Transcript Highlights:

• This applies at land and sea ports of entry.
• As a practical matter, CBP cannot deny entry to U.S. citizens when they return from across the border
• As a matter of this identification, if you go to the port of entry right now and, you know, next time
• matter, even though there is the White House Travel Initiative, the federal government cannot deny you entry
• If it's not something that you're going to deny an American citizen entry for, it just seems like it's

Bills: HB3484, HCR112, HCR125

Keywords: border municipalities, agreements, funding eligibility, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, REAL ID, travel document, border crossing, Texas, U.S. citizens, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, defense innovation, national security, U.S. Army Futures Command, military technology, economic growth, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The language that we got from the House simply called for a securely mounted device, and that language
• committee was when we looked at what all the states around us are doing, they don't require a secure device
• a securely mounted device and<01:12:31.240> that<01:12:31.600> language<01:12:32.440><
• They do require a fixed device if you're going to do something like Google Maps and you're looking.
• This includes staffing shortfalls, facility deficiencies, and the need to expand programming and re-entry

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just think how important this is and how, you know, we recognize that the technological devices that
• I just think how important this is and how, you know, we recognize that the technological devices that
• Participation in our sweepstakes is always free, with clear alternative methods of entry, and compliance
• /c> that requires anything that's a that requires anything that's a rechargeable<01:25:42.200> device
• device have removable batteries.<01:25:44.880> And<01:25:45.560> that's<01:25:46.400><

Bills: HF3794, HF4472, HF4410, HF4347, HF4412, HF4398, HF4397, HF4201, HF4199, HF4203, HF3706, HF4071, HF4120, HF4175, HF4188

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• to consolidate loads into overweight vehicles to reduce exposure to cartel extortions at ports of entry
• these special permits and these 3 axle trucks, uh, they can cross at the, at the nearest point of entry
• Of course we'd take them in, we'd weigh them there at the port of entry.
• that Senator Lucio mentioned there's concessionaires, private concessionaires, and other ports of entry
• We've shared a lot of the information that is happening at this port of entry, uh, with the comptroller

Transcript Highlights:

• correctional industries, the re-entry correctional industries, the re-entry coordination<00:19:18.720
• <00:32:25.200> At Re-entry, and community supervision.
• So, all of this is re-entry.
• What are the... 11:15 re-entry program. What are the obstacles now?
• and we're also working with our re-entry and we're also working with our re-entry um<02:09:13.119

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the notice pending its entry on the notice calendar?
• <00:26:08.159> on immediate consideration pending entry on immediate consideration pending
• entry on the<00:26:08.480> notice<00:26:08.960> calendar<00:26:09.840> H542.
• <00:26:20.480> Are its entry on the notice calendar.
• Are its entry on the notice calendar.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up several Senate proposals of amendment and, by voice vote, concurred in each. On House Bill 928, technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes, the House suspended the rules, heard a section-by-section explanation of changes to hunting violation points, license expiration dates, license fees, and Champion Lands reporting, and then concurred after both the committee and Ways and Means reported favorable straw polls of 11-0. On House Bill 915, the extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers, the House also suspended the rules and heard a detailed summary of Senate changes affecting handling fees, redemption requirements, PRO administration, collection-site standards, reporting, and effective dates; Environment reported a favorable straw poll and Ways and Means noted a modest fiscal impact from higher liquor bottle handling fees, after which the House concurred. The House then took up Senate Bill 328 on housing and common interest communities. The General and Housing Committee explained the Senate’s further amendments, including changes to the treasurer’s housing credit facility, consultation requirements, VHIP funding provisions, municipal housing planning, duplex and accessory dwelling unit rules, temporary multi-unit provisions, downtown and village center benefits, and common-interest-community reporting on vegetable gardens. Appropriations and Environment both reported no additional fiscal concerns and favorable straw polls, and the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment. Finally, the House considered House Bill 542 on PCB testing in Vermont schools. The Senate strike-all amendment would extend the testing deadline to 2035, create a future special fund for testing and remediation, require PCB testing before major renovation projects using state construction dollars, and direct ANR to report on remaining costs and funding options. After questions about how the amendment would affect schools that had already tested or completed remediation, Education explained that existing remediation reimbursements would continue and that the amendment mainly delays the mandate and sets up a future funding mechanism. The House concurred, then recessed until 5:20 p.m. to prepare for additional Senate bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the data entry screen could have as little as a modification where the treasurer, whoever is doing
• the data entry, would indicate whether the individual or association was located within the district
• screen uh could have as data entry screen uh could have as little<00:09:21.200> as<00:09:21.320
• would indicate whether the entry would indicate whether the individual<00:09:27.480> or<00:09
• And so I became familiar with the data entry software being utilized, and in fact, all contributions

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House Rule 35A, pending its entry
• c><00:02:38.680> 35A<00:02:40.080> pending<00:02:40.560> its<00:02:40.800> entry
• <00:02:41.440> on to House Rule 35A pending its entry on to House Rule 35A pending its entry

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate Bill 212, relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections, but postponed action on it for one legislative day after a member from Ferrisburg moved to delay consideration because an amendment was still pending. No vote count was recorded, but the chair announced the ayes appeared to have it. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had refused to concur in House amendments to Senate Bill 223, concerning water quality of Vermont waters, and Senate Bill 325, concerning regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction. In response, the Speaker appointed House conferees for both bills. For S. 223, the House conferees were Representatives Sheldon, Labor, and Satroits; for S. 325, the conferees were Representatives Sheldon, Labor, and Chapin. Additionally, the Committee on Ways and Means reported Senate Bill 328, relating to housing and common interest communities and carrying an appropriation, favorably with amendment. The bill was referred to the Committee on Appropriations under House Rule 35A. The House then agreed to journalize remarks from a member from Berrytown and adjourned until the next day at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• structures and ensure careful re-entry structures and ensure careful re-entry planning.<02:20:58.640
• House Bill 2044, relating to offender re-entry.
• <02:30:54.399> services enough how the lack of re-entry services enough how the lack of re-entry
• before, during and after re-entry. before, during and after re-entry.
• <02:36:28.240> is for introducing it because re-entry is for introducing it because re-entry

Bills: HB1531

Keywords: emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1913, which would create a mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veteran Services for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home and appropriate funds for it. Supporters said veterans, especially on the neighbor islands, need more mental health access and coordination. Several witnesses, including Sean Sonatada and Tom Driscoll, supported the intent but urged amendments to broaden the position beyond one facility and make it a statewide resource. Committee members questioned whether the bill would duplicate existing services at the veterans home and whether the position would be reimbursable through federal VA funding; testimony indicated the state would appropriate the money, while existing home services are already covered through current staff and federal reimbursement structures. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 9, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. Testifiers generally supported the measure as a way to honor wounded veterans and their families, though one member asked what benefits the designation would confer. Witnesses clarified that the bill was mainly symbolic and did not appear to create new benefits, and one testifier noted Honolulu County had already adopted a similar Purple Heart designation. The committee then took up House Bill 1628, which would establish a compassionate release protocol for certain seriously ill or debilitated incarcerated persons. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Paroling Authority opposed the bill, arguing that an existing administrative process already works, that the bill could improperly extend eligibility to people serving life without parole or mandatory minimum sentences, and that it lacked victim and family input and sufficient resources. In contrast, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission strongly supported the bill, saying it would reduce the high cost of incarcerating people with complex medical needs, ease burdens on staff and the prison population, and better reflect human dignity. The commission described having seen severe suffering and deaths in custody and said compassionate release is warranted in some cases. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This disproportionately harms entry-level workers, career changers, and workers seeking advancements
• This disproportionately harms entry-level workers, career changers, and workers seeking advancements
• This disproportionately harms entry-level workers, career changers, and workers seeking advancements
• This disproportionately harms entry-level workers, career changers, and workers seeking advancements
• <00:41:18.000> position working an entry-level position working an entry-level position and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike some other courses you can take while it's early entry, it's college credit.
• Unlike some other courses you can take, while it's early entry, it's college credit.
• So there's dual credit and early entry. We sometimes intermingle those terms.
• Because they're freely able to do early entry now, but you just wouldn't get dual credit for it.
• You can take early entry courses.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the adult community re-entry program, but a little more tailored.
• to the adult community re-entry program, but a little more tailored.
• to the adult community re-entry program, but a little more tailored.
• to the adult community re-entry program, but a little more tailored.
• It's the 1115 waiver re-entry program.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• acceptable documentation for U.S. citizens re-entering the United States at land and sea ports of entry
• As a practical matter, CBP cannot deny entry to U.S. citizens when they return from across the border
• security feature, but again, as a practical matter, uh, this identification, if you go to the port of entry
• even though there is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the federal government cannot deny you entry
• through this additional process if it's not something that you're going to deny an American citizen entry

Summary: The Committee on State-Federal Relations heard testimony on HB 3484, which would formalize agreements between border municipalities and treat certain infrastructure, services, and facilities as Texas assets for funding eligibility if they are within 30 miles of the border. Representative Van Deaver and a witness from Texarkana described how the bill would help Texarkana, Texas, secure state funding for jointly used facilities such as wastewater, water treatment, and airport assets that are physically located in Arkansas but serve Texas residents. Members asked about whether Arkansas benefits from the facilities and whether the bill would apply only to U.S. border cities; testimony clarified that it applies to Texas municipalities bordering another U.S. state, and the bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. The committee also heard HCR 112, by Representative Perez, which urges Congress to allow state-issued Real ID cards, including Texas driver’s licenses, to be accepted as identification for U.S. citizens re-entering the country at land and sea ports of entry. Perez argued that Texas already verifies citizenship and lawful presence for Real ID issuance, that most Texans already have Real ID-compliant licenses, and that acceptance at the border would reduce costs and delays for routine cross-border travel without weakening security. Members asked about the security features of Real ID, implementation timing, passport delays, and how border crossings currently work; Perez said the resolution would not replace passports for international air travel and would apply only to U.S. citizens returning at land and sea ports. HCR 112 was also left pending, and the committee adjourned after HDR 125 was withdrawn from the schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide some kind of coordinated entry provide some kind of coordinated entry to<01:37:30.160>
• entry process.
• <01:51:43.960> Uh coordinated entry. Uh coordinated entry.
• the coordinated entry process. the coordinated entry process.
• coordinated entry assessment. coordinated entry assessment.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Bills: HR39, HCR43, HR178, HCR188, SB3144, SB3102, SB2053, SB3248, SB2256, SB3118, SB2245, SB2519, SB3055, SB2090, SB2765, SB2169, SB3136, SB2521, SB2851, SB3154, SB3262, SB2387, SB3001, SB2818, SB2972, SB2372, SB2108, SB888, HR63, HCR69

Keywords: pedestrian safety, crosswalks, traffic calming, school zone, Honolulu, community safety, raised crosswalks, traffic infrastructure, agritourism, agricultural tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, HTA, working group, farm tourism, regenerative tourism, working lands, agricultural land use, county ordinances, permitting, farm bureau

Bills: HB95, HB111, HJR1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21, HM34, HB2, HB32, HB33, HB61, HJM2, HM23, HM24, HM26

Keywords: HB95, additional judgeship, district court, judicial district, First Judicial District, Second Judicial District, district judges, court administration, judicial staffing, caseload, access to justice, New Mexico courts, judiciary, judge vacancy, court backlog, state courts, water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we passed those bills, you had to go to single entry.
• So you can't have a single entry without a fence line.
• So when we passed those bills, you had to go to single entry.
• So you can't have a single entry without a fence line.
• So you can't have a single entry without a fence line.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• resident bill of rights and expanded consumer protection, such as allowing electronic monitoring devices
• people wanting to enter the market, licensure or approval or certification is seen as a barrier to entry
• people wanting to enter the market, licensure or approval or certification is seen as a barrier to entry
• 01:32:17.199> into<01:32:17.679> glorified<01:32:18.400> data<01:32:18.800> entry
• <01:32:19.199> clerks turned into glorified data entry clerks turned into glorified data entry

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• traumas that they are contending with as they are trying to exit homelessness or access coordinated entry
• So coordinated entry is basically a way that we prioritize who might be most vulnerable and therefore
• For young people, the coordinated entry system looks at vulnerability mostly by length of time homeless
• They're small, they're entry level, and sometimes they're condos and sometimes they're townhouses, and
• They're small, they're entry level, and sometimes they're condos and sometimes they're townhouses, and

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 249, which would require youth-specific coordinated entry assessments for homeless services. The author and supporters from Larkin Street Youth Services and the California Coalition for Youth argued that current vulnerability tools are adult-focused and can disadvantage young people; the bill was described as a developmentally appropriate fix to better connect youth to housing and prevention services. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0 to Human Services. Members then heard AB 239 and AB 1206. AB 239 would create a state-led disaster housing task force, a state disaster housing coordinator, and regular legislative reporting to speed recovery after disasters; it passed 7-0 to Emergency Management. AB 1206 would let local agencies pre-approve plans for single-family and small multifamily homes of up to 10 units to reduce permitting delays and costs; the League of California Cities opposed it unless amended, citing local variation and staffing concerns, but the author and supporters said it would preserve local control and help speed housing production. The bill passed 9-0 to Local Government. The committee also took up AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s home purchase assistance funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. Supporters framed it as reparative justice and a way to address longstanding racial disparities in homeownership, while Pacific Legal Foundation argued it likely violated constitutional limits on race-based government action and urged a race-neutral approach. After discussion about reparations criteria and the bill’s intent, it passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The consent calendar, including AB 480, AB 726, and AB 1154, was approved 8-0. Later, AB 282 was heard to allow housing providers to prefer applicants who participate in rental assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, despite existing source-of-income discrimination law. Supporters said it would help voucher holders find units and improve affordable housing operations; no opposition testified, and the bill passed 6-1 to Judiciary. AB 1229 followed, restructuring the adult reentry grant program to focus on permanent housing for people leaving prison by moving administration to HCD and using regional administrators; supporters emphasized the link between housing stability and reduced recidivism, and the bill passed 7-0 to Public Safety. The committee then approved AB 670, which would let local governments count preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing toward housing element goals and require better demolition reporting, and AB 750, which would strengthen oversight and reporting for homeless shelters after a prior reporting law saw very low compliance. AB 670 passed 8-0 to Local Government, and AB 750 was presented with testimony from a shelter resident describing abuse and lack of accountability in shelters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there's establishments in Connecticut that have a $500 entry fee and a 48-ball coverall for a million
• :04.720> a<00:48:04.880> 48<00:48:05.680> uh<00:48:06.400> ball a $500 entry
• fee and a 48 uh ball a $500 entry fee and a 48 uh ball coverall<00:48:07.359> for<00:48:07.520
• Um, and now we're talking about going to video lottery devices. um in terms of the overall uh house bill
• Going to video lottery devices. Uh, and I'm on my document.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SB 60, which would expressly authorize advanced deposit wagering for horse racing in New Hampshire and set the online tax rate at 1.25%, matching the existing rate for in-person horse betting at Seabrook and Belmont. Senator Tim Lang said the bill is intended to clarify that online horse betting is permitted, regulate the activity, and create a revenue stream while keeping the tax rate consistent with brick-and-mortar wagering. Members asked about the rate compared with other states, whether the bill was really about casino front money, and whether geofencing would apply; Lang and later witnesses said the bill is narrowly limited to parimutuel horse racing and would use geofencing to keep wagering within New Hampshire. Peter Bragdon, speaking for Churchill Downs, supported the bill and described advanced deposit wagering as remote betting on horse races under the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978. He said Churchill Downs and other operators have long been active in New Hampshire, but the state’s lack of a specific statute has created a gray area. Bragdon said Churchill Downs stopped its own New Hampshire online operations in 2022 after discussions with the Lottery Commission and attorney general, while competitors continued operating, and he framed the bill as a fairness and consumer-protection measure that would clarify the law going forward. He also said the bill would not affect historic horse racing machines and would not create cannibalization of charitable gaming. Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre said the Lottery Commission and attorney general had identified the issue as similar to the earlier fantasy sports situation, where legislation was used to regulate an activity rather than pursue enforcement. He said the commission requested the bill, would serve as the regulator, and would address violations through rulemaking and penalties. McIntyre said operators would maintain customer and transaction records, with the commission reviewing them as needed, and he noted that three operators are currently active in the state and not paying the proposed 1.25% rate. No vote was taken during the hearing.