Transcript Highlights:

• Very difficult if you ever can replace a person like that. >> Mr.
• . if<03:43:50.640><c> you</c><03:43:50.880><c> ever</c><03:43:51.120><c> can</c><03:43:51.439><c> replace
• </c><03:43:52.080><c> a</c><03:43:52.399><c> person</c><03:43:52.640><c> like</c> if you ever can replace
• a person like if you ever can replace a person like that. that. that.

Committee: House Education Funding

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would we even be able to find staff that could replace them?
• we even be able to find staff that Would we even be able to find staff that could<02:07:54.000><c> replace
• </c> could replace them? could replace them?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody go home, get on unemployment, figure out what we had to do in the east to replace the jobs?
• 01:52:53.199><c> to</c> out what we had to do in the east to out what we had to do in the east to replace
• 55.520><c> Have</c><01:52:55.679><c> you</c><01:52:55.760><c> ever</c><01:52:55.920><c> thought</c> replace
• Have you ever thought replace the jobs.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:12 Approval of Minutes 00:02:25 Co-Chair & Member Comments 00:02:48 Discussion of 2025 SB 137 00:06:58 Outdoor Adventure Tourism Opportunities 00:41:56 Public Service Commission Update 01:21:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the prior minutes. Members also observed a moment of reflection for Charlie Kirk and offered condolences to Representative Bobby McCool on the death of his mother. Representative Fugate then made announcements about the ongoing ATV/UTV trail system, including an October 21 opening in Letcher County and an October 2 groundbreaking in Knott County, and staff was asked to circulate the dates to members. The main agenda item was Senate Bill 137, presented by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong with testimony from George Ecklan of the Coalition of the Homeless and Wesley Bryant, a flood survivor and Eastern Kentucky resident. The bill would prohibit utility disconnections for non-payment during dangerous weather and emergencies, including extreme cold, excessive heat, and declared natural disasters. Supporters said the measure is narrow, does not forgive past-due balances or change reconnection policies, and is intended to protect vulnerable residents, reduce risks to first responders, and create a minimum statewide standard amid a patchwork of utility policies. They cited weather thresholds and historical examples of extreme weather and disaster declarations in Kentucky. Testimony emphasized the human impact of shutoffs, especially for low-income households, older adults, and families facing illness or disaster recovery. Bryant described experiences with people shivering without heat or struggling to keep children cool when power was cut off, calling electricity a lifeline rather than a luxury. Representative Gu raised concerns that utility bills have become unaffordable due to broader policy and rate issues, argued that some customers may not pay if shutoffs are prohibited, and questioned whether the bill was needed. Senator Chambers Armstrong responded that the proposal is limited to non-payment shutoffs during short periods of dangerous conditions and is meant to keep people safe during emergencies. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's filling up; it's replacing air. When it goes down, the reverse is true, right?
• impacts, by clarifying that fee revenue should support real mitigation, including well repair or replacement
• Real mitigation, including well repair or replacement, where appropriate, and supporting administrative
• Through either rates or bonds if they're capable of, you know, of selling bonds to be able to replace

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee held a hearing on high-capacity groundwater wells proposed in Anderson, Henderson, and Houston counties, with members framing the issue as one of local water supply, fairness, and the need to modernize groundwater law while protecting private property rights. Opening remarks focused on the scale of the proposed Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss projects, the potential export of tens of thousands of acre-feet of groundwater annually, and concerns that the applications lacked sufficient technical detail and could harm nearby landowners, cities, agriculture, and manufacturing. Members also noted the broader context of the recent flooding tragedy in central Texas and the Legislature’s intent to address water-related loss of life in the upcoming special session. Witnesses from the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and the Texas Water Development Board explained the current groundwater management framework. They described groundwater conservation districts as the state’s preferred management method, the role of groundwater management areas and desired future conditions, and how the Water Development Board uses those conditions to calculate modeled available groundwater. They emphasized that districts rely on local data, monitoring wells, and planning processes, but that information is often more limited in areas without a district, where the rule of capture applies. Members pressed witnesses on recharge rates, export permits, subsidence, the effect of pumping on nearby wells, the age and real-time availability of model data, and whether the proposed project would exceed modeled available groundwater in some counties. TCEQ explained its limited oversight role over groundwater conservation districts, including inquiries, compliance actions, and, in extreme cases, dissolution authority. Water Development Board staff also outlined funding programs, saying the New Water Supply for Texas Fund is limited to projects such as brackish desalination, reuse, ASR, and other new-supply projects, and does not fund fresh groundwater exports alone. They said the project at issue had not applied for board funding. A water lawyer then testified on the rule of capture, ownership in place, and district regulation, arguing that districts must use permitting and other tools to manage production within modeled available groundwater and that the Legislature could consider additional authority over groundwater exports under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, that was part of what I was looking at, because if the resident can replace their health care
• because if the what I was looking at because if the resident<01:11:23.280><c> can</c><01:11:24.280><c> replace
• </c><01:11:24.800><c> their</c> resident can replace their resident can replace their uh<01:11:26.320

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, you guys can replace this. It replaces 176H."
• "No, it does not replace 176H. 176H would be section one of the bill.
• This one... okay, now that replaces that amendment number.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first reviewed its schedule, noting that 13 bills were being executed the next day and that additional subcommittee work would be scheduled around Town Meeting Day and the following session days. The chair explained that the committee would not meet on Town Meeting Day, would handle the remaining bills on the next available subcommittee day, and would continue any unfinished items later in the month. The committee then took up House Bill 774, which concerned Medicare-related coverage issues. Members discussed the bill’s purpose and the differences between Medicare standard and Medicare Advantage, with one member saying the proposal was informative but did not offer a workable solution. The committee also moved to inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 185, and the motion passed on a 6-0 vote. House Bill 241, relating to alternatives to opioids, was retained for further work. Members said the bill raised concerns about insurers effectively practicing medicine and about the lack of evidence on the efficacy of some alternative treatments, while also noting that chiropractic coverage mandates already exist in statute. The committee voted to retain the bill, with the motion passing 6-0. The most extended discussion was on House Bill 648, which would expand insurance coverage for glucose monitoring. Testimony and committee comments focused on whether coverage should be tied to insulin use or instead to a physician’s medical judgment, the role of continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and the potential cost impact. An insurance department fiscal analyst said the original $22-per-member estimate was based on the unamended bill and that the amended version would require updated analysis; members agreed to retain the bill to narrow the eligible population and revisit the language later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Shizu then asked whether, instead of striking the misdemeanor and replacing it with a
• 42.359><c> and</c> instead of um striking misdemeanor and instead of um striking misdemeanor and replacing
• 45:43.720><c> C</c><00:45:44.160><c> would</c><00:45:44.520><c> it</c><00:45:45.520><c> would</c> replacing
• it with class C would it would replacing it with class C would it would it<00:45:45.920><c> be</c><00

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on February 19, 2025, and first heard House Bill 150, which would prohibit lending a firearm to someone who does not have a firearm permit or a registered firearm. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, though HPD said enforcing any time limit on a loaned firearm would be difficult. Several members of the public opposed the measure, arguing it would interfere with lawful lending for hunting, competitions, training, military-related use, and family situations, and could create unintended criminal liability. One supporter said the bill would strengthen gun safety and encourage more responsible ownership. No vote was taken during the testimony portion described. The committee then heard House Bill 186, which would make harassment by stalking a class C felony. The Office of the Public Defender requested deferral, arguing the bill would remove a misdemeanor option that can help deter escalation and could be unnecessarily severe and burdensome. Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying stalking can be a precursor to more serious violence. The Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney raised concerns about how the new felony would fit within the existing grading scheme, noting that aggravated harassment by stalking and first-degree terroristic threatening are already class C felonies. April Bautista testified in strong support, describing her own experience with domestic violence and stalking and urging passage of the bill. Committee members discussed whether other penalty structures might be possible, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard House Bill 991, which would delete the term “agent of the contractor” from criminal history record check provisions to comply with FBI requirements. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center supported the bill with comments, explaining that the FBI had found the term too broad for fingerprint-based background checks tied to access to federal tax information. In addition, House Bill 995 was introduced, changing deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting; the Department of the Attorney General supported it, saying the revised deadlines would allow a more complete report, and HPD was also heard on the measure. The transcript ends before any votes or final committee actions on these bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just replaced our voter registration database last year.
• maintaining and improving the database<00:28:30.480><c> we</c><00:28:30.640><c> just</c><00:28:30.840><c> replaced
• </c><00:28:31.559><c> our</c><00:28:31.720><c> voter</c> database we just replaced our voter database
• we just replaced our voter registration registration registration database<00:28:34.240><c> uh</c><00

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 36 seeks to replace these previous reporting requirements and extends this to all terminations
• Bill</c><01:46:58.360><c> 36</c><01:46:59.159><c> seeks</c><01:46:59.520><c> to</c><01:46:59.760><c> replace
• </c> drafted Senate Bill 36 seeks to replace drafted Senate Bill 36 seeks to replace these<01:47:00.960

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, that episode might be, you know, knee replacement or a sepsis episode or whatever they have.
• It doesn't replace it, and the existing safeguards, timelines, and oversight stay in place.
• It doesn't replace it, and the existing safeguards, timelines, and oversight stay in place.
• It doesn't replace it, and the existing safeguards, timelines, and oversight stay in place.
• It doesn't replace it, and the existing safeguards, timelines, and oversight stay in place.

Committee: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it as a positive that it's allowing approval for infrastructure that's damaged, that needs to be replaced
• On page one, lines 14 to page two, line two, we replace those lines with the following language: “The
• page one lines 14 to page two line<03:24:10.160><c> two</c><03:24:11.279><c> we</c><03:24:11.600><c> replace
• </c><03:24:12.000><c> those</c><03:24:12.319><c> lines</c> line two we replace those lines line two we
• replace those lines with<03:24:14.160><c> the</c><03:24:14.399><c> following</c><03:24:14.800><c> language

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard testimony on HB 1875, which would expand Hawaii’s existing protections to include gender-affirming health care, clarify permitted disclosures of protected health information, and bar certain adverse actions by malpractice insurers and health carriers against providers of lawful reproductive or gender-affirming care. The Insurance Division of DCCA supported the bill with a technical amendment, suggesting language tied to actuarial analysis rather than the phrase “actuarially sound.” The Office of Information Practices also provided comments. Most testimony was strongly in support. State agencies and advocacy groups, including the Hawaii State Youth Commission, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Stonewall Caucus, ACLU of Hawaii, PFLAG Oahu, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the bill would protect patient privacy, reduce chilling effects from out-of-state litigation, and help retain providers in a state already facing shortages. Several testifiers said gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and life-saving, and emphasized that Hawaii should protect its own health care decisions from outside political pressure. A few individuals testified in opposition, arguing the bill was unnecessary or that it protected providers more than opponents of the bill, but these views were not echoed by most of the testimony. The chair repeatedly reminded testifiers to keep comments brief and maintain decorum. The transcript provided does not include a final committee vote or disposition on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so why is it taking so long to get those beds replaced? Funding.
• Uh, our game plan was to be able to replace the one-time money we were using to cover this deficit over
• :33:32.560><c> um</c> Uh our game plan was to be able to um Uh our game plan was to be able to um replace
• 34.319><c> money</c><02:33:34.640><c> we</c><02:33:34.880><c> were</c><02:33:35.040><c> using</c> replace
• the one-time money we were using replace the one-time money we were using to<02:33:35.600><c> cover<

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just it can't replace the standard flag, so that's my testimony.
• it's<03:16:46.399><c> just</c><03:16:47.439><c> it</c><03:16:47.760><c> can't</c><03:16:48.160><c> replace
• </c><03:16:48.640><c> the</c><03:16:49.120><c> the</c> it's just it can't replace the the it's just it
• can't replace the the standard<03:16:49.920><c> flag</c><03:16:50.399><c> so</c><03:16:50.880><c> that's
• school, and at the time I didn't know it was mandated that they fly them, but I asked them to just replace

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Discarding that framework and replacing it with the approach outlined in HB 1746 would be counterproductive
• Discarding that framework<01:23:30.640><c> and</c><01:23:30.960><c> replacing</c><01:23:31.359><c> it
• </c><01:23:31.439><c> with</c><01:23:31.600><c> the</c> framework and replacing it with the framework
• and replacing it with the approach<01:23:32.000><c> outlined</c><01:23:32.399><c> in</c><01:23:32.560
• It filters out disabled people and caregivers before deliberation even begins and replaces lived experience

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mind, paired with in-person assistance and phone support so that automation enhances rather than replaces
• mind, paired with in-person assistance and phone support so that automation enhances rather than replaces
• 17:03.680><c> enhances</c><04:17:04.399><c> rather</c><04:17:04.800><c> than</c><04:17:05.120><c> replaces
• </c> automation enhances rather than replaces automation enhances rather than replaces human<04:17:06.159

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill finally ends the era of reactive ad hoc disaster spending and replaces it with long-term solutions
• :38.880><c> disaster</c><00:09:39.440><c> spending</c><00:09:39.839><c> and</c><00:09:40.080><c> replaces
• </c><00:09:40.480><c> it</c> hoc disaster spending and replaces it hoc disaster spending and replaces
• While this bill will help assist in these efforts, it's no replacement for strong, independent, bipartisan

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or capture new income type to align with the new requirements for paid family medical leave wage replacement
• or capture new income type to align with the new requirements for paid family medical leave wage replacement
• ,</c><02:17:05.040><c> wage</c> paid family medical leave, wage paid family medical leave, wage replacement
• replacement replacement payments.<02:17:07.880><c> Um</c><02:17:08.880><c> those</c><02:17:09.200><c

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcement, Hampton Beach, Detail, and J1, we will shift $3 million a year of general funds out and replace
• 09.440><c> and</c> million a year of general funds out and million a year of general funds out and replace
• <c> them</c><01:57:10.320><c> by</c><01:57:10.639><c> increasing</c><01:57:11.119><c> highway</c> replace
• them by increasing highway replace them by increasing highway funds.<01:57:11.760><c> So,</c><01:57:
• machines that the new slot machines, for lack of a better word, are intended to build on and eventually replace

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• the ARPA, whatever other federal acronym you want to call them by, the funds were meant to be a replacement
• 55.040><c> be</c><01:21:55.280><c> a</c> the funds where meant to be a the funds where meant to be a replacement
• 56.280><c> loss</c><01:21:56.639><c> Revenue</c><01:21:57.280><c> but</c><01:21:57.920><c> the</c> replacement
• for loss Revenue but the replacement for loss Revenue but the entities<01:21:59.480><c> receiving</c
• So she balanced it, but because it's based on lapses, you're not going to release people or not replace

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's actually replaced the one that was on the books previously. books that is no longer being funded
• so just make that position full-time and so it's<00:39:06.520><c> actually</c><00:39:07.119><c> replaced
• the</c><00:39:08.319><c> one</c><00:39:08.640><c> that</c><00:39:08.800><c> was</c> it's actually replaced
• the one that was it's actually replaced the one that was on<00:39:09.079><c> the</c><00:39:09.240><c
• So those two numbers are just guesses, and that would replace— reflected in reflected in H2<04:32:41.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Personnel Appeals Board, which explained that it became an independent state agency after Senate Bill 487 and was presenting its first standalone operating budget. The board described its quasi-judicial role in hearing appeals from classified state employees over disciplinary actions such as warnings, suspensions, and terminations, and said it handles about 25 to 35 cases a year, with some cases lasting longer because of their complexity. Members also outlined the need for a chair and vice chair who are attorneys, the board’s current staffing and space needs, and its plan to move away from reliance on Administrative Services for office support and website functions. The board requested about $353,500 for fiscal year 2026, including startup costs, routine operating expenses, and two new part-time positions: a program director and a paralegal. Members said the budget reflects the new independent status, includes funding for only four board members rather than the authorized five, and is designed to avoid full-time staffing costs and benefits. Legislators asked about the cost per case, the board’s relationship to DAS, whether appeals must go through the board before court, and how often cases are appealed further. The board said appeals must first go through it, that court appeals are infrequent but have increased recently, and that the board’s process is intended to resolve disputes more quickly and less expensively than court litigation. Committee members also asked about the board’s caseload, outcomes, and staffing. The board said that in the prior year there were 22 cases, with four decisions overturned in favor of employees, nine dismissals, and nine settlements, and that many disputes are resolved before reaching the board through a multi-step internal process. A member noted the governor and council had recently approved a new board member and were expected to approve a fifth soon. The discussion ended with questions about the board’s website and records access, which members said would need to be moved from Administrative Services as part of the agency’s transition. The committee then moved to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. The executive director explained that the council is 100 percent federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and develops a five-year plan to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said the council works with state agencies and advocacy organizations on quality-of-life issues, accessibility, voter rights training, and plain-language or easy-to-read materials, and that 60 percent of its membership must be individuals with disabilities or family members/guardians. She also described the council’s funding structure, including reimbursement to the state for operating costs, and noted that it currently has three full-time and three part-time positions, with no new positions requested but one full-time position being eliminated and replaced after a pandemic-era staffing change did not work out as planned.