Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3549 by Ward Johnson, relating to requiring a school district or open-enrollment charter school to
• . and gender identity provided by public schools for the Committee on Public Education, HB 3549 by Ward

Summary: The House met briefly to read a large number of first-reading bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and refer them to the appropriate committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public health, education, criminal justice, taxation, transportation, water and natural resources, elections, housing, veterans issues, local government, and constitutional amendments. Several bills focused on school policy, health care regulation, property tax and sales tax changes, criminal penalties, and local or state agency authority. Among the notable items were proposals on name and sex changes on birth records, college admissions inquiries into criminal history, foster care contractor liability, school nutrition and assessment policy, election procedures, homestead and franchise tax exemptions, public retirement system reporting, and numerous transportation and infrastructure measures. The House also received resolutions designating local honors and observances, including Brownsville as the bicycling capital of the Rio Grande Valley, Port Aransas as the fishing capital of Texas, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Day. Some measures proposed constitutional amendments on legislative procedure, homestead taxation, and election-law enforcement authority. No debate or testimony occurred in this segment; the action was limited to first reading and referral. The session also referred several resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars. At the end of the proceedings, the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• But nevertheless, there are still boundary review boards throughout the state.
• Just an aside: there is no process in state law to change county boundaries.
• There are many statutes related to annexation and changing municipal boundaries.
• Chapter 35.16 and 35A.16 relate to reducing city boundaries. Some call that de-annexation.
• Finally, Chapter 36.93 RCW relates to the boundary review boards.

Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The use of the term 'property boundary line' to describe what was described multiple times in the bill
• However, that's generally considered to be the boundary line.
• Most division fences are recognized as the boundary.
• If a boundary fence is there for a certain number of years, you have adverse possession, even if it's
• not on the boundary line.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture met in executive session and considered three bills. House Bill 2297, the fencing enclosure bill, was amended with a House committee substitute and then reported do pass after discussion focused on wording changes from “division line” to “property boundary line” and liability language tied to trespass and injury. House Bill 2713 was also amended, with members adopting a committee amendment and rolling it into a new committee substitute before voting it do pass; the substitute clarified tax credit language and restored sunset provisions after discussion about a negotiated compromise with the Senate and industry stakeholders. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 1885, which would change the makeup of the Clean Water Commission. The bill would allow at least one member knowledgeable about publicly owned wastewater treatment works, remove a two-year cooling-off period for commission members with industry income, and require the commission to adopt conflict-of-interest rules for recusals. The sponsor and supporters from municipal utilities and wastewater interests argued the changes would help the state retain experienced professionals and ensure more technically informed decision-making, while members raised concerns about conflicts of interest and whether the commission should set its own recusal standards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing concluded without a vote on HB 1885.

Transcript Highlights:

• battle already happened here where we took the provision that has to do with taking children to the Boundary
• /c><00:18:59.200><c> the</c> to do with taking children to the to do with taking children to the Boundary
• :00.240><c> So</c><00:19:00.799><c> it's</c><00:19:01.039><c> very</c><00:19:01.440><c> very</c> Boundary
• So it's very very Boundary Waters.
• We lost the taking youth to Boundary Waters provision, but the battles here and even though we have a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the census data, and that's how we come up with the population estimates for your particular PAT boundary
• We did have I believe there were 4 or 5 PSAT boundary changes related to annexation and deannexations
• change form that will be used by PAPs to expand or reduce their PAT boundary call taking area.
• The Piece at boundary change at any time.
• Those checks start in July, and they will not change it based upon any PAT boundary changes between now

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did have, I believe, four or five PSAP boundary changes related to annexations and deannexations,
• And I believe we had all but three PSAPs that submitted a confirmation of their PSAP boundary along with
• And vote to approve the public safety answering point, PSAP, call-taking boundary change form that will
• be used by PSAPs to expand or reduce their PSAP boundary call-taking area.
• Those checks start in July, and they will not change it based upon any PSAP boundary changes between

Summary: The Oklahoma 911 Management Authority met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the February 5 regular meeting and the March 9 special meeting, along with the January 2026 financial report. The authority also recognized the Emergency Telecommunicator of the Quarter, Claire Gutierrez of the Pott County Sheriff’s Office, for her work during a fast-moving wildfire incident, and the Emergency Technologist of the Quarter, Jason White of the City of Shawnee, for his support of the 911 center’s technology needs. Members approved the City of Norman’s in-person 40-hour telecommunicator training program as a vetted training option. They also approved Washington County 911’s request to submit an amended hardship application for a radio console grant match waiver, rather than granting the waiver outright. In addition, the authority approved the annual land area and population percentages used to determine 911 telephone fee distributions for fiscal year 2027, and approved a new PSAP call-taking boundary change form for future boundary adjustments. The authority approved three grant requests: Creek County for APCO/Telecom training, the City of El Reno for ADA and facility improvements to its dispatch center, and the City of Moore for ADA furniture and a larger dispatch setup. Committee and staff reports covered audit completion, boundary verification and population model work, recruitment website updates, upcoming 911 Day at the Capitol, NG9-1-1 and GIS progress, cybersecurity training planning, 988 integration efforts, and ongoing concerns about TCPR policy and liability. The legislative report noted House Bill 2710 passed the House after amendments removing 911-related language and was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The meeting ended with public comments, a brief new business item wishing member Brent Hawkinson well after surgery, and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the 1867 treaty is more specific to our boundaries.
• That boundary moved up to these rocks right here.
• It pushes our boundary up into Canada.
• When the lake moves, our boundary moves.
• 10 miles out of the boundaries.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It pushes our boundary up into Canada.
• explaining the boundary here: that it moves.
• When the lake moves, our boundary moves.
• Anybody that lives on reservation boundaries.
• out of the boundaries.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• um in either case the petitioner could um in either case the petitioner could be<05:29:15.240><c> warded
• general</c><05:29:17.320><c> or</c><05:29:17.638><c> special</c><05:29:18.360><c> damages</c> be warded
• uh general or special damages be warded uh general or special damages by<05:29:20.360><c> the</c><05
• Some boundaries need to be set here.
• need to be with our kids some boundaries need to be set<06:33:02.878><c> here</c><06:33:03.558><c> when

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 763, an early bill concerning AED access at athletic events and venues. Representative Morris offered amendment 0743H to clarify the bill by removing charter schools from the language and tying AED placement to American Heart Association guidance, emphasizing that AEDs should be readily accessible within a reasonable walking distance rather than mandated on every field. The amendment and then the bill as amended both passed 17-0, and the bill was reported out as Ought to Pass with Amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 781, requiring school districts to adopt cell phone-free education policies, and a related bill, House Bill 131. HB 781 was amended to include charter public school boards, cover other personal electronic communication devices, require at minimum restrictions on student personal cell phones during class instruction, allow superintendent-approved exceptions for medical or language needs, protect students with medical needs or disabilities under Section 504, and set an effective date of July 1, 2025. Some members argued the amendment was too prescriptive and limited local control, while supporters said it still left districts flexibility outside classroom instruction. The amendment passed 16-1, and the bill then passed Ought to Pass as Amended 16-1. HB 131, described as a mirror bill, was then retained by a 17-0 vote. House Bill 398, a title bill requiring Holocaust and genocide studies to include impacts on people with disabilities, was moved to ITL after Representative Selig reported the genocide commission believed the topic was already being covered. That motion passed 17-0. The committee also agreed to hold several bills for later consideration, including HB 754, HB 1221, HB 360, and HB 699, citing the need for more review or missing copies. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 361, prohibiting mandatory mask policies in schools. Supporters argued the bill would preserve individual choice while preventing statewide or districtwide mandates in future public health emergencies, and cited a Department of Health and Human Services letter saying masks remain effective but decisions should be based on individual choice and risk assessment. Opponents emphasized local control and the need for districts to respond to different public health conditions. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 361 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:30:08.399><c> I'm</c><00:30:08.600><c> representing</c><00:30:09.440><c> my</c><00:30:09.640><c> ward
• 00:30:10.519><c> so</c><00:30:11.000><c> any</c><00:30:11.240><c> of</c> clear I'm representing my ward
• so any of clear I'm representing my ward so any of the<00:30:12.240><c> constituents</c><00:30:13.080
• Everything that can be digitized can be proven instantly, and so we need legal boundaries if we're going
• if we're going to do legal boundaries if we're going to do this<00:57:46.960><c> uh</c><00:57:47.039

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• your discussion on district boundaries away from the district... ...on district boundaries away from
• Chairman, members of the committee, boundary changes are very rare.
• Chairman, members of the committee, boundary changes are very rare.
• , where they could move their boundary?
• boundary in an area that allows them to build if that's the appropriate place.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the challenges we had was with the Boundary Review Board cutting the boundaries of the proposed
• Boundaries are an even greater concern.
• In addition, there needs to be a sense of community within those boundaries.
• Sense of community is highly connected to school boundaries.
• That's why those boundaries are so difficult to change.

Summary: The committee heard several local government bills. Senate Bill 6181, sponsored by Senator Conway, would let county legislative authorities in certain large western Washington counties file a city incorporation petition without collecting resident signatures if the area is fully within an urban growth boundary and has more than 25,000 people. Supporters from Pierce County said the current signature requirement makes incorporation too difficult for large urban unincorporated areas like South Hill, while opponents argued the signature threshold is an important test of community support and raised concerns about boundaries, taxes, and the adequacy of the bill’s details. Senate Bill 6132 would give the Port of Moses Lake additional bonding authority tied to a tax increment financing area to help finish a rail project; the port said rising costs and a pending federal grant made the extra flexibility necessary. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6154, which would give local governments more flexibility in how they use hydraulic project approval permits for culvert replacement. Counties and cities testified that many emergency culvert repairs are expensive and that some sites provide little fish habitat benefit, so they want the option to redirect equivalent resources to higher-priority fish passage projects elsewhere in the watershed. A few commenters supported the bill as a practical way to improve habitat and flood resilience, while one remote witness objected to the broader legal framework for salmon habitat projects. Senate Bill 6189 would extend from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028 the deadline for creating an additional public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities; Olympia, Tumwater, and regional partners said they need more time to complete feasibility and coordination work for a proposed aquatic center. In executive session, the committee took action on several bills. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6037 to Ways and Means, adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5983 to Rules, and passed Senate Bills 5995 and 6013 to Rules without amendments. For Senate Bill 6066, the committee adopted an amendment into a new substitute and passed the bill to the Transportation Committee. The committee did not take action on Senate Bills 5820 or 6064.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
• 1878, Patel, from the Governmental Organization Committee to the Judiciary Committee; and AB 2089, Ward

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, so the, the approach is that we want to make sure that the criteria are clearly defined so that Ward
• limited purpose is really to make sure that Uh, Communities like, uh, communities in counties like Ward

Transcript Highlights:

• Sanchez, Schiavo, Shultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stephanie, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallace, Ward
• Appropriations Committee to notice the following bills for their hearing on Wednesday, March 19th: AB 253, Ward

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through routine procedural business, including dispensing with the reading of the prior journal, re-referring several bills, and approving committee scheduling requests. There was also a point of order from Assemblymember DeMaio asking about a possible Governor’s message regarding Medi-Cal, but the chair said no formal message had been received at the desk. The main floor debate centered on AB 321 by Assemblymember Schultz, the Better Informed Decisions Act, which would allow courts to consider reducing certain “wobbler” offenses from felonies to misdemeanors later in the criminal process if new evidence emerges. Supporters argued it would improve fairness, transparency, and efficiency by letting judges make better-informed decisions; opponents said it would weaken felony accountability and conflict with voter intent on public safety. The bill passed on a 46-5 vote. The Assembly also adopted ACR 47 by Assemblymember Chen, declaring March 16–22 as National Surveyors Week, with 63 co-authors added and the resolution adopted by voice vote. AB 387 by Assemblymember Alanis, which expands jury duty exemptions to include probation officers, passed 64-0. On the consent calendar, ACR 46, HR 9, HR 22, and SCR 17 were adopted with unanimous votes, and the Assembly adjourned until Monday, March 17 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, I'm Tim Hartnett, first-term representative from Manchester District 41, Wards 2, 4,
• I represent Ward 10 in Manchester on the West Side. Representative Woods, uh, good morning.
• This is right in the middle of Ward 4 in Concord.
• I'm representing Ward 8 in Manchester.
• </c><00:10:25.240><c> five</c> Dober which is and represent Ward five Dober which is and represent Ward

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They said they think everyone is excited for the collaboration. boundary. boundary.
• </c> with boundaries and things like that. with boundaries and things like that. there<00:31:39.360><
• a district boundary amendment because those<00:48:29.839><c> are</c><00:48:30.079><c> available.
• </c> &gt;&gt; yeah I'm not sure where the SMA boundary &gt;&gt; yeah I'm not sure where the SMA boundary
• based upon their general plan boundaries, but they don’t get an expedited process.

Bills: HB1881, HB2218, HB1956, HB2151, HB1845, HB1844, HB2103, HB2424, HB1650, HB376, HB2599, HB1861

Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices

Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a representative from Portsouth, Ward 3, Rockingham, District 26.
• So, so based on your testimony, we share this information across state boundaries, or somebody makes
• share this information<00:13:53.600><c> across</c><00:13:54.000><c> state</c><00:13:54.240><c> boundaries
• </c><00:13:54.639><c> or</c> information across state boundaries or information across state boundaries
• I'm a state representative for National Ward 5. Uh, this is a very simple bill in my opinion.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I commend Senator Ward for taking some action to help us out in Claremont.
• And I commend Senator Ward for 292.
• ,</c> brought forth by repres Senator Ward, brought forth by repres Senator Ward, but<01:52:22.000><c
• Senator Ward, thank you.
• That's what I need to know. >> Thank you, Senator Ward. >> Thank you. Oh, yeah. Thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She said she represents Hillsborough 3, Nashua Ward 4, and that she is also a registered nurse working
• ><02:27:06.880><c> Hillsboro</c><02:27:07.479><c> 3</c><02:27:07.880><c> NASA</c><02:27:08.479><c> Ward
• </c><02:27:08.760><c> 4</c> bman I represent Hillsboro 3 NASA Ward 4 bman I represent Hillsboro 3 NASA
• Ward 4 I'm<02:27:09.479><c> also</c><02:27:09.760><c> a</c><02:27:09.960><c> registered</c><02:27:10.479

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 437, which would change New Hampshire law on undischarged mortgages by creating a shorter period after which certain old mortgages would be treated as unenforceable. Prime sponsor Representative Bill Boyd said the bill was developed with input from bankers, lawyers, realtors, the Attorney General’s office, and the Banking Department, and he noted a drafting correction needed on line 18. He explained that the proposal would replace current law with a new framework modeled partly on Massachusetts, including a five-year expiration after a stated maturity date and a 35-year period for mortgages without an expiration date. Supporters said the bill would help clear obsolete title defects, reduce costly quiet-title litigation, and make real estate transactions easier for consumers, attorneys, and conveyancers. Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, Susan Cole of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and Michelle Coffin all testified in support, describing the bill as a consumer protection measure. They said undischarged or improperly discharged mortgages often surface during title searches, causing delays, legal expenses, and failed or delayed closings. Coffin and Hakken-Phillips emphasized that many of these cases involve old, effectively obsolete mortgages and that the current process often requires expensive court action even when no one contests the title. Cole described a recent transaction in which a title defect caused a buyer to walk away and later restart the financing process, creating costs for both buyer and seller. A committee member asked about notice to mortgage holders; the response was that the lender bears responsibility for recording and extending the mortgage, and that due process rights would remain if a lender later contested the discharge. Ryan Hill of the New Hampshire Bankers Association said the banking industry had reviewed the bill and was generally comfortable with it, while requesting a delayed effective date so members would have time to adjust their recording practices. He said the bill’s January 1, 2028 effective date reflected that request. After closing the hearing on HB 437, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 721, the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act. Representative Juliet Harvey-Bolia introduced it as a bipartisan economic justice bill intended to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, protect against inflation, and address concerns about trust, taxes, and government taking. She argued that gold is a stable store of value and discussed tax treatment in neighboring states, federal history, and digital gold platforms. The hearing on HB 721 was still in progress when the transcript ended, with the chair limiting questions because of time.