Transcript Highlights:

• , um executive session, um executive session, but<00:34:11.440> now<00:34:11.679> that<
• I'll wait till exec. Okay. Further questions?
• . sessions. sessions.
• And with that, the chair now closes the executive session on Senate Bill 42.
• And with that, the chair will close the executive session on Senate Bill 78.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > Second. >> With that, um, I will open the session for discussion.
• Um, with that, we're closed on closing the executive session.
• And with that, I close the executive session. Okay.
• Then um we I was executive session.
• session. That's how it works. session. That's how it works.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it is I'll close the executive session it is I'll close the executive session on<05:24:04.480>
• but I will open up the executive session but I will open up the executive session on<05:30:04.320
• <05:57:09.520> I exe session on the executive session.
• I exe session on the executive session.
• session on House Bill 14:30. session on House Bill 14:30.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:54.159> for entertained a bill last session for entertained a bill last session for
• There are recent legislation, I think it was maybe last session or the session before, there was an addition
• There are recent legislation, I think it was maybe last session or the session before, there was an addition
• There are recent legislation, I think it was maybe last session or the session before, there was an addition
• There are recent legislation, I think it was maybe last session or the session before, there was an addition

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on a bill arising from the Lee case involving animal seizures and humane society involvement. Members and the commissioner discussed concerns about due process, lack of clear notice to animal owners, the need for owners to understand when they are surrendering ownership, and whether humane agents should have additional training or certification. Several members also questioned the role of the NH SPCA and humane societies, the absence of oversight, and whether there was any financial or policy conflict in their involvement. The commissioner said the Department of Agriculture does not have a direct relationship with humane societies, but does coordinate with police on seizures, and noted that problems tend to arise when agencies do not consult the department first. Testimony and discussion focused on possible fixes to the bill, including clearer written notice of rights, requiring a third-party qualified veterinarian or other neutral evaluator, establishing the condition of animals at the time of seizure for later court proceedings, and possibly using teleconferencing with a veterinarian in limited circumstances. Some members suggested the bill may need a broader study committee, while others said it should be amended now rather than delayed. The chair said the bill would be worked on further and sent to the subcommittee for more detailed review. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 250, which would allow local governing bodies to regulate dog muzzling. Representative Jodi Newell testified that the bill was intended to let municipalities respond to dangerous dogs, citing Keene’s attempt to require muzzling after a serious incident but lack of clear authority under current law. Deborah LeBlanc also testified about a dog attack that seriously injured her dog and said a muzzle requirement could have prevented the attack. Committee members asked about the incident, existing dog-control laws, and whether the dog had been leashed; the discussion suggested the bill was meant to clarify local authority over muzzling as a public safety measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• executive session and we have a second. executive session and we have a second.
• out of executive session? So move. out of executive session? So move.
• So under SB2, you'd have another deliberative session, another balloting session.
• We're in executive session. it. We're in executive session. All right.
• executive session? executive session?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that I did the exact session on three. that I did the exact session on three.
• This coming session next Thursday.
• I'll open up the executive session. I'll open up the executive session.
• I don't take notes session.
• session on Senate Bill 272. session on Senate Bill 272.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three transportation bills. SB 154 would add the Snow Traveler Foundation to the list of charitable organizations authorized to offer multi-use decal plates through the existing Department of Safety program. Senator David Roford said the bill would create a non-tax funding source for snowmobile trail maintenance, especially after flood damage, and Dan Gold of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association said the foundation would accept tax-deductible donations for projects such as upgraded trail signage. He explained that the association’s 96 volunteer clubs maintain about 7,000 miles of trails and that the sign program is costly. No opposition was presented, and the hearing was closed after questions from members about the foundation’s status and fundraising goals. SB 271 would expand eligibility for veteran license plates to include veterans with a general discharge under honorable conditions. The sponsor’s representative said the change would recognize service members who are already eligible for many veterans benefits but are excluded from plates under current law. Supporters included Phil Grizzo, who argued that general discharges often reflect service that was otherwise honorable, and Kevin Grady of the State Veterans Advisory Committee, which said it strongly supported the bill and was also considering broader statutory cleanup to standardize the definition of veteran across state law. Committee members asked whether the change should be limited to plates or applied more broadly, but the sponsor said broader changes would be a separate policy question. The public hearing was then closed. SB 273, titled “Cheryl’s Law,” would update New Hampshire’s move-over requirements for motorists approaching stopped or standing vehicles on the roadside, including stranded vehicles and those with warning signals. Senator Donovan Fenton said the bill was intended to save lives and honor Staff Sergeant Jesse Cheryl and Brigadier General John Pogo, both of whom died in roadside incidents. He said the measure would require drivers to slow down, change lanes if safe, and move over for roadside vehicles, with the intent of education rather than punishment. Committee members asked about enforcement, the lack of a fiscal note, whether the bill applied statewide, and whether the language could be read as weakening the move-over requirement; the sponsor said it applied to all roads, did not change fines, and was meant to clarify and broaden safety obligations. The hearing continued with additional questions, and the sponsor said state police and other safety stakeholders supported the approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• this summer, but that's session this summer, but that's absolutely<01:09:45.199> right.
• Um Senator Andis came to us on this bill uh last session. Um we talked pretty extensively on it.
• Um Senator Andis came to us on this bill uh last session. Um we talked pretty extensively on it.
• Um we talked pretty uh last session.
• So by the time we get to our exec session, our exec session moves very smoothly.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved. The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do parent listening sessions. We look at their policies and procedures.
• They may go into closed session with their school board so they can share it.
• If we just meet right after session, we can get that.
• meet right after session, we can get<01:45:39.199> that.
• But hopefully it's, you know, if we're getting out of session by noonish.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met for its third discussion on special education aid under retained bill 742, with the chair noting that no action would be taken at the meeting. The chair reviewed prior hearings on Medicaid and local special education funding shortfalls, saying the committee was trying to understand why districts are facing proration of special education aid and how to reduce unfunded costs. He raised a series of questions for the Department of Education about the Nessus system, eligibility and ineligibility, invoices and vouchers, audit procedures, reimbursement rates, out-of-state placements, and who enters data at the district level. Rebecca Fdet, director of special education services at the Department of Education, explained that Nessus is the statewide special education information system and that every child in special education must be entered into it. She said most districts use it to develop IEPs and track services, while six districts use it only as a data reporting tool. She described which fields are required, how the system connects IEP development to the financial section, and how districts submit invoices when seeking special education aid, court-ordered placement payments, or episode-of-treatment placements. She said the department reviews invoices against the IEP, pays only for allowable services, and uses a cap that notifies districts when they reach the annual limit. Members asked about who submits the information, how districts decide when to seek aid, and how costs are calculated for individual or group services. Fdet said the district, usually an administrative assistant in the SAU office, submits the documentation electronically, and districts decide when to track students for aid based on their own circumstances. She said reimbursement is based on actual costs tied to the IEP, with group services split among students, and that the department does not generally set rates for local services. The only rate-setting she described was for approved private special education providers, which submit annual cost spreadsheets for tuition rates. She also said out-of-state providers must be approved by their own state, and the department checks licensure and certification through monitoring and investigations if concerns arise. The department also described its monitoring process, called Program Approval and General Supervision Monitoring, or PAGS. Fdet said districts are reviewed on a six-year cycle, with more intensive review for districts needing assistance or intervention and fewer file requests for districts meeting requirements. She said the department can review up to 65 data points on an IEP and that districts must submit special education aid paperwork by July 31, with superintendent verification due by August 15. The meeting ended with continued questions about procurement, audit procedures, and how the department handles out-of-district and out-of-state placements.

Transcript Highlights:

• last point, and I heard it come up previously, and that's that these— That and this came up last session
• recall, the Senate concurred with related Senate Bill 36 as amended by the House at last Thursday's session
• recall, the Senate concurred with related Senate Bill 36 as amended by the House at last Thursday's session
• Uh, the Senate concurred with related Senate Bill 36 as amended by the House at last Thursday's session

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sessions today.
• They had over 1,200 people show up for the deliberative session.
• They had over 1,200 people show up for the deliberative session.
• The committee came back to order and resumed executive session on HB 15.
• Okay, that ends the executive session on HB 15.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The executive session focused primarily on HB 563, which revises the school funding formula, especially the adequate education grant amounts for special education students and the treatment of fiscal capacity disparity aid. Representative Ladd moved OTPA on Amendment 06508, explaining that FY 26 would largely hold the current formula steady, while FY 27 would increase several per-pupil amounts, including base cost, free and reduced-price meals, English language learner aid, and special education differentiated aid. He said the special education change was based on estimated case loads across disability categories and that the amendment also reinstates fiscal capacity disparity aid, using a formula intended to better assist property-poor communities. Several members supported the amendment as a step in the right direction, saying it better recognizes special education costs and separates property wealth from low-income student counts. Others raised concerns about the lack of time and the absence of a printed spreadsheet showing how the fiscal capacity disparity aid would affect each town. In response, sponsors said the spreadsheet existed, that the LBA had copies, and that the amendment would help about 40 target towns, while Manchester would be the main community receiving less under the new formula because of prior shifts in the extraordinary needs grant. Discussion also covered the broader impact of the bill, with members noting that about 200 of the state’s 245 cities and towns would see an increase and 45 a decrease under the proposed FY 27 changes. Supporters argued the bill was a compromise given limited revenues and that it should move forward so it can be considered by the full House and then Finance. No final vote on the amendment or bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee was still deciding whether it had enough information to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:18.400> I for that next legislative session. I for that next legislative session.
• until that uh, legislative session ends. until that uh, legislative session ends.
• >> the the end of the session. >> the the end of the session. >> Correct.
• <01:16:15.120> The um at this deliberative session. The um at this deliberative session.
• We'll be back at 2 for execing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to call Commerce out of recess back into session.
• So, I think what we'll do in executive session is talk through the bills that we heard last week.
• We may be able to exec two or three of these and move forward in a positive way with those.
• Do we have a motion to come out of<00:14:40.320> executive<00:14:40.720> session?
• of executive session? of executive session?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been doing this since the 2016–2017 session, coming and talking to the Senate committees and the
• My first experience with this was House Bill 1249 in the 2018 session.
• I would be happy to entertain any comments. hearing, the the exact session on it, um hearing, the the
• exact session on it, um some<01:59:49.040> people<01:59:49.199> are<01:59:49.360> reluctant
• We’re not going to exec any bills with such a small staff.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:33:21.000> at be back for our executive session at be back for our executive session at
• We'll see you then. we'll be going into executive session we'll be going into executive session it's<
• <04:22:22.800> on<04:22:23.239> House session on House session on House Bill<04:22:25.279
• <04:22:37.520> on to open up the executive session on to open up the executive session on
• be um I'll close the executive session be um I'll close the executive session on 287<05:01:52.120

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee opened with an announcement correcting the public hearing list: House Bill 209 was mistakenly listed as a continued hearing, but the chair said that hearing had already been closed and would not be reopened. The committee then moved to House Bill 305, which would allow municipalities to install and use speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. The prime sponsor, Rep. Jones, said the bill was intended as a tool to address police staffing shortages and erratic driving, and emphasized that municipalities would pay the costs, work with DOT and the Department of Safety, and retain full control without using third-party vendors. He said the bill was meant to target speeding, red-light violations, and similar conduct, with enforcement handled locally and subject to state and federal law. Committee members raised questions about how citations would work, who would be held responsible in multi-driver or rental-car situations, whether due process would be affected, and whether cameras could identify the driver rather than just the vehicle. The sponsor and supporting witness Edward H. of Keene said municipalities would determine procedures, that an officer would still have to review and issue any summons, and that the bill was meant to be a limited enforcement tool rather than a catch-all. Edward H. also described the bill as adding guardrails such as a needs analysis, coordination with DOT, annual reporting, and public records of detections and fines. The Department of Transportation testified neutrally, saying it had no position on the bill and noting that current state systems include speed feedback signs, bridge security cameras, toll cameras that capture plates only, and traffic-signal detection cameras that do not record video. No vote was taken. The committee then held a brief hearing on House Bill 368, which would prohibit smoking tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under 16 is present and impose a $100 secondary fine. Rep. Miller introduced the bill in the sponsor’s absence, and there was no public testimony for or against it. The chair closed the hearing. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 390, which would add retired fire apparatus to the antique vehicle exemption so old fire trucks can be registered and used in parades without being stripped of their equipment. Rep. Parson explained that a strict reading of current law had led DMV to reject some antique fire engine registrations, and said the bill would fix that while preserving the ban on commercial use and on impersonating emergency vehicles. Members asked about the relationship to existing laws on emergency-vehicle impersonation, and the sponsor said the bill would not affect those laws. The hearing remained open as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• sessions today.
• much so we're in an executive session much so we're in an executive session and<00:53:10.400>
• They had over 1,200 people show up for the deliberative session.
• They had over 1,200 people show up for the deliberative session.
• <04:32:47.159> let<04:32:47.279> me session let me session let me look<04:32:50.119>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 563, which revises the adequacy education grant formula, including differentiated aid for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and special education, and also restores fiscal capacity disparity aid. Members explained that for FY 26 the formula largely stays the same with the usual 2% increases, while FY 27 would raise the base cost and several aid categories, including a substantial increase in special education differentiated aid. Supporters said the bill recognizes higher special education costs and separates fiscal capacity disparity from the extraordinary needs grant, which they argued better targets property-poor communities. A major point of discussion was the fiscal capacity disparity aid component. Some members asked for more detail on how the formula affected individual towns and how much money was being allocated. The sponsors said the spreadsheet showed the impacts and estimated the fiscal capacity disparity portion at about $13.3 million, benefiting roughly 40 communities, with Manchester the only municipality expected to receive less under the new approach. They also said the change partially rebalances money that had shifted heavily toward larger cities under the extraordinary needs grant and that the special education increase is new money, not taken from the hold harmless or extraordinary needs funds. Several members supported the amendment as a good-faith step and a bipartisan compromise, while others expressed frustration that they did not have enough time or information to review the spreadsheets in detail before voting. After extended debate, the committee recessed for lunch to allow the spreadsheet to be distributed and reviewed, with the understanding that the bill would continue later in the day and then move on to the other bills on the docket.

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e e e e e e The Senate is now in session.
• Okay, motion to come out of the executive session.
• Motion: We move into executive session. Second. Any discussion?
• <01:42:24.320> so<01:42:24.679> so session so so session so so mov<01:42:27.239> right
• this committee has done this session this committee has done this session already<01:50:07.800><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're starting with executive session. Second.
• Okay, um, motion to go out of executive session. Executive session.
• All in favor of moving out of exec. And we'll take five minutes and start the new hearings.
• We're going to go into executive session. So moved, seconded. All in favor?
• Motion to move out of executive session. We're moving out of executive session. Okay.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like it did last session.
• <00:04:42.080> Um, it did last session. Um, it did last session.
• Um, I do know conversations session.
• election with the deliberative session election with the deliberative session and<01:25:20.719><
• Bob Lynn has a bill this session session session that<02:57:44.479> specifically<02:57:45.439>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maryland is uh remains in session. Maryland is uh remains in session.
• They can hold those sessions.
• host these sessions.
• at the next session today. at the next session today.
• . session. session.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first handled routine announcements, including welcoming a new group of pages and noting donations of donuts and chicken from local businesses, along with a citation planned for Mr. Herman’s Bakery, which is closing after 103 years. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 858, establishing a Department of Budget and Management Audit and Finance Compliance Unit. A senator moved to send the bill back to second reading to add an amendment, which was adopted without objection, and the bill was reprinted for third reading. The Finance Committee then reported several bills. Senate Bill 84, concerning collective bargaining for graduate assistants at UMCP and UMBC, was laid over after questions about whether graduate assistants are employees or students. Senate Bill 455, creating a transformational project financing program tied to tax increment financing districts, had two committee amendments adopted and was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, also received two committee amendments and was ordered up, but a later Howard County amendment was proposed and the bill was laid over. Senate Bill 777, directing workforce development support in hospital closures and related events, was adopted and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 831, addressing child labor penalties, private-sector labor relations, and state labor standards, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 932, requiring social media platforms to display users’ general geographic location, was laid over after questions. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 340, requiring at least $2 million annually for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, with two amendments adopted and the bill sent to third reading. Senate Bill 489, creating a limited license pathway for physicians trained abroad and repealing the fifth pathway program, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 496, expanding Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, prompted extended debate over the fiscal note and who would bear the costs; the sponsor argued the estimate was overstated and did not account for likely lower utilization or health-care savings, while an opponent pressed concerns about the state share and structural deficit. The discussion continued without a final vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• this Tuesday to hear the final four House bills that have been assigned to this committee for this session
• And I think every member of this committee on previous sessions of this committee is aware of the huge
• Welcome back to the afternoon session of SDN for Tuesday, February 10th.
• up and folks, you know, the utilities or the PUC saw it coming in, you know, middle of July after sessions
• up and folks, you know, the utilities or the PUC saw it coming in, you know, middle of July after sessions

Keywords: 1189, house, all