Transcript Highlights:

• I think the other thing is we're working on creating efficiencies through our process.
• As we achieve those efficiencies, we can continue to look at what the number of workers is so that we
• </c><00:29:22.320><c> that</c><00:29:22.480><c> we</c> will result in more efficiency that we will result
• in more efficiency that we cannot<00:29:23.159><c> take</c><00:29:23.679><c> advantage</c><00:29:24.120
• She added that simplifying the process would help the state move forward more efficiently and better

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Human Services and Homelessness heard two SNAP-related bills on March 13, 2025. SB 960 SD1 would appropriate funds to DHS to improve SNAP administration, including additional positions. Testimony from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Food Industry Association, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed, and many others strongly supported the measure, emphasizing high food insecurity, the importance of SNAP federal dollars, and the need to reduce delays and improve access. DHS said vacancies and retention are the main barriers, with staffing shortages statewide across processing centers. The department described efforts such as wikiwiki hiring, bringing back retired workers, using interns, and improving call center efficiency, and said it had requested a 5% performance incentive package estimated at about $1.1 million per year, though that request did not make the governor’s budget. Members asked about vacancy counts, staffing distribution, and how the bill would interact with other SNAP funding; DHS said some funding was tied to the new eligibility system and that staffing requests would need to be separate. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion heard. The committee then heard SB 961 SD1, which would require DHS to adjust minimum certification periods and participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project. Supporters, including AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and additional organizations and individuals, said the bill would reduce red tape, help kūpuna, and ease administrative burden. DHS supported the concept but said the current legacy system cannot automate these changes and that any implementation would require manual processing until the new system is in place. DHS and committee members discussed the risk of higher error rates and timeliness problems with manual processing, noting the department had recently been assessed a $1 million penalty for high payment error rates and was already in corrective action for timeliness. Members also discussed the anticipated fall 2026 rollout of the new system and whether the bill should be delayed until then; DHS said it preferred to assess the new system first before pursuing waivers and related changes. The committee then moved on to the next measure after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows us to become more efficient and effective, a school community that is better equipped to meet
• ><01:20:00.600><c> to</c><01:20:00.800><c> become</c><01:20:01.040><c> more</c><01:20:01.280><c> efficient
• </c><01:20:01.600><c> and</c> allows us to become more efficient and allows us to become more efficient
• I can be more efficient in my work and focus on teaching.
• in my work and focus on efficient in my work and focus on teaching<01:24:18.600><c> having</c><01:24

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• around the state, which is consolidating a lot of these small departments, making them far more efficient
• </c><00:03:14.319><c> and</c><00:03:14.560><c> far</c><00:03:14.760><c> more</c> them far more efficient
• and far more them far more efficient and far more affordable<00:03:16.080><c> uh</c><00:03:16.200><c
• <00:08:25.159><c> and</c><00:08:25.360><c> sustainable</c><00:08:25.879><c> service</c> efficient and
• sustainable service efficient and sustainable service throughout<00:08:27.039><c> a</c><00:08:27.159

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 11, which outline many of the partnerships we have with employers, to pages 12 and 13—12 is the efficiency
• Page 12 is the efficiency budget that we submitted, and the one note that I'd want to draw attention
• </c><01:24:56.119><c> budget</c> 13 12 is the efficiency budget 13 12 is the efficiency budget we<01:
• 12</c><01:25:05.760><c> is</c><01:25:05.920><c> the</c><01:25:06.360><c> E</c><01:25:06.840><c> efficiency
• </c> thank P page 12 is the E efficiency thank P page 12 is the E efficiency budget<01:25:07.880><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• Has technology helped at all in terms of creating efficiencies and processing these requests?
• efficiencies and processing these<00:08:54.959><c> requests?
• <01:15:47.120><c> gains</c><01:15:47.600><c> really</c><01:15:48.000><c> productivity</c> efficiency
• These are the state's use of these tools at this time are really focused on productivity and efficiency
• gains um not on trying to and efficiency gains um not on trying to automate<01:22:55.760><c> decision

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to look at how efficiencies. We have to look at how we're<00:38:28.640><c> accountability.
• We try to run as efficiently as possible.
• </c><00:56:37.920><c> as</c> economically as possible, efficiently as economically as possible, efficiently
• And, uh, that's tough to figure out, and it relates to efficiencies and, you know, whether we can do
• and you know whether we can efficiencies and you know whether we can do<02:10:03.440><c> things</c><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a simple, efficient research-backed step that would empower thousands of students to rise to the
• It's a simple, efficient research-backed step that would empower thousands of students to rise to the
• It's a simple, efficient research-backed step that would empower thousands of students to rise to the
• </c> by Design it's a simple efficient by Design it's a simple efficient research<00:54:36.760><c> backstep
• We have a much smaller state bureaucracy, and we can be more efficient.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is room to move people and animals and equipment more efficiently through this space, as well as
• through this space uh as efficiently through this space uh as well<00:07:52.879><c> as</c><00:07:53.039
• <00:20:16.720><c> upgrading</c><00:20:17.240><c> treatment</c> efficiency upgrading treatment efficiency
• And this is the new ultra-high-efficiency hydronic boiler.
• efficient to to maximize<02:04:04.840><c> every</c><02:04:05.119><c> square</c><02:04:05.440><c> foot

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This proposed change maintains high professional standards while embracing regulatory independence, educational
• standards maintains high professional standards while<04:12:42.640><c> embracing</c><04:12:43.279><c> regulatory
• </c><04:12:43.920><c> independence,</c> while embracing regulatory independence, while embracing regulatory

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the part of this administration to do these exact things: electoral systems, the independent regulatory
• . electoral systems,<00:18:48.480><c> the</c><00:18:48.720><c> independent</c><00:18:49.280><c> regulatory
• </c> systems, the independent regulatory systems, the independent regulatory bodies, bodies, bodies,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But really, there are regulatory efforts in terms of if someone is registered with Medicaid, there is
• that there initially, but it's really that there are<00:39:29.680><c> there's</c><00:39:30.560><c> regulatory
• /c><00:39:31.280><c> efforts</c><00:39:31.680><c> in</c><00:39:32.000><c> terms</c> are there's regulatory
• efforts in terms are there's regulatory efforts in terms of<00:39:32.880><c> if</c><00:39:33.200><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session opened with routine announcements, including new and absent members, a tribute to former chair Rep. Jess Edwards, and an explanation that Division 3 is advisory and will make recommendations to full Finance. Chair Mooney also distributed a self-created index to the budget binder and reviewed the committee’s options under House Rule 45. Members discussed scheduling a future visit to the Veterans Home in Tilton, with several October dates unavailable, and the chair said she would circulate possible dates. The committee also reviewed the second-year budget context and sources of funding, including surplus monies, existing and new revenue streams, grants, reappropriations, and the rainy day fund. The committee then took up several retained bills and repeatedly heard that their substance had already been addressed in the budget. House Bill 519, funding the Waypoint Youth and Young Adult Shelter, was moved ITL and passed 10-0. House Bill 547, county reimbursement funds, was also moved ITL and passed 10-0 after members noted the reimbursement had been included in HB 2. House Bill 570, repealing the prescription drug affordability board, was moved ITL and passed 10-0, with minority members saying they still believed the board had value but acknowledging the repeal had already occurred in HB 2. House Bill 704, concerning caregiver respite and senior volunteer programs, received the most discussion. Mr. Ripple explained that most items were already funded or suspended in the budget, leaving only the senior volunteer grant program unfunded. Chair Mooney offered amendment 2963H to fund the RSVP program at $180,000 for one year, contingent on surplus funds, and DHHS witnesses explained that RSVP is a federally funded AmeriCorps program that would be added to existing state licensing structures. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill was reported ought to pass as amended on a 10-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 751, which would require licensure of outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities and create an ombudsman-related complaint process. DHHS witnesses said the bill had been narrowed substantially from an earlier certification model with multiple positions and IT costs to a licensing model using existing department infrastructure, reducing the fiscal note to $211,000 for one position. They also said the ombudsman section was no longer needed because licensed facilities would fall under existing oversight. Members questioned how many facilities exist and whether licensing fees would cover costs; DHHS said it did not know the full provider landscape and that licensing revenue across the board does not cover the department’s costs. Rep. Daniels then proposed amendment 2964H to form a study committee because of the remaining questions and lack of a clear revenue stream, and the committee was still discussing that amendment when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• the sections of our division varies considerably, but our division’s common purpose is to support efficient
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently
• works with agencies to help them develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve findings efficiently

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:25:33.920><c> And</c><01:25:34.159><c> so</c><01:25:34.560><c> our</c> being as efficient as
• And so our being as efficient as we can.
• Um, and we want to make for efficiency.
• And we're always looking for ways that we can reduce costs, create efficiencies, and still provide the
• And we're always looking for ways that we can reduce costs, create efficiencies, and still provide the

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Select Subcommittee first took up adoption of three previously prepared nonpartisan committee summary reports dated October 15, November 13, and November 21. Senator Rasmusson objected to the lack of advance notice about the day’s testifiers and criticized the practice of having nonpartisan staff summarize what he described as a partisan agenda. The chair responded that the committee’s purpose is to gather information, not hear bills, and that the summaries were intended as neutral resources for the Senate. Senator Coopek moved adoption, the motion was opposed by Rasmusson and another member, and the motion passed. The committee then turned to the day’s hearing on federal impacts on Minnesota, with the chair focusing on federal funding threats and the effect of congressional budget actions on health care, especially in greater Minnesota. The first presentation came from the Minnesota Department of Health on the state’s rural health transformation work. Assistant Commissioner Carol Broom introduced the team and described the rural hospital transformation program as a major opportunity to invest in rural health, while acknowledging longstanding challenges such as demographics, transportation barriers, and the financing of care. Nitha Moibi outlined the state’s rural health chart book and data showing an aging population, workforce shortages, and many health professional shortage areas, and described proposed strategies including workforce pipelines, bridge payments for low-volume birth hospitals, telehealth access points, mental health urgent care, and chronic disease prevention. Acting Assistant Commissioner Anna Ashby of the Minnesota Management and Budget office explained the state’s application to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created in federal law and awarded Minnesota just over $193 million for federal fiscal year 2026. She said the application was shaped by public comments, stakeholder meetings, and legislative outreach, and included initiatives on preventive care, workforce, care access, behavioral health, and provider financial stability. She also reviewed implementation constraints, including a January 30 revised budget deadline, limits on administrative spending, restrictions on using funds to offset Medicaid losses, and the need to show measurable progress to remain eligible for future funding. The presentation noted that most year-one funding would go to rural hospitals, with additional support for federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, tribal partners, and technical assistance.

Transcript Highlights:

• That may be the most efficient use of the time here, if you like. Thank you, Mr. Shman.
• </c><00:59:09.520><c> be</c><00:59:09.720><c> the</c><00:59:09.880><c> most</c><00:59:10.160><c> efficient
• use of of that may be the most efficient use of of the<00:59:11.799><c> time</c><00:59:12.119><c> here
• Concurrent enrollment is a much more efficient way of getting students the college options.
• Concurrent enrollment is a much more efficient way of getting students the college options.

Bills: HF984 , HF921 , HF922

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• , so I think you should all be very proud of the amazing work we do on efficiency here. indirect costs
• your University is here in the efficient your University is here in the state<00:46:43.760><c> of</c
• here um so the uh the the efficiency here um so the uh the the funds<00:46:55.200><c> that</c><00:46
• Through that, you also need to have an efficient medical practice that provides the revenues, but first
• Medical Practice uh that efficient Medical Practice uh that provides<01:08:47.400><c> the</c><01:08:

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our intention is for them to be able to be more effective and efficient in their student-facing work.
• Our intention is for them to be able to be more effective and efficient in their student-facing work.
• </c> able to be more effective and efficient able to be more effective and efficient and<01:11:50.760
• This bill reinforces the importance of shared services in optimizing efficiency and equity across all
• This bill reinforces the importance of shared services in optimizing efficiency and equity across all

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not tell agencies that they can't use this technology to work more efficiently.
• It simply says to be transparent. ...that they can't use this technology to work more efficiently.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we are being efficient in our time today, ...in budget conference.
• Because we are being efficient in our time today, we will begin conferencing this afternoon.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is meant to facilitate efficiency among the industry.
• “Yeah, so the arbitration in this situation, as you described, it does seem like an efficiency rather

Committee: House Insurance and Banking

Summary: The Insurance Committee first established a quorum and then went into executive session, where it voted House Bill 1615 and House Bill 2071 “do pass” with 11 ayes and no opposition on each bill, with one member present on the roll call. After returning to public session, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 1647, sponsored by Representative Overcast, which was described as a fairness measure intended to prevent double recovery when insurance payments have already satisfied part of a claim. The sponsor and supporters said the bill was aimed at property damage claims and intercompany arbitration between insurers, though several members questioned whether the bill’s language was actually limited to property damage or instead reached broader collateral source issues and evidence rules. Committee members, especially Representatives Butts, Zimmerman, and Castile, pressed the sponsor on how the bill would work in practice, whether it would reduce a plaintiff’s recovery or instead affect insurer subrogation rights, and why arbitration was being addressed in an evidentiary statute. Supporters from the Missouri Insurance Coalition and other industry groups said the bill would clarify offset rules, preserve voluntary insurer-to-insurer arbitration, and prevent inconsistent court treatment of prior payments. Opponents, including attorney Blake Heath, argued the bill was drafted too broadly, did not stay confined to property damage, and was placed in the wrong statutory section because these issues are usually handled through insurer subrogation rather than in a lawsuit by the injured party. Additional support came from the Missouri State Medical Association, Associated Industries of Missouri, and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, though some supporters also acknowledged the bill might need narrowing if the intent was property damage only. No vote was taken on House Bill 1647 during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to kind of recap, House Bill 1003 was an effort to make government more efficient and effective.
• To make government more efficient and effective, we were looking at doing that through repealing, merging

Keywords: 964, all