Transcript Highlights:

• And it provides a mechanism for them to receive a civil penalty and how that can be collected.

Summary: The House Rules Committee met on March 20, 2025, with a quorum present and moved quickly through a full agenda. The committee first heard HB 399 by Representative Maney, an ethics bill aimed at prohibiting employees, candidates, and public officers from falsely claiming military service or decorations for material benefit and establishing civil penalties. An amendment was adopted to conform the House bill to the Senate version and clarify collection of penalties, including delinquency after 90 days and Attorney General collection authority. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified in support, saying the added civil-penalty language would improve enforcement. The bill was reported favorably by a 16-0 vote. The committee then adopted the special order letter for the March 26 session and approved special amendment deadlines and procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. The budget procedures set deadlines for publication of the proposed GAA and related bills, committee amendment filing, and floor amendment filing, and required amendment requests to come from the sponsoring member or a House employee with written authorization. The chair also noted that some line-item veto reinstatements recommended by work groups would be considered on March 26. Finally, the committee considered four proposed committee bills sponsored by Vice Chair Barrero: PCB REC-25-01, the Adoption Act for recent statutes and reviser changes; PCB REC-25-02, a directive bill updating statutory references from the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Division of Criminal Investigations; PCB REC-25-03, a cleanup bill repealing inoperative or expired provisions; and PCB REC-25-04, the annual general reviser bill making technical, non-substantive, and conforming changes. None drew questions, testimony, or debate, and all four were reported favorably by unanimous 16-0 votes before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and community relations team, allowing municipalities to raise community priorities through that mechanism
• Um, obviously, you know, if mechanism.
• You know, I think, as I described, we have current mechanisms in place today that allow municipalities
• </c><04:11:29.520><c> uh</c> lot of potential uh mechanical uh lot of potential uh mechanical uh opportunities
• </c> there's a couple of different mechanisms there's a couple of different mechanisms to<05:35:22.718

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for people to to provide a mechanism for people to notify<03:16:38.880><c> the</c><03:16:39.120><c>
• Back when I was growing up in the little town of Sumpter, everybody had a neighborhood mechanic, and
• Uh, back when I was growing up mechanic.
• </c><07:54:15.440><c> and</c> had a neighborhood mechanic and had a neighborhood mechanic and everybody
• </c><07:54:18.440><c> was</c> everybody knew who that mechanic was everybody knew who that mechanic was

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 28, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so they went back to the previous mechanism of using liquor funds.
• </c> and 30 relate to the funding mechanism and 30 relate to the funding mechanism for<01:00:23.040><
• </c><01:00:48.720><c> of</c><01:00:48.880><c> using</c> back to the previous mechanism of using back
• to the previous mechanism of using liquor<01:00:49.520><c> funds.
• . and we moved it all funding mechanism. and we moved it all up<01:23:02.719><c> underneath</c><01:23

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through the HB 1 detail change sheet. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre reported stronger-than-expected lottery performance, raising the current-year return estimate to $27 million and the next biennium estimate to $200 million, with the increase attributed to improved scratch ticket sales and sports betting not hurting revenue as much as expected. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher estimates, including the impact of $50 scratch tickets and whether the figures accounted for future conversion from historical horse racing (HHR) machines to video lottery terminals (VLTs). McIntyre and committee members discussed machine counts, per-day revenue assumptions, and the likelihood that VLT conversion would increase revenues over time, though the timing and pace of conversion remained an open question. The committee also discussed several gaming-related policy items in HB 2, including changes to kino hours and local option games of chance, and noted that the Senate and House differed on how gaming revenues would be allocated between charities, education, and general funds. Members emphasized that revenue projections should remain conservative because operators, not the state, would control the pace of machine conversion. Representative Sweeney noted that operators could earn more per machine under the VLT model, and McIntyre said the new facilities and expansions were largely concentrated near the Massachusetts border. The committee then moved to the HB 1 detail change sheet. It agreed to Senate position on the Department of Safety’s road toll bureau and international registration program changes, which were described as a zero-cost realignment of positions, and held the Department of Corrections section for later discussion. On the judicial side, members approved a technical footnote fix, but held a new contract counsel item for involuntary mental health admissions and deferred discussion of the public defender program increase. The committee also noted no change for the PE development authority, moved safety rest area funding from HB 2 into HB 1 with no additional cost, and flagged the tourism development fund and other judicial items as issues that may depend on overall available revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• But anyway, you have a mechanism.
• you have a mechanism it's going to<01:19:04.679><c> be</c><01:19:04.920><c> on</c><01:19:05.040><c>
• Well, there's already a mechanism.
• State law already has a mechanism, and so we would have to—that would bring in a whole new situation
• </c> they well there's already a mechanism they well there's already a mechanism state<03:32:04.920><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 530, a bill to increase funding for New Hampshire’s Affordable Housing Fund. Representative Jessica Lontine, the sponsor, described the state’s housing crisis, citing high rents, low vacancy, and the lack of affordable units. She said the bill would double the annual transfer-tax deposit into the fund from $5 million to $10 million, and she later presented an amendment to hold the Education Trust Fund harmless by directing the housing-fund deposit from remaining revenue after that trust fund is funded. She also explained a prospective appropriation idea tied to a possible future sale of the Laconia State School property, with the goal of supporting community housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Much of the testimony focused on the shortage of accessible and supportive housing for people with disabilities and aging family caregivers. Lontine, Ben Saul of Visions for Creative Housing Solutions, Lori McIntosh of Our Place NH, and Maddie Mandelbaum all described the difficulty families face in planning for adult children with disabilities as parents age or die. They emphasized that many people need not only affordable housing but accessible, supportive settings, and they argued that state investment would help nonprofit providers build such housing and prevent homelessness or inappropriate institutional placement. Several witnesses also noted that existing projects rely on capital funding and that operating revenues are limited because residents often depend on SSI and Medicaid. Committee members asked questions about the fiscal impact of the bill and amendment, including whether the proposal would shift money from the general fund or education trust fund and whether the Finance Committee should have final say over spending priorities. Lontine said she understood those concerns but argued that housing should be prioritized. Housing Action New Hampshire’s Tom Duroza also testified in support of the bill, saying the state’s housing shortage is driving record prices and vacancy rates below 1%, and that the Affordable Housing Fund has leveraged more than $500 million in private investment and helped build thousands of rental homes. He said his organization supported the underlying bill but had not yet reviewed the amendment. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had cases where I've heard feedback from pharmacists who took the law exam, and they were following
• 02:41:59.640><c> where</c><02:42:00.240><c> I've</c><02:42:00.440><c> heard</c><02:42:00.680><c> feedback
• </c><02:42:01.160><c> from</c> cases where I've heard feedback from cases where I've heard feedback from

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do continue to get very positive feedback about that educational experience and opportunity for students
• We do continue to get very<01:11:38.800><c> positive</c><01:11:39.280><c> feedback</c><01:11:39.679><
• c> about</c><01:11:40.000><c> that</c> very positive feedback about that very positive feedback about

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and we've heard, you know, we've taken feedback from the accrediting commission here in New Hampshire
• and we've heard, you know,<03:42:07.920><c> we've</c><03:42:08.160><c> taken</c><03:42:08.399><c> feedback
• </c><03:42:08.720><c> from</c><03:42:08.960><c> the</c> know, we've taken feedback from the know, we've
• taken feedback from the accrediting<03:42:09.760><c> commission</c><03:42:10.160><c> here</c><03:42:

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The importance of the gas tax to Kentucky—it’s, as you all know well, it’s the largest funding mechanism
• It’s the closest funding mechanism we have to a true user fee.
• little different than previously, but the suspension represents about a 40% reduction of the funding mechanism
• It’s, as you all know well, it’s the largest funding mechanism for the road fund.
• It’s the closest funding mechanism we have to a true user fee.

Committee: Joint Transportation

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you'll know, again, we pull all our cash and a dedicated account is all—it is just an accounting mechanism
• And so through that mechanism, more charities can potentially participate.
• Um and so in through the that that<01:27:29.680><c> that</c><01:27:30.080><c> mechanism,</c><01:27:31.120
• ><c> more</c><01:27:31.320><c> charities</c><01:27:31.800><c> can</c> that that mechanism, more charities
• can that that mechanism, more charities can potentially<01:27:32.440><c> participate.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no funding mechanism provided for the PUC or Department of Energy to handle the additional workload
• :29:02.400><c> There's</c><01:29:02.639><c> no</c><01:29:02.880><c> funding</c><01:29:03.199><c> mechanism
• There's no funding mechanism pro rates.
• There's no funding mechanism pro no<01:29:04.639><c> funding</c><01:29:05.040><c> mechanism</c><01:29
• is provided for the no funding mechanism is provided for the PUC<01:29:07.760><c> or</c><01:29:07.920

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can provide the type of safety mechanisms that all of us want. We just know it's a process.
• We can provide the type of safety mechanisms that all of us want. We just know it's a process.
• And so I think having a funding mechanism that fits for that, um, is going to be important to address
• And so I think having a funding mechanism that fits for that, um, is going to be important to address
• And so I think having a funding mechanism that fits for that, um, is going to be important to address

Bills: HF192 , HF268 , HF1214 , HF494

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Minnesota income tax, dependent exemption, personal income tax, tax relief, family tax relief, children, dependents, tax deduction, tax exemption, state revenue, inflation indexing, tax year 2025, taxable income, household tax policy, family tax credit, HF268, Joshua Schmidt Memorial Highway, memorial highway, highway naming, road designation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called attention mechanism, in a technical term, Transformer, you might have heard of this.
• It's called attention mechanism, in a technical term, Transformer, you might have heard of this.
• It's called attention mechanism, in a technical term, Transformer, you might have heard of this.
• So we strongly urge you to seriously consider mechanisms that are going to catalyze and coordinate the
• consider mechanisms that are going<01:09:43.080><c> to</c><01:09:43.359><c> catalyze</c><01:09:44.319

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> hearing</c> continues, I'd be interested in hearing continues, I'd be interested in hearing feedback
• 19.720><c> the</c><01:26:19.760><c> Department</c><01:26:20.120><c> of</c><01:26:20.200><c> Human</c> feedback
• from the Department of Human feedback from the Department of Human Services<01:26:21.000><c> in</c><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• range of districts and how they're doing with reading because it's certainly not getting a lot of feedback
• range of districts and how they're doing with reading because it's certainly not getting a lot of feedback
• /c> Chairman Andrew, that's where we will, through our rule promulgation process, get the public feedback

Bills: HB0023 , HB0024 , HB0025

Committee: House Education

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• after you stated it so just give me down after you stated it so just give me some<00:53:14.839><c> feedback
• 15.319><c> from</c><00:53:15.559><c> both</c><00:53:15.720><c> of</c><00:53:15.839><c> your</c> some feedback
• from both of your some feedback from both of your organizations's<00:53:16.960><c> perspectives</c><

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The reporting mechanism, I don't agree with either.
• The reporting mechanism, I don't agree with either.
• I don't agree with reporting mechanism I don't agree with either<01:00:26.920><c> I</c><01:00:27.000
• There is a mechanism existing in law for a small number of individuals who do want to bring wildlife
• </c><03:03:31.399><c> for</c> game laws a method a mechanism for game laws a method a mechanism for permitting

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two main items. First, the solid waste subcommittee reviewed draft language for HB 707, focusing on landfill siting and permitting standards. Members and the Department of Environmental Services discussed replacing repeated references to “aquifer” with “drinking water well,” clarifying that aquifer is a broad term, and considering whether a statutory definition was needed. They also debated the bill’s setback and time-of-travel provisions, including the 10^-5 standard, a 1,500-foot distance, and whether the bill should rely more on performance-based criteria than prescriptive distances. Another major topic was permit denial language tied to applicants with significant histories of repeated serious violations or landfill-related litigation; the department said it already has related authority in current rules, but noted some wording was still too vague and could be tightened. No vote was taken, and the chair closed the hearing with plans to continue work later. The second item was a work session on HB 424, which would direct the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to create forms for businesses to request information about service animals and establish a study committee on fraudulent or untrained service animals. Several members said the problem raised by the bill was real but expressed concern that the legislature may be limited by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Others argued that a study committee would likely not produce a workable solution and might conflict with leadership’s direction to avoid unnecessary study committees. Members discussed whether the bill should be retained, amended, or instead replaced with a letter or resolution to the federal delegation. The committee appeared to lean toward ITL and possibly pursuing a letter to federal officials, but no final vote is reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill created a mechanism to ensure that banks, when they can readily identify those funds as unemployment
• look at a couple of different ways, like the taxable low taxable wage base and potential other mechanisms

Summary: The Commission on Unemployment Compensation met, established a quorum, and elected Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling as chair and Senator Mike Jones as vice chair. The commission also adopted its electronic meeting policy and heard introductions from new members, staff, and officials from the Secretary of Labor’s office and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Secretary Jessica Lumen outlined the administration’s workforce and labor priorities, including supporting workers, employers, and program transparency, while members raised concerns about business climate, job losses, labor participation, and the implementation of paid family and medical leave. Staff provided legislative updates on recent unemployment-related bills. These included increases to the weekly unemployment benefit amount enacted in 2025 and 2026, a bill on labor dispute disqualification that changed how lockouts are treated for benefit eligibility, and a budget item providing $75,000 for actuarial support to the commission. The commission also discussed the 2025 work group on annual adjustments to weekly benefit amounts; staff reported that the work group did not complete its charge, and members agreed to revisit whether to reconstitute it at a future meeting. Delegate Martinez expressed support for continuing the work, and the chair said the issue would be taken up at the next meeting. Deputy Commissioner Joanna Darkus gave a detailed presentation on Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including current claims data, eligibility rules, employer tax structure, benefit levels, trust fund solvency, fraud prevention, and customer service operations. She reported that Virginia’s unemployment rate remains low, weekly claims are modest, the current weekly benefit range is $160 to $478, and the trust fund balance factor is projected at 50.9 percent, near the threshold for additional employer charges. Members asked about the taxable wage base, trust fund solvency, the effect of benefit increases, fraud controls, and the planned paid family and medical leave program. VEC said it is implementing that program through regulations, staffing, IT procurement, public listening sessions, and consultation with other states. A public commenter from the Virginia Poverty Law Center urged the commission to strengthen state investment in unemployment insurance and warned that federal support is uncertain. The commission then adjourned without taking further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Active Transportation Program also lacks meaningful accountability mechanisms for grantees who fail
• The ATP also lacks meaningful accountability mechanisms for grantees who fail to spend award funds on

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a long agenda of transportation-related measures, with testimony focused on housing, safety, environmental access, and fuel affordability. Several bills dealt with Caltrans surplus or former freeway properties in the Los Angeles area: AB 1338 would let the City of Linwood transfer a public-purpose covenant to another parcel to enable 55 units of affordable housing; AB 1594 would remove a net-equity repayment requirement for Ronald McDonald House’s purchase of former SR 710 properties in Pasadena; and AB 2329 would create a more transparent process for tenants and cities to facilitate sales of former SR 710 homes, with support from South Pasadena and Pasadena officials and tenants. AB 2679 addressed safety and access around Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay corridor by allowing Caltrans and local Tahoe agencies to manage parking and improve pedestrian, transit, and public access infrastructure. The committee also heard several public safety bills aimed at impaired driving. AB 1685 would increase DMV points for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two to three, and AB 1687 would extend the license revocation period for a third DUI conviction from three years to eight years, with an interlock option after four years. Both measures drew strong support from law enforcement, MADD, and victims’ families, including emotional testimony about repeat offenders and drunk-driving fatalities. AB 1613 would require an off-highway vehicle safety and stewardship course before access to off-highway lands beginning in 2029, with supporters describing it as an education-first response to rising OHV injuries and fatalities. Other bills focused on transportation efficiency and affordability. AB 2046 would allow EPA-approved E85 conversion kits in California, which supporters said would give drivers a cheaper, lower-carbon fuel option and improve fuel resiliency. AB 2168 would revise the Active Transportation Program to better prioritize transit-connected biking and walking projects and add stronger accountability for grantees that do not spend funds on time. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to reserve some affordable housing units for its employees, and supporters said it would help workers live closer to their jobs and reduce long commutes. The committee reported no opposition on most measures, and after quorum was established it approved the bills, sending them onward mostly to the Committee on Appropriations, with AB 2679 sent to Natural Resources and Water. Several votes were unanimous, while AB 1613 and AB 2168 drew some no votes but still advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• regarding employer contributions to the Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System and provide a mechanism
• We were informed that the changes to the contribution mechanisms would require legislative action.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on May 7, chaired by Senators Mike Brady and Dan Ryan, and heard testimony on a wide range of retirement and benefits bills for public employees and their families. Several bills focused on line-of-duty death or disability benefits for police and firefighters, including Senate Bill 1831 for Joanne Sanji, widow of Rutland Detective John Sanji, whose COVID-19 death was described by family, counsel, and the police chief as a line-of-duty death already recognized by local, state, and federal memorials. Similar support was offered for bills involving the surviving spouse of a State Police officer injured in the line of duty, a Springfield officer injured by a hammer attack during a mental health call, and a bill for a former police officer seeking an increased disability retirement due to PTSD after a traumatic incident. Testimony repeatedly emphasized that these cases had been recognized locally or had already moved through prior sessions, but legislative action was still needed to secure benefits. The committee also heard multiple firefighter-related retirement bills. Representatives and union advocates supported a bill for retired Attleboro Fire Captain Walter Gerton, arguing that an audit and recalculation improperly reduced his pension after retirement and that the correction was requested by the local retirement board. Another bill sought disability retirement for former Westfield firefighter Greg Heath, who testified that Parkinson’s disease has made daily life and family care increasingly difficult; supporters cited studies linking firefighting exposures to Parkinson’s and said the city, retirement board, and local officials backed the measure. The committee also heard testimony for retired Quincy Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Bithrow, who described a Parkinson’s diagnosis following years of exposure at major toxic fires, including the Home Depot and MWRA incidents, and for a related Quincy bill that would treat his retirement as line-of-duty for survivor protection. Additional bills included a proposal to provide flags to next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, a bill to resolve employer contribution obligations for the Neshoba Associated Boards of Health in the state retirement system, and several individual retirement or service-credit measures. These included a bill for former State Police gang unit officer David Patterson, a school nurse seeking additional credible service credit for a temporary staffing emergency, and a former Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy seeking an increased disability retirement after a violent inmate assault left him with lasting injuries. Testimony generally came from the affected individuals, family members, municipal officials, retirement boards, and public safety unions, with most speakers urging favorable action and noting that many of the bills had already passed one chamber or had been filed in prior sessions. At the end of the hearing, the committee took no recorded votes on the bills and then adjourned.