesota’s sales tax exemption for digital advertising services and physical advertising space such as billboards. Supporters said the bill would raise more than $300 million in revenue and allow the state sales tax rate to be reduced, while also modernizing the tax code to reflect a digital, service-based economy. Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota argued the current sales tax base is outdated, too narrow, and unfairly shifts burden onto Minnesota businesses, workers, and property taxpayers. Representative Lislegard said the bill would help fund schools, health care, infrastructure, child care, and local government, and framed it as a response to structural budget gaps and rising property taxes. She said large corporations are not paying their fair share and that the state should cut exemptions rather than reduce public services. Several speakers from labor, education, health care, and the arts backed the proposal, including a working parent who cited high child care costs, an AFSCME representative from Hennepin County Medical Center who said the revenue is needed to support the safety-net hospital, a musician who said streaming and ad-driven platforms profit from artists’ labor, and an educator who criticized social media companies’ impact on youth. The speakers repeatedly argued that major tech and advertising companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok, and Spotify should contribute more to public services, while ordinary Minnesotans already pay too much. Representative White closed by acknowledging the bill faces a difficult path but said supporters would keep fighting for it. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the portion provided, and the event ended with one question from the audience.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first provision contains a fix for DNR to keep some programs from going insolvent.
• That will be a much heavier cost than keeping the program running, and the program running can be maintained
• Gentlemen from the city of St. Louis here in the front row. Gentleman from the City of St.
• Louis City, front row. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Introduction of a special guest.
• Louis City, and Fuchs of St. Louis City.

Summary: The House convened after a quorum call and received a Senate message refusing to concur in House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 994, leading the House to refuse to recede and appoint a conference committee. The chamber then reconsidered and amended Senate Bill 1019, stripping out earlier language and replacing it with a narrower substitute amendment focused on Lyme disease and alpha-gal, before giving the bill third read and passage. Members also adopted Senate Substitute for House Bill 1740, known as Melanie’s Law, after extensive debate about ignition interlock devices, affordability for low-income drivers, and the bill’s goal of reducing drunk-driving deaths; it passed overwhelmingly after emotional testimony from sponsors and family members affected by impaired driving. The House next passed Senate Bill 1033, which included a DNR solvency fix and agriculture provisions affecting farm truck inspections and cotton gin permitting/air-dispersion modeling. Supporters said it would help keep environmental programs solvent and better align Missouri rules with neighboring states, while some members raised concerns about future funding and EPA oversight. The chamber then passed Senate Bill 916, which limits contractor indemnity obligations before work begins or after final acceptance on public projects while preserving liability for contractor negligence; supporters said it would reduce costs and protect contractors from being sued before mobilization, while one member objected to expanding immunity language for MoDOT-related agents. The House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, encouraging Missouri participation in America 250 celebrations in 2026. Later, it adopted a conference committee report on House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 975, described as restoring a local-state system and giving local districts options for organizing and electing board members. The session ended with announcements about committee meetings and a motion to stand at recess until additional conference committee reports and Senate bills were ready, with adjournment set for the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be a contract between a governmental unit that is not tech stock, so it can be city, county,
• These small things can show up as thinking somebody needs to be spoken to a certain way, needs to be.
• So, um, yeah, I, I'd rather start small than aim big and get nothing.
• One small modification to that point that could be made is on page 4, line 23.
• But now a lot of these programs are, you know, on some type of a module application.

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Community infrastructure districts represent a tool that has been available to cities in Idaho since
• I've worked with the courts, our cities, counties, law enforcement across the state, ITD and DMV to make
• it were removing these large managed care systems from these penalties and from obligations to just small
• Representative Church: I'm just trying to figure out if this was a very small change or if there was
• I can give more... ...detail as to those amendments, but they were pretty small.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met at 8:11 a.m. and first approved minutes from prior meetings, including March 9, March 12, March 13, and later March 16. The committee then considered several RS measures, most of them replacements for bills that had already received hearings or floor action, and in each case took action to introduce them and generally advance them to the Second Reading Calendar. Representative Cannon presented RS 33763, a community infrastructure district bill that would extend to counties a tool currently available to cities to help ensure growth pays for growth; it was introduced and sent to Second Reading. Representative Raymond presented RS 33766, a rules-approval measure for the Agriculture Committee, and it was also introduced and advanced. Representative Sauter presented RS 33736, a public safety bill restoring driver’s license suspension for unpaid traffic infractions; the committee introduced it. Representative Hostetler presented RS 33759, the Merit-based Health Care Act, which would restrict Medicaid-related bias or DEI training requirements for providers; the measure drew the most debate, with Representative Rubel arguing it needed a real hearing and objecting to the substantive policy change, but after motions and recorded nays from Rubel, Burtz, and Church, the committee voted to introduce it and send it to Second Reading. The committee also advanced RS 33754, a cleanup measure related to insurance contract language, and RS 33756, which would require separate campaign accounts, report candidate loans over $1,000, and clarify campaign investment rules. Representative Monks presented RS 33734, a trailer bill to the portable benefits legislation that removed language suggesting the Department of Insurance should promulgate rules, and it was introduced and advanced. He also presented RS 33738, an advisory ballot measure to designate a state gun for the America 250 celebration; Representative Church argued it would add ballot cost and conflict with recent efforts to reduce county election expenses, and moved to return it to the sponsor, but that motion failed and the committee ultimately voted to introduce the measure and send it to Second Reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> our local economies impacting our small our local economies impacting our small businesses<00:54
• </c> hotels across the Twin Cities hotels across the Twin Cities Bloomington<01:08:17.199><c> and</c>
• </c> the housekeeper to be clear the programs the housekeeper to be clear the programs are<01:10:20.679
• </c><01:15:10.520><c> as</c> certain entitlement B fit programs as certain entitlement B fit programs
• if they are required to rely on AI. entitlement and benefit programs for entitlement and benefit programs

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Throughout my career, I've developed myself as a small business owner.
• I'm from a small family, so there's literally only me.
• A very small farming community, about 100 miles southwest of Fargo.
• They ended up landing a Bobcat plant in a small town that was dying.
• that goes all the way from preschool through graduate programs.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Without having to rely on these kinds of sort of small grants of funding.
• It's a small wearable device that you can wear on the back of the upper arm.
• To us, that's a small part of the technology as it relates to drug discovery.
• Twist was founded in 2013 in South City, in San Francisco.
• Synthetic DNA has also been used to program yeast to make spider silk.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• </c> projects coming in having a a program projects coming in having a a program like<00:26:02.640><c
• So yes, we run a statewide program called the Lake Smart program.
• called the Lake Smart program.
• an</c> blue envelope program this program is an blue envelope program this program is an essential<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 105, which would create a new conservation license plate and direct the added fee to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund. The sponsor, Rep. Rosemarie Rung, said the bill would create a non-tax revenue source to help address toxic cyanobacteria blooms in New Hampshire lakes, ponds, and rivers. She described the public health, environmental, and economic harms from blooms, the high cost of watershed management plans and mitigation projects, and the limited current funding available through state and federal sources. She argued that a voluntary plate program could provide sustainable support and raise awareness. Supporters, including Reps. Katie Pell and McDonald, said the bill would help affected lake communities and tourism-dependent areas. New Hampshire DES testified neutrally but confirmed that blooms have increased sharply, that the agency has issued more than 120 warnings in the past two years, and that the existing mitigation fund is nearly depleted after one-time appropriations. DES said the proposed plate would not solve the entire funding need but could provide dedicated revenue for studies and implementation projects. DMV testified that the operational impact of adding a new plate would be minimal. New Hampshire Lakes also supported the bill and said survey results suggested some current Moose plate holders and new registrants would likely choose the Loon plate. Committee members asked about the health effects of cyanobacteria, the expected revenue from the plate, and whether the problem is natural or human-driven. Testimony said exposure can cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal illness, and more serious liver or neurological effects, with pets and children at higher risk; one witness also cited research suggesting aerosolized toxins may affect people several kilometers from a bloom. DES explained that while lake sediments can release nutrients, the underlying problem is largely driven by watershed inputs and worsened over time. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair invited written testimony and additional questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh um the city and county of Honolulu.
• </c> the URL for that it is on our um city the URL for that it is on our um city emergency<00:11:33.279
• </c> integration into the overall program. integration into the overall program.
• </c> to take care of here at the city. to take care of here at the city.
• ,</c> guys are looking at evaluating programs, guys are looking at evaluating programs, policies,<01:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department raised fees and then added staff to the program.
• You heard that 35 states like us have a program of this sort.
• You heard that 35 states like us have a program of this sort.
• We took deep cuts to the PEBB and SEB program.
• And one out of four are small business people.

Summary: The committee heard a JLARC presentation on the Department of Health’s oversight of hospital inspections, complaints, and reporting. JLARC said DOH was late on 72% of acute care hospital inspections as of December 2024, had not verified that third-party accrediting standards were substantially equivalent to state standards, did not consistently require proof of those inspections, did not review adverse health event corrective plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. JLARC also raised a possible language-access barrier in the complaint system. Members asked about complaint filing by staff, the meaning of adverse health events, inspection outcomes, and whether the audit compared DOH to other agencies. JLARC said it had not reviewed inspection results or cross-agency comparisons, but noted inspectors were dedicated and working long hours. DOH later said it concurred with the recommendations and outlined a strategic plan with target dates for improving timeliness, verifying accreditation standards, expanding language access, reviewing adverse event laws, and improving public data access, with annual reporting to the Legislature expected. The committee then heard a Department of Health presentation on certificate of need modernization. DOH described the current certificate of need process, which reviews need, financial feasibility, quality, and cost containment for certain facility changes and new services, and said the program has not been modernized since the 1980s. DOH proposed 10 statutory modernization recommendations, including clarifying the program’s purpose, creating a planning entity, adding flexibility, reducing legal costs, updating access-to-care standards, expanding oversight to freestanding emergency departments and urgent care, addressing equity, improving cost control coordination, strengthening long-term funding, and using better data systems. Members asked about oversight of freestanding urgent care and EDs, funding sources, and whether the process could be streamlined or made more responsive to complaints or other triggers. A third panel discussed artificial intelligence in health care. Lucy O’Rourke of the Coalition for Health AI described CHAI’s work on responsible AI principles, technical standards, model cards or “nutrition labels,” testing and governance tools, and educational resources for providers. She said the group is focused on trust, transparency, fairness, safety, security, and privacy, and noted Washington’s AI-related policy work as among the more progressive in the country. No questions were asked. The final portion focused on the financial impact of federal and state health care policy changes. The Washington State Hospital Association said hospitals are facing low or negative operating margins, service reductions, layoffs, and closures, and that state cuts and taxes enacted in 2025, combined with federal HR1 changes, will significantly worsen finances. Providence Swedish leaders described staffing reductions, service cuts, delayed capital investments, and pressure from denials, tariffs, and reimbursement changes, while emphasizing that frontline staffing cuts are tied to service reductions rather than nurse-to-patient ratio changes. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange then began a presentation on expiring federal ACA premium tax credits, state Cascade Care Savings assistance, and eligibility changes affecting lawfully present non-citizens, with examples showing large premium increases for customers if federal subsidies expire.

Transcript Highlights:

• plans and the assessment protects small plans and the assessment is<00:04:36.400><c> capped</c><00:04
• </c> premium to subsidize low public program premium to subsidize low public program rates<00:25:52.600
• </c> that if we are if we enter the program that if we are if we enter the program we<00:38:47.160><c
• Cy cities are actually property taxing Cy cities are actually property taxing themselves<00:47:18.720
• </c><01:47:23.719><c> we</c> the psychiatric residency program we the psychiatric residency program we

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there is a consideration that a small there is a consideration that a small number<01:10:34.960>
• </c> pass is relatively small. pass is relatively small.
• This number is small.
• This number is small.
• </c><02:01:46.560><c> bridges</c><02:01:47.840><c> fail</c> If small roads or small bridges fail If small

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused first on SP 492, a bill intended to give the New Hampshire Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services authority to lease or license property for housing and related uses. Major General David Mikolitis testified that the bill is aimed at addressing affordable housing for junior enlisted service members, especially those assigned to Pease Air National Guard Base who currently face long commutes because of the Seacoast housing shortage. He said the most likely uses would be converting limited barracks space in Pembroke or Stratford into apartment-style or extended-stay housing, and possibly allowing office/co-op space for federal civilians, though he emphasized the primary purpose is housing for junior ranks. He also said any development would likely be done by a private developer through an RFP, with costs borne by the developer rather than the department. Committee members asked about whether the bill could apply to commercial uses, how taxes would work, whether revenues would go into the general fund, and whether the concept could be expanded statewide. Mikolitis said the intent was housing only, not commercial development like a Starbucks, and that any developed property would be taxable locally rather than remain tax-exempt. He said revenues would go into a dedicated Veteran Services Property Fund and be used for facilities, not the general fund. He also explained that the department has about 20 armories statewide but sees only a few viable locations for this concept, mainly Pembroke, Stratford, and possibly one other site, because the goal is to serve personnel within roughly a 45-minute drive of Pease. He noted that a proposed seven-acre parcel near Pease had already been approved by the Pease Development Authority but still needed FAA approval, and he was not optimistic about using that land for housing because of contamination and redevelopment costs. Committee discussion ended with members indicating support for OTP, but the chair said the vote would have to wait until 11 o'clock and then closed the work session on SP 492. The committee then opened a work session on SP 627 and heard testimony from Jim Jelbert, owner of CJ Bus Lines and chair of the legislature’s transportation council, who spoke in support of the bill. Jelbert argued that the measure would allow New Hampshire to raise tolls and generate significant revenue for the 10-year highway plan without directly taxing citizens, and said the money could address congestion and safety problems, including work on I-93 in Manchester and other statewide projects. He estimated the bill could generate substantial revenue over time and said toll credits could help leverage federal matching funds. He also said improved roads would benefit businesses like his by reducing vehicle wear and improving efficiency. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on SP 627 is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• sealants for permanent molars, and aim to see a dentist at the first sign of pain or infection because a small
• problem like a cavity... ...sign of pain or infection because a small problem, like a cavity, caught
• Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs are critical pathways that help women enter and succeed
• I had the opportunity to visit an all-woman apprenticeship program called Valley Build Now in Fresno
• We have to continue to enact policies that expand workforce pipelines, support apprenticeship programs

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard a prayer and pledge, welcomed a seventh-grade class from Contra Costa Jewish Day School, and made routine announcements. The body then took up two resolutions on the floor: SR 82 by Senator Pérez recognizing Children’s Dental Health Month and emphasizing the importance of early oral health, Medi-Cal dental access, and disparities in childhood tooth decay; and SR 84 by Senator Caballero recognizing Women in Construction Week and calling attention to workforce shortages, apprenticeship pathways, and the need to expand opportunities for women in the trades. Both resolutions were adopted unanimously by roll call vote, with 31 ayes and 0 nos. Senators also announced upcoming budget subcommittee meetings, including hearings on the Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Justice. The chamber then heard several adjourn-in-memory requests, including one for the victims of a fatal avalanche near Truckee and another for Camille Moran of San Francisco, a transgender advocate and artist. The presiding officer noted a birthday for Senator Hurtado and made lighthearted remarks about an “artificial intelligence” experiment running the meeting. The Senate announced it would remain in recess until later in the day for an adjournment motion and would reconvene on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• actual program rules.
• Some very small changes.
• We were contacted by very small changes.
• </c> two programs. two programs.
• So we've tried to make very small lot.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with routine business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the minutes, seating of an alternate member, and approval of the consent agenda. It then took up Department of Health and Human Services Rule 25188 on New Hampshire Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Credentials. Staff explained that the rule adopts two new parts to implement RSA 170E:50, which had long required rules. The main issue was an unclear comment created by changes in the department’s amended conditional approval request: language defining out-of-school-time basics and a requirement tied to the New Hampshire Professional Registry training transcript had been removed, creating a mismatch between the form and the rule text. The department said it revised the language so the form and rule now match. A member also asked about the fee schedule, and the department said the fees are sufficient and supported in part by federal funds. The committee then approved Rule 25188 as amended, with oral edits, on a voice vote. The committee next considered Department of Environmental Services Rule 25206, dealing with subsurface wastewater rules and an administrative fine schedule. Staff said most comments had been addressed, but one remaining issue concerned the fine schedule because the prior interim rule had expired years ago. Staff also noted public concerns about septic tank replacement sizes, but pointed to waiver provisions and replacement-in-kind language that would still allow smaller existing systems to be replaced under certain conditions. DES officials explained that the rule package adds the fine schedule into the program rules and that no fines have been brought under these expired provisions for many years. They also described the waiver and grandfathering provisions as intended to protect existing systems and seasonal campgrounds from unnecessary upgrades. A public witness, Christopher Albert, testified that two sections of the rule would harm manufactured home parks and cooperatives. He argued that the new “two people per bedroom” assumption and the minimum bedroom threshold for using water-meter data would inflate design flows, make water-meter data unusable, and increase costs for low-income residents. Committee members questioned both the witness and the agency about the assumptions. DES staff responded that the two-person-per-bedroom standard is meant for individual on-site system design, not citywide planning, and that water-meter data is only useful in larger or unusual facilities. They said the rule still allows flexibility through waivers and grandfathering for existing uses, and that the drinking-water rule cited by the witness was not the correct comparison. No final vote on Rule 25206 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.