Transcript Highlights:

• It's arranging child care.
• So again, just be very careful.
• So again, just be very careful.
• </c> of nursing home care in New Hampshire. of nursing home care in New Hampshire.
• </c> health care system and our people. health care system and our people.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, she doesn't have child care and she stops off at a, at a church, uh, or.
• We really cannot afford to put any further restrictions on abortion care.
• support funds are ensuring even with those increased costs, people can get the care they need.
• Before hanging up, she told me to take care of myself and expressed how much she loved me.
• To local governance and threatens to strip away the tools cities use to care for people in crisis.

Bills: SB 6 , SB 11 , SB 33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• They indicated that the advantage of the credit is self-directing their taxes through the credit and
• For example, how many jobs could we have created in our health care shortage fields or educators for
• For example, how many jobs could we have created in our health care shortage fields or educators for
• directs new tax preferences to have a tax preference performance statement, and it also outlines the
• But as the direct beneficiary, the veteran is considered the buyer.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 4, 2026, with all five commissioners present. The commission approved the May 26, 2026 minutes, welcomed new commissioner Diane Tabilius, and re-elected Andy Knopfsiger Meadows as chair and Dr. Sharon Keiko as vice chair. JLARC staff also introduced two Evans School interns who are assisting with preliminary research for the 2027 review cycle. JLARC presented preliminary findings on seven tax preference reviews, focusing most heavily on the Main Street communities credit, the Equitable Access to Credit Program, and the urban data center exemption. Staff concluded that the Main Street preference has helped increase the number of communities and businesses and recommended continuing it, while also recommending that DAHP collect more detailed and standardized business-count data. The Equitable Access to Credit Program was found to support underserved communities and was also recommended for continuation. The urban data center exemption was found to have been used only for refurbishment projects, not new construction, and staff recommended letting it expire; commissioners and Representative Paulette discussed the need for better performance measures, cost-per-job analysis, and clearer legislative intent language in tax preference statements. Staff then reviewed airplane modification, landfill biogas, automotive adaptive equipment, and housing for people with developmental disabilities. The airplane modification preference was found to likely support jobs and state tax revenue and was recommended for continuation. The landfill biogas preference was also recommended for continuation, with a suggestion for more detailed reporting on use and renewable natural gas production. The automotive adaptive equipment exemption was found to continue providing relief to disabled veterans and service members and was recommended for continuation, while the housing transfer exemption for adults with developmental disabilities had not been used and was recommended to expire. No public testimony was taken at this meeting, and the commission noted that public testimony would be heard at its September meeting before final comments are adopted in October.

Transcript Highlights:

• the safety of everyone here and ensure the public's access to the discussion, please follow the directions
• the safety of everyone here and ensure the public's access to the discussion, please follow the directions
• the safety of everyone here and to ensure the public's access to the discussion, please follow directions
• And that was in direct response to the opposition.
• Food banks, like the one that we operate, counties, schools, nonprofits, health care systems, farmers

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program, and that budget at its peak was paying about $40 million in uncompensated care to local units
• So number one, the most recent one was $125 million directed to pay for the bond of a billion dollars
• for the school modernization fund. $125 million directed to pay for the bond of a billion dollars for
• Those are the two really big state-directed programs.
• Those are the two really big state-directed program growth. There's some other smaller ones.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is in the veterans health care program.
• This is in the veterans health care program.
• Moving on to the bottom of the spreadsheet, you'll see that there was $4.4 million in direct changes
• </c><00:08:01.759><c> changes</c><00:08:02.240><c> for</c> was $4.4 million in direct changes for was
• $4.4 million in direct changes for Department<00:08:03.039><c> of</c><00:08:03.199><c> Veterans</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to fund these programs in future years, the department will engage in the rulemaking process as directed
• If directed by the legislature, we're happy to engage in the rulemaking process to do so.
• If directed by the legislature, we're happy to engage in the rulemaking process to do so.
• Human trafficking doesn't take a holiday, and this is a very much, sadly, a whole new dimension of care
• , having to provide this kind of care for survivors.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this will be a better way to direct funding to the schools that have the population of students that
• could better target our English language learning population by having a standalone factor and again directing
• I think Inclusion of English learners in at-risk as an explicit direction to use those funds to support
• This measure is a good step in the right direction towards building a robust teacher workforce.
• Stern, for taking care of me. I appreciate you.

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Wright-Hennepin in 2024, this cost us about a quarter of a million dollars a year, which means a direct
• </c><00:11:04.240><c> transfer</c><00:11:04.760><c> from</c> Which means a direct transfer from 49,000
• </c><00:53:16.760><c> deeply</c><00:53:17.440><c> about</c> about SF 1142 today we care deeply about
• When you say that's the question you want directed to Mr. Dueling? Yes, please.
• When you say that's the question you want directed to Mr. Dueling? Yes, please.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the first step in that direction.
• Special projects was geared towards DWR, directing some of that special projects money to some of the
• That social tolerance is key to successful coexistence, as is direct support to ranchers and information
• We want to be rowing in the same direction, to your point on we all coexisting.
• I'm a Giants fan, so I don't care. Same here. We just passed in the hallway. One and I were like...

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were specifically, their missions were all directed by the CIA.
• They were specifically, their missions were all directed by the CIA.
• </c> directed by the CIA. directed by the CIA.
• , paid, and directed by the American<00:07:56.240><c> CIA.
• Um we don't take care of stuff, folks.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The particular study we're talking about today was directed by the 2023 legislature.
• The study we're talking about today was directed by the 2023 legislature.
• Allowing direct sales from cannabis producers to customers.
• Why do we care? Because that created a market for people's identities.
• Why do we care? Because that created a market for people's identities.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean fundamentally, I think what most of us care about is how do we manage these large load customers
• I mean fundamentally, I think what most of us care about is how do we manage these increasing loads the
• In contrast, House Bill 3278 directs a much broader, multi-agency study.
• This will identify the person opposed by a direct expenditure, so that we know exactly how much PACs
• That goes in the other direction. I was making sure you were feeling okay. Okay, yeah.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you just direct me to the line there, second? For clarification, Senator Hicks.
• And so we are just directing the state regents to update that transfer technology.
• And could you explain the difference in the level, the duty of care that you have outlined in the bill
• this higher... ...the private entity is negligent, that there's this higher breach or higher duty of care
• standing in this role of prosecuting negligence and making sure that the industry is meeting that duty of care

Bills: SB1670 , SB1716 , SB1521

Committee: Senate Technology and Telecommunications

Keywords: higher education, state regents, university research, technology transfer, intellectual property, patent ownership, royalty income, commercialization, startup companies, research partnerships, public universities, faculty inventions, student inventions, innovation policy, economic development, medical technology, biotechnology, energy technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense

Summary: The Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee considered three Senate bills. SB 1670, by Senator Reinhart, would require the State Regents to update Oklahoma university technology transfer guidance, create a tiered ownership framework, and revisit the guidance every seven years. Members questioned the seven-year review period, the scope of terms like aerospace and autonomous technologies, and how broadly the new tiered system would apply. The bill was presented as a way to modernize an outdated 1989 framework and help turn university research into companies, jobs, and economic impact. It passed 8-0. SB 1716, by Senator Howard, amended the Security Breach Notification Act to replace references to a “cybersecurity event” with “breach of the security of a system” and to clarify that there is no private right of action for ordinary negligence when a business reports breaches to the Attorney General. Howard explained that the Attorney General would retain exclusive enforcement authority for reasonable-standards violations, while private lawsuits would remain available only for more egregious conduct such as willful, wanton conduct or gross negligence. Members asked about the negligence standard, HIPAA-related breaches, and staffing needs for the Attorney General’s office. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-0. SB 1521, by Senator Hamilton, would prohibit minors from accessing artificial intelligence companions and set age-verification and re-verification requirements, including use of government-issued identification and periodic re-verification. Hamilton said the bill was aimed at protecting children from harmful interactions with AI companions and was narrowly drafted to avoid sweeping in other AI tools like customer-service bots. Members raised concerns about the reasonableness and consistency of age verification, account creation requirements, and how the bill would interact with existing statutes on sexually explicit conduct. The chair spoke in support of the measure, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason being is because on the second page, you'll see all of the animal health care concerns that
• Chair, I can tell you I haven't had those direct conversations, but Dr.
• And the New World Screw Worm, we know how to take care of that.
• I hear that he takes care of some warm-blooded animals, so I'm just going to give him a prime for the
• We're taking care of it, and it's interesting that that's happening as we speak.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a direct operator of major public services and infrastructure.
• chain of command while council's direct chain of command while still<00:27:42.040><c> forcefully</c>
• </c><00:58:05.320><c> to</c> uh the Met Council is is uh directed to uh the Met Council is is uh directed
• So make sure you're careful about what you do in front of them.
• </c><01:44:27.680><c> of</c> gratitude that you're taking care of gratitude that you're taking care of

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I tell that to any group that's coming and asking about similar direct appropriation.
• Uh, I have a question I'd like to direct.
• So again, Representative Mohler, I understand your concern about direct payment.
• </c> appropriation rather than a direct appropriation rather than a direct appropriation<00:57:12.200
• Appropriations in the dollars in direct Appropriations in the public<00:59:53.240><c> safety</c><00:

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The witness continued that eligible high-need fields means occupations in health care, child care, elder
• care, and, at the end, education.
• Thank you. and after careful discussion decided and after careful discussion decided amongst<02:35:08.640
• , health care, transportation, housing, and utilities.
• </c> exceed when we look at the health care exceed when we look at the health care cost<05:04:58.400>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 659, which would establish the New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Program. A Department of Revenue Administration analyst explained technical issues in the bill, focusing on whether the incentive is intended to operate as a rebate or a tax credit, how it would be administered, and how it would interact with the business enterprise tax and business profits tax. She said the bill’s language was unclear on the administering agency, effective tax years, caps, and carry-forward treatment, and noted that reducing BET can also reduce the BET credit against BPT, though not on a one-for-one basis. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the BET/BPT interaction, administrative costs, and whether the Department of Business and Economic Affairs would need additional staffing. Andrew Horn then testified in support, saying the bill is meant to address the large number of New Hampshire college graduates who leave the state after graduation by encouraging them to stay and by incentivizing businesses to hire them. The chair closed the hearing on HB 659 after no further public testimony. The committee then took up HB 770, a bill to establish a program allowing New Hampshire high school students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service. Representative Schultz described the bill as a “triple play” intended to increase volunteerism, expand service and internship opportunities for students, and make college more affordable. Ryan Casey, a junior at Bishop Brady High School, testified that the proposal would help students reduce future loan debt while benefiting communities and encouraging young people to attend college in New Hampshire. Committee members asked about eligibility, including why private and preparatory school students were excluded, whether public school students would qualify, whether mandatory service hours would count, and how the bill’s references to education and business eligibility should be read. Schultz said the exclusion of private and prep schools was intended because public school students are more clearly New Hampshire residents, and she noted that mandatory school service hours had been excluded in revisions. The Department of Education then testified that the program would require significant administration, estimating at least three full-time staff, software or tracking systems, and rulemaking to oversee volunteer sites, schools, student eligibility, and tuition credit distribution. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the hearing remained in testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> utilization of care. utilization of care.
• It's going to care.
• , the Minnesota Care Minnesota Care, the Minnesota Care program?
• We need to offer less health care. Health care is too expensive.
• </c> Health care is too expensive. Health care is too expensive.

Bills: HF3766 , HF3972 , HF3437 , HF4118

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• Did we get the same answers the last time they got audited, that we're going to take care of this, and
• A 24-foot tandem axle trailer, and I don't care whether it's a flatbed or has sides on it or whatever
• Because sometimes if you don't take care of your business, somebody will take care of it for you.
• “We're very much aware when it comes to health care and other things.
• And so I appreciate you caring for your community. And so do we. Thank you, Mr. Chair.”

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee approved the prior minutes and then received a series of audit and compliance updates. Staff reported on delinquent private water and sewer reports, delinquent 2013-2023 water reports, and several municipal accounting code noncompliance cases. Denning and Gum Springs were recommended to be removed from the 60-day clock after staff visits showed improved records, while Fargo, Lead Hill, Almy, Jericho, Haynes, Biggers, Gilmore, and Holly Grove were discussed for repeat findings involving missing audits, poor bookkeeping, unpaid or misapplied street funds, deficit balances, and other accounting deficiencies. Several of these entities were given additional time or had reports filed without objection, while others were deferred for later review. Fargo’s mayor said the town had been understaffed and was working to improve its accounting systems; the committee voted to defer the matter to the August meeting. Lead Hill’s mayor described efforts to complete overdue water audits and improve office procedures, and the committee also postponed action for 60 days. Almy’s mayor and recorder-treasurer were present, and the committee placed the town on the 60-day clock for repeat accounting issues. Biggers and Gilmore both acknowledged long-running audit problems and said they were working with auditors and the IRS; their reports were filed. Holly Grove’s treasurer said she had only recently taken the position, and that report was filed as well. The committee spent considerable time on the street-fund misuse cases for Jericho and Haynes. Jericho was found to have exceeded the statutory threshold tied to fines and costs, with staff noting the town had since become current on its repayment plan; the committee deferred the report to September. Haynes was also behind on its repayment plan for street funds, with staff saying the town had recently made up the shortfall and was current as of the meeting, but the committee still deferred the report to September. Members and staff also discussed how the speed-trap law is applied, whether certain fines and costs count toward the threshold, and the role of the prosecuting attorney in deciding whether to take further action. The committee then reviewed a special report on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District, which had six findings involving board approval of payroll and contracts, credit card documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, competitive bidding, electronic funds controls, and unusually high advertising spending. District Director Craig Douglas said the board had delegated some authority, that receipts were missing during a temporary staffing gap, and that advertising was needed to educate the public; he also defended the sale of trailers and other equipment as a way to exit the trailer business. Several members questioned the explanations and the low resale value of equipment, but the committee ultimately deferred the report to September. The meeting also included a recognition of accounting students interning with audit staff and a final set of actions on deferred water and sewer reports: 11 were filed, seven were deferred for lack of proper responses, and a private report on Shannon Hills Water, Sewer, and Fire Department was noted as involving misappropriation by an office manager and inadequate internal controls.