Transcript Highlights:

• the general fund for the position costs. the general fund for the position costs. Okay. Okay.
• be able to afford two positions.
• Right where we're at right now is the one position for the program is a general fund position.
• Right where we're at right now is the one position for the program is a general fund position.
• > position.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for one new position. There's no request for appropriation changes.
• This changes the total number of authorized positions in the bill from 76 to 77.
• You're rearranging several positions as you described a little bit in your summary.
• We're able to pay for those positions with interest that we receive.
• I'm just focused on the government affairs position.

Summary: The committee met to consider several requests related to constitutional offices and court security staffing, with opening remarks noting that the fringe-benefit percentage had been updated to 40–45% and that the bills already filed would be amended if the committee approved the requests. Item B, from the Supreme Court, requested one new Supreme Court police chief position at LESO5 with no appropriation change; the committee approved it. Item C, from the Secretary of State, requested five additional State Capitol Police corporal positions, a reclassification and consolidation of several job titles, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase for salaries and matching funds; after questions about how the office would absorb the changes and whether the new security role would replace a contract, the committee approved the item. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, sought to move from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in the number of positions but an estimated $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the change was intended to align with other constitutional offices, address a long period without raises, and improve retention, but Senator Hill placed the item on hold until the next day for follow-up questions. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested a realignment of classifications, salary maximum increases, one UCP claims examiner position, and one UCP compliance agent, for a total increase of $579,468; the auditor said the office had withdrawn a government relations position from the request, that the new positions were revenue-neutral or needed to handle increased workload, and that salary increases were based on market comparisons and long-term stagnation. The committee approved item E, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Pettigrew, the positions that we hired in 2024 were funded, but not every position is
• We have many positions, and there were several positions that were unfunded and are currently unfunded
• have all five classified positions.
• Our unfunded positions became part of the GovEx. Positions.
• Yes, we had unfunded positions, and so we cannot hire those positions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• to uphold the position of the Senate. to uphold the position of the Senate.
• to uphold the Senate position.
• The Senate position needs to be back. The Senate position needs to be fought for.
• accord with the position of the Senate. accord with the position of the Senate.
• . position. position.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• money back in for our positions for 36.5 positions.
• > 36.5 back in for our positions for 36.5 back in for our positions for 36.5 positions<00:55:04.160
• those positions to fill other positions those positions to fill other positions that<00:58:47.440
• He's taken positions and he put the money back in for our positions.
• So these are new positions, the six positions?” “Yes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The positions are not optional.
• and and 15 part-time sworn positions and and 15 part-time sworn<01:15:24.760> positions.
• due to dragging positions and vacancies. due to dragging positions and vacancies.
• them to this position not this position. them to this position not this position. this<01:55:28.800
• Unfund position<03:48:31.199> number position number position number 18241<03:48:33.760> and

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with their positions. associated with their positions.
• Three positions that we're asking to be exempt from civil service are critical and core positions for
• that qualifies me for for my position that qualifies me for for my position none<00:09:32.480>
• <00:18:12.000> that reclassification for the position that reclassification for the position
• My position on... if you can state your name and your position, please. >> Sure.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:53.680> by<00:08:54.240> 50% Senate position by 50% Senate position by 50% um
• <00:09:23.839> um Senate maintains the Senate position um Senate maintains the Senate position
• > consolidating<00:09:47.720> the Senate position of consolidating the Senate position
• :35.919> of Senate maintains its position of Senate maintains its position of including<00:21:
• The Senate maintains its position.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• temporary full-time positions.
• So, going backwards, you actually added positions? No, we're actually reclassing positions.
• <00:32:11.799> added<00:32:12.159> positions backwards you actually added positions
• <00:51:26.599> where so 004 is is where the position where so 004 is is where the position
• You'll notice the positions here. So if you look at the bottom, you'll see position count increase.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this a vacant position or not? It is not a vacant position.
• The first one is the one with the position, and it is the secretary 2 position.
• Secretary 2 position.
• <03:33:24.279> so position or other funded positions so position or other funded positions
• <04:02:13.159> to position so that position needs to position so that position needs to actually

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:54.720> to are seeking a full-time position to are seeking a full-time position to
• In paragraph B, this position would In paragraph B, this position would allow<00:03:17.680> us
• <00:04:01.200> was position to note that this position was position to note that this position
• <00:11:05.120> Without position is intended to address.
• Without position is intended to address.

Bills: SF0014, SF0053

Keywords: literacy, education, reading assessment, intervention program, public school funding, department of education, amateur status, high school athletics, student eligibility, sports regulation, monetary compensation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is 14.53% of its position count.
• is 14.53% of its position count.
• Our job announcements are tailored toward a specific position, including position-specific job duties
• those positions.
• on<03:11:10.920> top positions uh additional positions on top positions uh additional

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I always want to just take an opportunity to first some positives and then a thank you to the General
• that we had and I'd a lot of positives that we had and I'd cite<00:05:07.480> a<00:05:07.520>
• Retired member in the participating employer and position must meet the statutory requirements.
• Retired member in the participating employer and position must meet the statutory requirements.
• > deputies,<00:29:18.080> the positions, the sheriff's deputies, the positions, the sheriff's

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:54 Pension System Update 00:03:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date. A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs. Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• scope with recruiting certain positions scope with recruiting certain positions this<00:12:43.519
• Okay, and we've been having a difficult time filling the position, so we would like to have all positions
• What position is that? It is, I believe, a secretary position.
• No further questions. time filling the position um so we would time filling the position um so we would
• is that it is I believe a position is that it is I believe a secretary<00:44:25.200> position

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were reduced by nine positions.
• So going from the 86 proposed positions for the 2025 session to 77 proposed positions for this upcoming
• Right now we have eight current FTE positions open.
• specialist position.
• So that's why I've proposed adding that position.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• throughout the state there are positions throughout the state there are positions as<00:10:31.800
• Just to put it into perspective, out of the 184.5 positions that we have, 171 of those positions are
• Just to put it into perspective, out of the 184.5 positions that we have, 171 of those positions are
• Just to put it into perspective, out of the 184.5 positions that we have, 171 of those positions are
• <00:41:20.079> uh positions not more positions just uh positions not more positions just uh

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Government Operations committees received a biennium budget preview from Keith Regan, Comptroller and Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), who introduced department leadership and described DAGS’ broad responsibilities across accounting, public works, procurement, elections, archives, risk management, and other attached agencies. He emphasized that DAGS supports nearly every state department and cited ongoing workforce challenges, while noting progress in reducing the department-wide vacancy rate from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2024. He also highlighted recruitment efforts, including new salary schedules for engineers and architects, job fairs, internships, and outreach to retiring federal employees. A major focus was modernization of the state’s aging financial systems, especially the 55-year-old FAMIS platform and the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project. DAGS said it expects to release the RFP for the FAMIS replacement by the end of January and is seeking a second tranche of CIP funding, including $35 million, plus position augmentation and creation of a Business Transformation Office to manage EFS and future modernization work. The department also described major capital projects such as the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, Wahiawā Civic Center, Kauaʻi Civic Center, and Ahuimanu Community Correctional Center, and reported that Public Works is managing 455 projects statewide valued at more than $2.5 billion. Other budget requests discussed included funding for cemetery operations, with DAGS asking for two positions and $1 million in operating funds to support maintenance of eight cemeteries; a $200 million ceiling increase tied to anticipated insurance proceeds for West Maui fire-related recovery and rebuilding; and several staffing and operating items for district offices and facilities. These included full-year funding for positions in West Hawaiʻi and East Hawaiʻi, support for a small business coordinator at the State Procurement Office, funding for cloud hosting and PeopleSoft licensing, six positions and staff augmentation for the EFS project, electricity costs, and security-related funding. DAGS also noted that two requested reductions totaled $7.9 million, including transferring the security contract to the Department of Law Enforcement and reducing nonrecurring expenses; members discussed whether some security funding should remain with or be moved to DLE, and DAGS said it would not object to that transfer. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• > positions<00:08:19.520> in<00:08:19.840> our positions are um the positions in
• positions you cannot fill. positions you cannot fill.
• positions into general funded positions. positions into general funded positions.
• Did did we come out in the positive? positive? positive?
• We fund position or needs the position.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• association from recording a position association from recording a position before<00:55:39.799>
• <01:00:06.079> on position on position on legislation<01:00:08.720> but<01:00:08.880>
• <01:02:08.200> on which is to take positions on which is to take positions on legislation<
• <01:07:27.799> so<01:07:28.640> for of taking positions so for of taking positions
• <01:12:56.360> it<01:12:56.480> could position position and in fact it could position

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 118 in executive session and adopted Amendment 0882H, which would remove the House and Senate members from the Child Care Commission while leaving the commission in place. Members said the amendment was a continuation of earlier committee discussion and supported it as a needed change. The committee then voted 12-0 to recommend ought to pass as amended, and HB 118 was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 142, dealing with Gold Star Mother’s Day. The sponsor explained that the bill was unnecessary because existing statute already directs the governor to issue a proclamation for Gold Star Mother’s Day and to urge appropriate observance, including flag-related ceremonies. Several members discussed how to ensure the proclamation and flag observance would happen and whether the committee report should note the existing statute. Other members said they would oppose killing the bill because the recognition was important. The committee voted 9-3 to table/ITL the bill, and HB 142 was declared inexpedient to legislate. The final major item was a public hearing on a non-germane amendment to House Bill 456, with a related draft amendment also discussed. The sponsor said the amendment would raise the annual membership allowance from $20 to $75, rename fees as dues, prohibit dues from being used to pay lobbyists, require NHMA dues to be brought before voters as a separate warrant article for transparency, and require separate accounting so lobbying funds are not co-mingled with other funds. Supporters said the goal was to keep taxpayer-derived money from funding lobbying while preserving non-lobbying services such as legal advice and training. Opponents argued the proposal was an overreach and would micromanage local towns. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• take the funding for those positions that they identified originally as positions for us.
• those positions.
• , 90% of a paralegal position and a part-time position.
• I have two staff and this vacant position. Losing this position, we just cannot function.
• all four positions unfilled positions all four positions are<04:32:55.159> full<04:32:55.680>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• positions.
• The request includes three growth pool positions as well as two swap pool positions from the higher ed
• Review of this request will increase the total authorized positions by three.
• Do you know what those positions are that have that type of salary?
• Do you know what those positions are that have that type of salary?

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee reviewed several personnel and appropriation items. Item C, a two-for-two position swap with no increase in total authorized positions and recommended by OPM, was approved. Item D, a Department of Higher Education request for South Arkansas College, added three authorized positions overall, including food service, public safety, housing, and project/program support roles, and was also approved. Item E moved positions and $3 million in salary and match appropriation within Workforce Services to consolidate shared services, with no net change in positions; it was approved as well. The committee then considered Items F through O as continuations of previously approved or reviewed personnel actions into FY27. These included growth and surrender pool positions, various pay differentials, hard-to-fill and on-call differentials, a labor market adjustment for crime lab medical examiners, and continuation of several federal grant-funded positions at Commerce, Emergency Management, State Police, and Military Department. No questions were raised, and the block of continuation items was approved on a single motion. Reports were taken up with no action required and were simply noted as reviewed. On the supplemental agenda, the committee suspended the rules and approved Item A-1, which authorized salary increases for 92 employees whose merit raises would place them over their grade maximums. Senator Dotson asked about the public safety entries on the list, and staff indicated they were likely crime lab medical examiner positions. The meeting then adjourned.