Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a systemic issue around the state. Thank you. This is really a local issue.
• They're down in Utah and they're down in large reservoirs, and they're clogging up the systems.
• Whenever somebody is adjudicated under a juvenile system, there are certain types of fees and assessments
• So I think this is a good thing for those that get into the foster care system.
• This doesn't try to shield anybody from that, but just tries to prepare the system and the way forward

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the previous journal, then received gubernatorial and Senate messages and committee reports. Several new Ways and Means bills were introduced, including measures on managed recreation on endowment land, large electrical loads, Medicaid eligibility and work requirements, DOPL rulemaking and fees, daily recess in schools, rural health transformation, AI regulatory review, and Idaho Digital Learning Academy changes. The House also advanced a number of bills and memorials to the third-reading calendar and suspended rules to take up House Bill 893, a codifier cleanup bill, which passed unanimously on a voice-style roll call. The House then considered a series of Senate bills and House bills. Senate Bill 1255, dealing with involuntary commitment procedures on tribal reservations and recognizing tribal health facilities and tribal police officers, passed. Senate Bill 1257, which clarifies child protection and foster-care visitation rules in cases involving serious abuse, also passed. House Bill 803, expanding confidentiality protections for personnel involved in firing-squad executions, passed after debate over transparency and due process. Senate Bill 1293, correcting an unintended effect of prior public-benefits legislation on crime victims’ compensation, passed; Senate Bill 1308, a technical mediation cleanup bill, passed; House Bill 508, concerning roadway enhancement funds and consultant coverage, passed; Senate Bill 1272, a transportation code cleanup bill, passed; and Senate Bill 1309, clarifying restitution priority in juvenile cases, passed. Several bills drew more substantial debate and were defeated. Senate Bill 1271, which would have directed the Department of Agriculture to coordinate data collection and an abatement plan for invasive rats in southwest Idaho, failed after members split over whether it was a statewide issue or a local problem and whether it would expand government or create future costs. Senate Bill 1340, a left-lane driving bill that would have required slower traffic to move right and funded signage, also failed amid concerns about road conditions, enforcement, and confusion on multi-lane highways. Senate Concurrent Resolution 120, urging changes to Idaho’s nuclear waste agreement to support used nuclear fuel reprocessing and broader nuclear development, passed after a sharp debate over whether it would help Idaho’s energy future or weaken protections against long-term waste storage. The House also passed Senate Bill 1296, updating criminal trespass law to address disruptions at houses of worship, and Senate Bill 1325, creating a white specialty license plate to support Project Choice. Later, the House approved Senate Bill 1269 on cloud seeding transparency and liability, despite objections about consent, data, and liability protections. After the day’s business, the House announced upcoming committee meetings, returned House Bill 880 to the Transportation Committee, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reforming the state personnel system, and has amended same.
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5441, reforming the state personnel system.
• assumptions used to develop forecasts, evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and transparency of the system
• assumptions used to develop forecasts, evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and transparency of the system
• President, this is one of many bills this session that seeks to address our broken child welfare system

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And according to my data loggers, our system in 2017, where it was a drought year, we dropped five feet
• So we don't really see any demands on the system.
• Soldiers Meadows Reservoir is the highest reservoir in our system. We release water out of there.
• We bring water out of that into our system.
• We move this water from this surface water collection system into a pressurized system, and we deliver

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to eliminate the chance of providers manipulating the system through deductibles and co-pays.
• And here's a family who has every reason to manipulate the system through their employment to get on
• possibly someday there are trickle-down costs that might find their way to build premiums in the system
• And we wanted to utilize the current system we had in place that wouldn't cost us any additional funds
• They trusted the system. Parents deserve transparency.

Summary: The committee first introduced RS 33403, a follow-on podiatry bill that would merge podiatry with the Board of Medicine and move certain rules into statute. Representative Ehlers explained it was a replacement for prior legislation, and the committee voted to introduce it without objection. The committee then heard House Bill 713 on copay accumulator policies. Representative Cannon and co-sponsor Representative Furman argued the bill would stop insurers from refusing to count third-party copay assistance toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, especially for patients with expensive specialty drugs. Supporters, including patients and advocates, described serious financial hardship and treatment adherence problems caused by accumulators. Opponents, including the Idaho Association of Health Plans, argued the bill would raise costs and premiums, could conflict with Idaho’s anti-kickback law, and might interfere with private plan design. After debate, the committee voted 7-8 against the motion to send HB 713 to the floor, so the bill was held in committee. Next, the committee took up House Bill 655 and its related RS 33527, a pilot program to incentivize preceptorships by giving certain Medicaid providers a 12-month exemption from prior authorization requirements. The sponsor said the goal was to reduce administrative burden and increase training opportunities in rural areas and in family practice, psychiatry, and OB-GYN, with caps on participation and expansion to advanced practice providers and PAs in the RS. The committee first voted to hold HB 655 in committee, then approved RS 33527 for introduction and second reading. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 723 on children’s residential facilities. Representative Erickson said the bill would add quality-of-care oversight, annual unannounced inspections, resident and staff interviews, a youth bill of rights, and critical incident reporting, based on an OPE study and prior testimony about abuse and gaps in oversight. Testifiers, including parents and former residents, described abuse, isolation, and lack of reporting mechanisms in facilities and supported the bill. The committee discussed whether the bill created enforceable rights, but the sponsor said existing child protection and corrective action processes would apply. The bill was moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• of those critical IT projects, including the statewide voter registration and election management system
• , is associated with legislation and was flagged yesterday for $250,000 for an integrated digital system
• Item number 81 for NMSU as well is $750,000 for a Medicaid review system.
• This is a core function of state government, part of our justice system, and I think we need to fund
• Chair, so we would be back to status quo of what the system looked like.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• population of 400,000 or more for the purpose of developing and operating a high-capacity transit system
• use decision regarding those facilities, and it may construct facilities of a rail fixed guideway system
• regional transit authority chooses the route alignment and station locations of a rail fixed guideway system
• The reality of our systems is that they are private business.
• and the government nutrition assistance programs can't meet all of the need, and the hunger relief system

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2517, which would give regional transit authorities, especially Sound Transit, more flexible permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Staff and the bill sponsor said the goal is to let permit applications and technical reviews proceed concurrently with property acquisition and land use decisions, reducing delay and uncertainty for large transit projects. Sound Transit testified that the bill could save as much as nine months, while a city representative from Bothell asked for an amendment requiring notice to property owners before permits are advanced on land not yet owned or controlled by the agency. The committee then took testimony on HB 2313, concerning publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas. The bill would let cities acquire land, build or rehabilitate stores, seek capital grants, and create tax increment financing areas for grocery access projects, with annual reporting requirements. Supporters, including the sponsor, Food Lifeline, and Northwest Harvest, argued that grocery closures and food deserts are real problems and that local governments need tools to fill gaps when private grocers leave. Opponents, including grocery industry groups and several students, warned that public stores could undercut private grocers, burden taxpayers, and create operational and property-rights concerns; some testimony also questioned the need for government ownership and the use of tax increment financing. A proposed substitute removed eminent domain and tax increment financing provisions and narrowed the bill to grant-funded stores in underserved areas. Next, the committee heard HB 2451, a major rewrite of local tax increment financing rules. The bill would tighten notice, consultation, reporting, and mitigation requirements for TIF areas, strengthen the “but-for” test, limit where increment areas can be located, and protect existing taxing districts by excluding certain levies and requiring negotiation, mediation, or arbitration when impacts are significant. Cities, ports, counties, libraries, fire chiefs, and hospital districts largely described the bill as a negotiated compromise that improves transparency and addresses unintended impacts, though some local governments said they still wanted more flexibility or protections for existing projects. One city testified against the bill, arguing the new restrictions would make TIF much less useful for large redevelopment efforts. The committee then heard HB 2298, which would authorize county auditors to create voluntary property title protection programs to help prevent land-record fraud by allowing owners to record a protection instrument that delays recording of a title transfer for up to five business days unless identity verification is provided. Auditors, treasurers, and county officials strongly supported the bill as a practical response to rising deed fraud, while title and foreclosure industry representatives said the proposal was too limited, could interfere with foreclosures or other transfers, and would only delay—not prevent—fraud. The final bill heard was HB 2566 on local government procurement, which would raise certain small-purchase and small-public-works thresholds for counties, remove some differences between larger and smaller counties, and give counties more options when no bids are received. County representatives supported the bill as a needed update to procurement rules and a way to reduce bureaucracy and keep pace with inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• PANS may be triggered by various infections, immune system issues, or environmental factors, while PANDAS
• Since then, including with the Kaiser system, which I believe you guys also have in Washington State,
• It preserves access, clarity, and trust, cornerstones of a strong public health system.
• It is not uncommon for providers that actually have multiple electronic medical record systems due to
• A little A5 introduces a new concept of a community-based or system-based advocate.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three health care bills. HB 1496 would cap charges for electronically stored medical records at $50 for patients and certain authorized recipients, while removing a free-copy provision tied to SSI/SSDI appeals and changing attorney fee language to “prevailing patient.” Supporters, including patient advocates, attorneys, and injured workers, said current record fees can reach thousands of dollars and block access to justice; opponents, including hospitals, home care providers, and records vendors, argued the bill would not cover the labor and HIPAA compliance work involved in large third-party requests and could shift costs to providers and patients. The bill remained in hearing with testimony continuing after the committee moved through other bills. HB 2182 would change how the Department of Corrections distributes its stockpile of mifepristone and misoprostol, removing the requirement that the medications be sold at cost plus a $5 fee and instead allowing, but not requiring, payment while directing DOC and the Department of Health to coordinate distribution to providers and facilities. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill is needed so the state’s stockpile does not go unused or expire and to remove barriers to access for abortion and miscarriage care; opponents argued the bill subsidizes abortion, raises legal and taxpayer concerns, and should be rejected. Public testimony on HB 2182 was closed after hearing from both supporters and opponents. HB 2196 would require certain fully insured health plans to cover IVIG for PANS and PANDAS, with initial and medically necessary follow-up courses, and would bar denials based on prior treatment, age, out-of-state care when unavailable in Washington, or treatment guidelines that only address psychiatric symptoms. The sponsor, families, and physicians described severe, sudden-onset symptoms in children and said IVIG can be life-changing after other treatments fail, while insurers warned the mandate could add to already rising premiums and noted the treatment can be very expensive. HB 2242 would shift vaccine and preventive-service recommendation authority from federal bodies to the Department of Health, while preserving no-cost coverage for preventive services and updating the reference date for protected services; the governor, insurance commissioner, public health officials, and many physicians supported it as a way to preserve access amid federal instability and rising vaccine-preventable disease, while questions focused on whether the bill would change school or daycare requirements, which staff said it would not.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, our offender data information system.
• And when, if they speak, would they please introduce himself again because we're trying a new system
• Well, we've got the phone system... Prepared where it does roll over, and someone answers.
• LEAD trilogy, the LEAT basser instructor development, unmanned aircraft systems, drone operator.
• There's a visitor check-in system at the Main entrance, we don't have security cameras.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two, we can also place liability caps for healthcare systems.
• Liability caps for healthcare systems.
• I think this is a system they're talking about.
• For the Texas A&M University system, and you retired from the job after just...
• , a good transportation system, I guess as we heard today, a good healthcare system, and other benefits

Committee: Joint Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is once it's in their system.
• It is once it's in their system.
• It is once it's in their system.
• Legacy aerospace suppliers across Washington are increasingly adding space components and systems to
• Legacy aerospace suppliers across Washington are increasingly adding space components and systems to

Summary: The committee first heard a work session on cryptocurrency kiosks from the Department of Financial Institutions and Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillon. DFI described crypto kiosks as licensed money transmission terminals that allow cash purchases of virtual currency, and said the main concern is fraud: scammers often pressure victims, especially older adults, to deposit cash into kiosks and send it to wallets controlled by organized crime. DFI cited a sharp increase in kiosk volume, nationwide fraud complaints and losses, and said Washington currently has licensing and disclosure rules but lacks transaction and fee limits. The department said it is seeking stronger disclosures, a $1,000 daily transaction limit, and a fee cap. Spokane described its unanimous ordinance banning new kiosks and removing existing ones after local scam reports, and members asked about how the machines work, whether the fraud is in the hardware or the transaction, and whether stronger warnings or screening could help. The committee then reviewed home equity sharing agreements, or CHISAs, based on a report by Mariana Amaram and testimony from DFI and industry representatives. The report found that CHISAs provide homeowners a lump sum in exchange for a share of future home value or appreciation, with no monthly payments, but that consumers often struggle to understand the products and settlement calculations. The report said the market has grown quickly in Washington, that costs can be hard to predict, and that early uncapped contracts could produce very high settlement amounts, especially during periods of rising home prices. DFI said it views these products as mortgage loans and is moving forward with rulemaking, including counseling and clearer disclosures, while industry witnesses said the products are equity-based rather than debt-based and asked for tailored regulation. Members discussed the need for better consumer education, clearer payoff schedules, and whether the products should be treated as mortgages or a separate category. The final panel focused on Washington’s space economy, with presentations from Amazon Leo, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Space Northwest, and Green River College. Speakers highlighted major in-state investments in satellite manufacturing, launch systems, and workforce training, including Amazon Leo’s Redmond and Kirkland facilities, Blue Origin’s Kent headquarters, and Stoke Space’s Kent manufacturing and Moses Lake test site. Space Northwest presented data showing the sector’s growing economic footprint, high-wage jobs, and regional clusters in Kent and Redmond, and urged more workforce programs, incentives, infrastructure support, and a state space commission. The companies emphasized local hiring, apprenticeship and certification programs, and the role of Washington’s aerospace supply chain in supporting the broader space industry. No votes were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know there are faculty members at WSU who are working on these systems that could really enable
• And to attain that, that requires a system-level study.
• So if you were to ask how many farmers and land managers are using global positioning system in some
• So if you were to ask how many farmers and land managers are using global positioning system in some
• Irrigation, precision irrigation systems, then that number drops very significantly.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held an interim work session focused on Washington agriculture’s viability, workforce, and competitiveness. Director Derek Sanderson of the Washington State Department of Agriculture and WSU Dean Raj Kosla described the size and diversity of the state’s farm sector, declining farm numbers, major export markets, and pressures from labor costs, low commodity prices, trade barriers, drought, regulatory burdens, and pests and disease. Kosla emphasized WSU’s land-grant role in education, research, and extension, including precision agriculture, broadband needs in rural areas, and the need for state support to help producers adopt new technologies and train the next generation of agricultural workers. Members asked about retaining farmland, increasing workforce capacity, and the role of precision agriculture. Kosla said precision agriculture can help address labor shortages and water scarcity, but adoption is limited by cost and rural broadband gaps. He explained precision agriculture as tailoring inputs to the right place, time, amount, and manner, and said WSU is working on low-cost sensor technologies and other innovations. Members also asked about how widely precision agriculture is used and whether it improves farm bottom lines; Kosla said adoption varies by tool and that he would follow up with more data. The committee then heard from Dr. Randy Fortenberry of WSU’s Impact Center on an agricultural competitiveness study and the effects of tariffs and trade. He reported that Washington’s competitiveness has generally declined relative to peer states in dairy, grapes, hops, apples, and wheat, with potatoes as the main bright spot. Surveyed producers said a substantial share of revenue is tied to regulatory compliance, with labor-related costs a major driver, and small diversified farms reported land access, capital, and profitability as bigger barriers than regulation. On trade, Fortenberry said Washington agriculture is highly export-dependent and vulnerable to retaliation, citing past losses in wheat, apples, pulses, and cherries when tariffs disrupted markets, while noting current uncertainty around China and India. The committee asked follow-up questions about compliance time, peer-state comparisons, and regulatory burdens; no votes were taken, and the department said it plans an interim report by the end of the year and a final report by June 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is the most visited section in the National Park System, with
• I love our system of government, it's very elegant, checks and balances, separation of powers and all
• It makes it a more perfect constitutional system.
• If you build a system for those people who have no voice, the privileged class will do just fine.
• Let's build a system that works for the little guy.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Them to practice in Nevada and ultimately strengthen our health care system.
• Nevada's health care system is fractured, and we're challenged with keeping and recruiting doctors, and
• And so the only reason I was able to do that is my union has negotiated a system where other teachers
• There are protections for businesses if someone were to try to abuse the system.
• There is protections for businesses if someone was to try to abuse the system.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Labor

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disagree with this, this section because Our relatives are a really, really important part of our system
• Uh, we, well, in Travis County, we have, uh, an online system. We don't file a report.
• I came prepared to tell this body that, uh, we, we presently have a, a, a system whereby you can get
• Um, The federal court system.
• Not only do we as a system stop looking for them, we stop offering them support.

Bills: HCR 10

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill develops a training program and an alert system for missing children.
• , which is compatible with existing alert systems.
• We have a system that's out of balance. Buyers are grossly emboldened by this.
• We have a system that's out of balance. Buyers are grossly emboldened by this.
• Our current system only penalizes with misdemeanor charges for buyers for the first time. and system

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee took up a full agenda of criminal justice and related bills, beginning with SB 1180 on AI-generated sexual images. Senator Gates explained the bill was prompted by an Escambia County case involving deepfake pornography created from images of teenage girls, and a student victim testified in support. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Members then approved SB 500, creating a Spectrum Alert system and related training for missing children with autism; SB 726, making swatting offenders liable for prosecution, investigation, and restitution costs; and SB 494, which would create a statewide animal abuse database, after extensive support testimony from shelters, law enforcement, and animal welfare advocates. SB 964, revising objective parole guidelines to account for rehabilitation and program participation, also passed after testimony from supporters of parole reform and compassionate release. The committee next approved SB 1344, a juvenile justice cleanup bill with a delete-all amendment that updated truancy, CINS, detention risk assessment, and other juvenile justice provisions. SB 468, increasing penalties for fleeing or eluding and allowing impoundment of involved vehicles, was reported favorably after limited opposition and support from law enforcement-related groups. SB 1136, increasing penalties for offenses involving minors and clarifying that ignorance of a victim’s age is not a defense, also passed after testimony from law enforcement supporters and two speakers opposed. SB 1660, on prostitution, drew the most extensive public comment: the sponsor said it was intended to distinguish trafficking victims from willing participants and shift penalties toward buyers and facilitators, while survivors, prosecutors, and advocates debated whether the substitute amendment would improperly criminalize prostituted persons; the committee ultimately adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 1828, making trespass at large ticketed events and certain secured locations a felony, with discussion focused on crowd control and public safety at major events. SB 1386, increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers and adding propane workers through an amendment, passed with broad support. SB 612, closing a loophole so minors who distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl can be charged with murder in certain cases, was reported favorably after testimony from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and opposition from civil liberties groups. SB 814, which would allow firearms on college campuses and at school-sponsored events, drew strong opposition from students and faculty and was reported unfavorably. Finally, the committee began SB 1604 on corrections with a delete-all amendment that addressed filing deadlines for DOC-related claims, execution-method language, tracking devices, involuntary treatment, and parole-related statutory cleanup; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• adopt the statewide active shooter response plan and maintain direct law enforcement communication systems
• I'm an emergency medicine and EMS physician and currently oversee the EMS system for the City of Austin
• We do national incident management system training, as outlined by this The legislative body is our job
• I'm saying yes, of course ours is a concern with Hypothetical because we don't have a system right now
• Texas' current system does not really allow officers to immediately confirm whether the individual is

Bills: HB33 , HB298 , HB 1024 , HB 1234 , HB 1261 , HB1696 , HB298

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: electronic monitoring, parole supervision, law enforcement, warrant execution, public safety, handgun license, judgment evaluation, medical advisory board, application denial, gun law procedures, abandoned property, unclaimed property, disposition, handgun, driver's license, commercial driver's license, weapon carry, gun rights, Texas legislature, legislative attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a vice chancellor. for Disaster and Emergency Services at the Texas A&M University System, I have
• 2019 the Texas Legislature made us a standalone state agency. and nested us in the A&M University system
• Just to give an example, and I believe East Texas has one system.
• North Texas has another system, whether it's Harris or Motorola. So in an event of an emergency.
• The, uh, the reservable officer issue from gaming the system, that's been filed.

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and higher education, and they provide career pathways, uh, for, uh, through our public education system
• Both missile and towed artillery, and finally, a tactical communication network system, uh, which it
• , school systems and beyond.
• We focus on the 106 prisons in the TDCJ system, the 15. Prisons, the BOP prisons in, in Texas.
• We come up, we have, uh, the, it's a big argument on getting the air conditioning into the system.

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> specifically is only for a school system specifically is only for a school system if<04:03:34.520
• </c><06:13:42.558><c> of</c> mtss expert multi-tiered systems of mtss expert multi-tiered systems of
• You need to look at the general education system, and if you have a strong general education system,
• You need to look at the general education system, and if you have a strong general education system,
• You need to look at the general education system, and if you have a strong general education system,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first noted that House Bill 398, concerning Holocaust and genocide studies, and House Bill 131 had already been handled previously and were off the schedule. It then took up House Bill 740, which would require the Department of Education to maintain permanent records for closed charter schools. After brief discussion about overlap with another charter-school bill that already addressed closure and records, Representative Freeman moved to table the bill. The committee voted 16-0 to table/ITL the bill, and it was placed on the consent calendar. The main discussion centered on House Bill 557, which would require additional information on school budget ballots, including average cost per pupil, enrollment history, and teacher-to-administrator ratios. Members raised concerns that the bill was duplicative of existing law, overly detailed, costly to towns, and potentially electioneering or cumbersome on ballots. Supporters argued it would improve transparency and help voters who do not attend deliberative sessions or use online resources. The committee did not vote on the bill during the discussion; instead, members moved into caucus and later indicated they would hold the bill until Monday for further review. Later, the committee turned to House Bill 699 on special education definitions and considered Amendment 0606H. The sponsor explained the amendment was developed with the Department of Education after hearing testimony and was intended to align state definitions with federal law and incorporate recommendations from a prior audit, including changing “functionally blind pupils” to “students with visual impairments.” Some members supported the changes as responsive to the hearing and audit, while others objected that the amendment was still confusing, had not fully addressed stakeholder concerns, and should wait for a more comprehensive special education audit. The discussion also referenced House Bill 754 and another amendment, but the transcript ends before final action on HB 699 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’ve gone to a cost-based system.
• We’ve gone to a cost-based system.
• </c> where it's 5050 and then when the system where it's 5050 and then when the system is<02:33:12.520
• </c> modularity begins with a system modularity begins with a system integrator<02:33:58.399><c> um</
• But the majority of the system is sort of like a sunk cost.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division Three work session on February 21, 2025 focused on the Division of Medicaid Services budget. The chair opened with procedural guidance, noting the division’s role is to make recommendations to the full Finance Committee, that the budget must be balanced, and that members should track possible amendments ahead of a March 26 target for House Bills 1 and 2. Members also discussed the importance of using official budget documents and online resources, and the chair said no motions would be taken at this session. A major early topic was concern over a five-point Medicaid policy document and the timing of House Bill 2. Representative Tarki objected that the document appeared to be an unofficial draft and argued that significant Medicaid policy changes should have been transmitted by February 15 under state law. He said the lack of an official, posted document raised transparency concerns because the changes could affect tens of thousands of residents. Committee leadership responded that the five-point document was a working document, that it would be posted online within minutes, and that House Bill 2 is often delayed while the Office of Legislative Services finalizes and formats the governor’s proposed trailer bill. DHHS Chief Financial Officer Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman then began the budget presentation. White said the committee would use the PowerPoint as the document of record, starting with the governor’s operating budget pages 885-893, and noted that Medicaid is the largest accounting area in the state budget. He said the governor’s budget reflects about $60 million in reductions within the Medicaid area, with Granite Advantage handled off-budget and another $10 million in reductions there, for roughly a $70 million difference overall. Members asked whether the comparison was being made against an efficiency budget or a prioritized-needs budget, and White said the department could look at it different ways. The presentation then outlined Medicaid’s role in New Hampshire: it provides health coverage, serves as the state’s direct interface with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and helps finance related services such as long-term supports, school-based services, adult dental coverage, and re-entry programs for people leaving correctional settings. White also reviewed enrollment and program context, saying New Hampshire has about one in seven residents enrolled in Medicaid, making it the fourth smallest Medicaid program in the country by enrollment, and described recent efforts such as youth re-entry and the Medicaid unwind after the end of the federal continuous coverage period. He said the state had to process more than 238,000 redeterminations after the public health emergency and that the department tried to avoid unnecessary coverage loss during that transition.