Transcript Highlights:

• Um that a reasonable person would ex- ex- ex- would<00:45:39.600><c> believe</c><00:45:39.920><c> explicitly
• I hate that they’re not covered part of it. Um, so that just wraps them into the survey part of it.
• </c> know you don't love the misdemeanor part know you don't love the misdemeanor part of<00:49:00.440
• </c><00:49:06.880><c> Um</c> into the survey part of it. Um into the survey part of it. Um Yeah.
• </c> &gt;&gt; It just wraps them into the survey part &gt;&gt; It just wraps them into the survey part

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is I think as a underappreciated u part is I think as a underappreciated u part of<00:06:07.199>
• And I'm proud to have been part of that group.
• </c><00:48:54.800><c> of</c> uh I'm I'm proud to have been part of uh I'm I'm proud to have been part
• Uh that's all part of the the number.
• </c> that was signed, but um it wasn't a part that was signed, but um it wasn't a part of<01:18:12.120

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 94, which would prohibit municipal amendments to the state building code and move New Hampshire toward a more uniform statewide code. Senator McConi and several supporters, including the Josiah Barlo Center for Public Policy, the State Fire Marshal, the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, argued that local variations create confusion, raise housing costs, and make compliance harder for builders operating in multiple towns. The Fire Marshal said the goal is a single state building and fire code with only limited administrative amendments at the local level, not technical changes, and noted that municipalities could still seek exceptions through the Building Code Review Board if needed. The chair explained that a similar House bill was already moving forward with fire code and administrative amendment language, and members agreed that retaining SB 94 would avoid conflicting bills. The committee then voted to retain SB 94 by roll call, 13-0, with no minority report. The committee then took up Senate Bill 30, which would designate the Virginia opossum as New Hampshire’s state marsupial. Senator Fenton presented the bill as a light-hearted measure inspired by Chesterfield School fourth graders, who had submitted written testimony and supported the idea. Members discussed the bill in a humorous but mostly supportive way, with one member objecting that it trivialized the legislature, while others said it could help engage students in the legislative process. The committee voted ought to pass on SB 30, 11-2, and agreed to place it on consent with no minority report. Later, the committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 95, concerning youth camp cabins and state fire/building codes. Senator McConi said the bill would exempt new residential cabins in youth recreation camps from sprinkler requirements and allow them to omit electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems, while requiring any such systems that are present to comply with state code. He said the measure was intended to resolve recurring interpretation problems that have caused expense and uncertainty for camp owners, and he praised work with the Fire Marshal’s office to reach a workable compromise. Representative Schmidt asked about cabin sizes and whether larger cabins with multiple occupants would still be safe; the senator explained that camps typically use counselors, drills, and supervision, and that the people behind him could answer more detailed questions. The transcript cuts off before the hearing concludes or any vote is taken on SB 95.

Transcript Highlights:

• -</c> studied this ex- studied this ex- over<00:18:44.600><c> 10</c><00:18:44.800><c> years.
• What the intention of that part is?
• </c> What the intention of that part is? What the intention of that part is?
• Or it's part of the groups?
• </c> part is really difficult for us to do. part is really difficult for us to do.

Bills: SB3326

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Labor heard SB 3326, a bill concerning a study of separating transmission from generation in Hawaii’s electric system. Testimony was largely opposed. Life of the Land argued that true separation on an isolated island grid has not been shown to work anywhere and said the bill would waste taxpayer money. Hawaiian Electric and the Public Utilities Commission also opposed the measure, saying Hawaii already uses competitive bidding for new generation, that the bill would add cost, complexity, and reliability risks, and that a new study would duplicate prior work. In response to questions, the PUC explained its existing competitive bidding framework and said it had not seen an island system fully restructure in this way. The chair then amended the bill’s intent to require the PUC to open a proceeding for an independent, comprehensive analysis of the state’s energy pathways, including cost reduction, financial risk, state energy goals, and reliability, rather than narrowly focusing on separation. Both committees voted to pass SB 3326 SD2 with amendments, with the Energy committee adopting the recommendation unanimously and the Labor committee adopting it with one reservation and two no votes. The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee then took up SB 2497 SD2, which would require electric utilities other than cooperatives to provide transparent, publicly accessible customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the PUC. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the PUC offered comments, with the PUC supporting the intent. Life of the Land said the proposed disclosure requirements would be too complex for most ratepayers to use meaningfully, while Hawaiian Electric said the bill could raise costs and slow projects, though it acknowledged some of the language changes and said much of the information is already available through existing planning and regulatory processes. Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and one individual testified in support. No vote was taken on SB 2497 SD2 during the excerpt. The committee also heard SB 3183 SD2, which would bar higher-income taxpayers from claiming the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain residential solar systems and would change refundability rules. The Department of Taxation, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Tax Foundation offered comments, while the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and numerous companies and individuals opposed the bill. Opponents raised concerns about impacts on financing models and the solar market. Members asked the Department of Taxation for data on how credits are claimed by homeowners versus third-party owners and on the refundability of the credit; the department said it did not have the information immediately available but would follow up. The chair indicated decision-making would likely be deferred to allow further review, and no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would point to two parts of my background.
• If you don't surrender to what the circumstances are, is that part of it?
• So currently, as part of a budget change proposal, we, we, as part of a budget change proposal, So, currently
• , as part of a budget change proposal, we did receive some resources for a DEIA unit.
• We're always, part of CalHR's role is to do statewide recruitment.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met with quorum and first approved several non-appearance items, including the appointments of Armin Meyer to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved references to bills, a request to suspend Senate Rule 55 for guest access on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard the appointment of Arania Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members questioned her about her background at CalHR and Finance, PERB’s case backlog, implementation of AB 288, recusal rules tied to her prior work, the ride-share caseload, and the board’s role in legislative employee unionization. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is prepared to implement AB 288 if litigation changes, and has strong recusal procedures; she also said the state employee cases affected by her recusal would be a small share of PERB’s workload. Public testimony supported the nominee, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard Monica Erickson’s appointment as Director of the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on labor negotiations, CalPERS fiduciary responsibilities, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and accountability, DEIA efforts, hard-to-fill classifications, degree requirements, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR is working on recruitment tools, class consolidations, apprenticeship pathways, policy forums, and a skills-matching pilot to help applicants, while also addressing pay equity and reducing barriers such as unnecessary degree requirements. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her appointment 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the second part.
• We would calculate their benefit in two parts: the Group 2 part based on the multipliers and the years
• of service, and the Group 1 part.
• </c><00:58:33.119><c> based</c><00:58:33.400><c> on</c> in two parts the group two part based on in two
• parts the group two part based on the<00:58:33.680><c> multipliers</c><00:58:34.319><c> and</c><00:58

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the thinking in part is that the inspector general probably won't be appointed until February
• </c><00:21:08.880><c> of</c> six lines eight and part of six lines eight and part of nine<00:21:11.520
• Um, I think Senator Draheim, you've been a part of that group as well.
• Um I think have been part of that.
• </c><00:49:10.319><c> of</c> Senator Draham, you've been a part of Senator Draham, you've been a part

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Karen Quley, the ex executive director of<00:05:21.520><c> library</c><00:05:22.000><c> services</c>
• be used as part of their marketing<00:15:40.560><c> strategy.
• </c><00:15:48.800><c> As</c><00:15:49.040><c> part</c> research and marketing theory.
• As part research and marketing theory.
• This work is in part made possible by Minitex support for libraries throughout the state.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The relevant part, you may continue, counsel.
• Would you like me to walk through it right now, or as part of my argument?
• And there's actually 3 parts to it dealing with elections or appointments.
• And so part of what the fair Part of what the fair case was about is that Ingragg v.
• So, that was clearly a part of the motion that was made, and that was.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would point to two parts of my background.
• If you don't surrender to what the circumstances are, is that part of it?
• So currently, as part of a budget change proposal, we did receive some resources for a DEIA unit.
• So, currently, as part of a budget change proposal, we did receive some resources for a DEIA unit.
• We're always, part of CalHR's role is to do statewide recruitment.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee first handled several routine items, approving two governor appointments not required to appear: Armin Meyer to the Division of Consumer Financial Protection and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved referral of bills to committees, a Rules waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guest access on the Senate floor on April 6, and floor acknowledgments, with each action passing 5-0. The committee then heard from Arania Ortega, appointed to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members asked about her background at CalHR and the Department of Finance, her approach to board decision-making, recusal rules, the status of AB 288, PERB’s caseload and backlog, ride-share enforcement, and the legislative employees’ unionization process. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is preparing for possible new workloads, and has recusal procedures that would automatically exclude her from certain state employee and child care cases for one year. Public testimony supported her appointment, and the committee voted 5-0 to move her nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Monica Erickson, nominated to lead the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on state labor negotiations, CalPERS, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and HR training, DEIA efforts, hiring pipelines, degree requirements, veteran hiring, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR has reduced the vacancy rate from 20% to 17%, is expanding recruitment tools and class consolidations, is working on a skills-matching tool and career counseling, and has helped reduce the gender pay gap from 21.1% in 2013 to 12.2%. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her nomination 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we're certainly not doing ex post facto law writing here.
• These are the individuals that are part of the Missouri Court Plan Commission, who are selecting those
• And a necessary part of that is, as you all well know, is And a partisan election.
• And a necessary part of that is, as you all well know, raising money.
• He said the second part of the bill includes Schedule I drugs.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no<01:12:43.520><c> ex</c><01:12:44.000><c> uh</c> no ex uh no ex uh opportunity<01:12:46.320
• I think if you were to take out the residential part and just keep in the commercial part, because there's
• I think if you were to take out the residential part and just keep in the commercial part, because there's
• I think if you were to take out the residential part and just keep in the commercial part, because there's
• </c> the part. the part. &gt;&gt; Got<04:25:32.880><c> it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• advocate one way or the other for this bill, but to assist you all in understanding how the various parts
• </c> understanding how uh the various parts understanding how uh the various parts of<00:06:00.960><c
• Um, right, the objective part could be a problem if it's your brother-in-law.
• We have a part-time building inspector that we share with Lamster. Yeah.
• </c><00:59:34.640><c> between</c> decision on their part between decision on their part between themselves

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, could we exempt that part?
• Well, and that's part of what the reason that I'm speaking right now. Okay.
• students, part-time PEL grants, and that would have major impact on your students.
• the part-time uh students, part-time<01:10:54.480><c> PEL</c><01:10:54.800><c> grants,</c><01:10:55.040
• the language as part of House Bill<01:26:14.400><c> 2.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• where you are mentally this what<00:20:52.679><c> what</c><00:20:53.039><c> my</c><00:20:53.320><c> ex
• what I remember of that what what my ex what I remember of that day<00:20:55.240><c> kind</c><00:20:
• That's one part in terms of how to get to the affordability.
• That's one part in terms of how to get to the affordability.
• </c> today's hearing for the most part today's hearing for the most part members<01:15:30.320><c> next

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If the defendant goes in and asks for it to be ex parte at that point, he or she can petition the judge
• Is that ex parte, or does the defendant get to be at that hearing or not?
• That part is ex parte. this is a tool that may enhance their this is a tool that may enhance their safety
• Have you ever seen a case where firearms, once the stalking order is not at the ex parte hearing, but
• part another part is is the commitment part another part is doctors<05:53:12.440><c> are</c><05:53:12.638

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires appointments of nonvoting ex officio members to serve in an advisory role to the committee
• It requires collaboration with impacted federally recognized tribes as part of the permit streamlining
• The second part of this is to... Substitute House Bill 2251 is amended by J-O-N-D-401 and 402.
• The second part of this is to... ...to the three budgets: capital, operating, and transportation.
• As I indicated in my introductory remarks, we know that there are challenges on the roadway, and part

Summary: The committee took up a series of transportation-related bills and proposed substitutes, with most measures advancing after discussion and roll-call or voice votes. House Bill 2092, creating a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, was amended by a proposed substitute that broadened membership and duties, and it passed 20-6. House Bill 2114, allowing fee waivers for replacement defective license plates, passed unanimously. House Bill 2172, clarifying route jurisdiction transfers and abandonments for highways and local roads, also passed unanimously after a substitute requiring agreements or legislative action for longer highway abandonments or those involving bridges. House Bill 2251, which restructures Climate Commitment Act accounts and revenue distribution, drew the most amendment activity. Two amendments were adopted to adjust forest carbon language and clarify Ecology administration funding, while amendments to redirect revenue to transportation infrastructure and to split excess revenue differently failed. The bill then passed 18-8 as amended. House Bill 2374, which redefines e-bikes and electric motorcycles and creates a work group on enforcement and safety, passed unanimously after a substitute added stakeholder representation and asked the work group to explore civil infractions and penalties. House Bill 2410, creating a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and increasing a safety fee, passed 25-1 after a substitute changed appointment authority, membership, and other council provisions. House Bill 2552, authorizing WSDOT and a regional transit authority to use MATOC contracting, was amended to add apprenticeship, prevailing wage, and notification requirements and then passed 16-10. House Bill 2588, expanding ferry district authority beyond passenger-only ferries, passed 16-10 amid concerns about taxing authority and voter input. House Bill 2718, setting timelines and processes for permit streamlining and originally including contractor ratings, had the contractor-rating section removed by amendment and then passed unanimously. House Bill 2722, increasing the vehicle weight threshold for transportation benefit district fees from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, passed 17-9. House Bill 2727, creating an educational transit access grant program for community and technical college students, passed 21-5 after supporters emphasized student access and equity, while some members raised rural access concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we endure, and continue to endure, is a part of the American story.
• In this, to us, a very sacred part of the year.
• Speaker, members, coming from the southern part of the state in San Diego County is often a feat.
• And nothing but goodness within her was killed by her ex-boyfriend.
• A board that I was actively a part of when I was on the local city council.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members are going in and out with other places they need to be, so that's kind of normal for this part
• Happy to answer any other questions about it, but that's the portions I think I'm most part.
• I just wanted to share a story from a constituent of mine, who—it's her ex-husband, but she helps care
• We are carrying this as part of our comprehensive education policy bill.
• So this is just the parts of the bill that pertain to this committee.

Bills: HF2354, HF1672, HF2389, HF2870, HF2743, HF1918, HF2551, HF1671

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, medical cannabis, medical marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, hemp, marijuana registry, patient registry, visiting patient, Tribal cannabis, Tribal medical cannabis program, Tribal sovereignty, Office of Cannabis Management, designated caregiver, home cultivation, adult-use cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• That's when I say that as part of OB3.
• </c> parts of of the program as well. parts of of the program as well.
• parte review required.
• </c> questions on that part. questions on that part.
• So I on that part of the population.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• - ex- ex- exists<00:15:37.840><c> as</c><00:15:37.960><c> a</c><00:15:38.040><c> possibility</c> exists
• And part of that work is testifying as we are today. Interesting.
• </c> part of this conversation. part of this conversation.
• </c> I think a key part of what's happening. I think a key part of what's happening.
• And so I do really appreciate that part.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all