Transcript Highlights:

• And what you find if you look over time is that there's variability.
• And there must be some signs to this, not just saying, you know, this is the best outcome. ...low cost

Bills: HB1540, HB3837, HB5571, SB370, SB2425

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• So it essentially variable pricing now.
• If I sign a lease with somebody, I have to have them sign this document, and I have to disclose that
• in New Hampshire if they have to sign in New Hampshire if they have to sign yeah<01:24:36.000>
• means that person has to when they sign means that person has to when they sign up<01:24:50.480>
• sign to go out and get it notorized. sign to go out and get it notorized.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved. The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody's just signing off saying, 'Yeah, go ahead and do it.
• Chair, Representative, yes, this past session, and it was pocket vetoed by the governor after the signing
• deadline, at the signing deadline.
• But in 2022, I thought that was a significant milestone when we signed a completion agreement.
• our first one started out at 7, then they range anywhere from 8 to 10, but we have right now, 13 signed

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just really more just the messaging is tough. It's tough. And it's hard.
• Senator Perry: ...messaging is tough.
• Let's put a positive message out. We thought we had members.
• Senator Beck: ...let's put a positive message out.
• The county attorney from Val Verde County is also here and has signed.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was signed by the governor, authorized DPS to license dispensing organizations, and it established
• So to be clear, yeah, they put 21 on their sign.
• I strongly urge you to work with him and pass a bill that he will sign.
• Families are also a really good early warning sign.
• So on the expansion program concept, I'm looking at how many schools have signed up.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one of the more important programs that this body signed off on and that the Governor signed into
• Scoping Plan, you know that large equation around how we're going to get to neutrality, there's now a variable
• thing through an open data portal as opposed to a thousand formalized reports that somebody has to sign
• That means we already have projects that are stopped at the state board that we're about to sign funding

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• several years despite inflation because the low-cost increase in the number of healthy people who signed
• for several years despite inflation because the low cost increased the number of healthy people who signed
• And when we survey them, what message really comes clear for them is that health benefits are the most
• But the rebates are just one variable in overall pharmacy spend.
• Go ahead, that's just a yellow warning sign.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the power of text messaging and the internet, we also have learned that there are two under construction
• 59.079> text Madam chair through the power of uh text Madam chair through the power of uh text messaging
• 00.000> internet<00:56:00.960> uh<00:56:01.240> we<00:56:01.400> also messaging
• in the internet uh we also messaging in the internet uh we also have<00:56:01.720> learned<00
• We develop both the bilingual aspect of English and American Sign Language, following the state standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of people who have signed up on this piece of legislation to talk in opposition to it,
• There's a lot of people<01:18:38.880> who<01:18:39.040> have<01:18:39.199> signed
• <03:13:43.520> All<03:13:43.760> of variable blade uh plows um brine.
• All of variable blade uh plows um brine.
• >> Two, those are two independent variables and sources of revenue.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1596, which would raise New Hampshire’s cigarette excise tax from $1.78 per pack to about $2.80, using an inflation-based adjustment since the rate was last set in 2008. Representative Jerry Stringham, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure would keep New Hampshire competitive with neighboring states, generate revenue, and help offset other budget pressures. He also described the bill as repealing an income-based premium charge in Medicaid/CHIP-related programs and restoring cuts to the University System of New Hampshire, arguing that the combined package would still leave the state in a positive fiscal position. He said the tobacco tax increase would likely have some cessation effect but would remain low relative to other New England states, and he cited prior testimony from health groups supporting a larger increase. Members questioned the sponsor about how the new rate was calculated, the prior tobacco tax reduction and restoration, whether tobacco companies would absorb or pass on the tax, and the fiscal note’s estimates for Medicaid premium revenue and UNH funding. Stringham said he used Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation data, that the earlier 10-cent reduction did not produce the expected sales increase, and that the current bill would eliminate the premium charges now in the budget. He later clarified that the Department of Medicaid Services had updated the revenue estimate, but said the bill still showed a surplus overall. He also said the federal government already imposes a $1-per-pack tax and that New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase. Two public witnesses testified in opposition to the tax increase. Anna Bettincourt, a tobacco category manager, argued that higher tobacco taxes would unfairly target smokers, reduce New Hampshire’s tax advantage, and likely shift purchases to other states or illicit markets rather than reduce use. She said tobacco companies generally do not lower prices and that Massachusetts’ flavor restrictions had not eliminated sales. In response to questions, she maintained that a smaller increase would still be harmful and that enforcement problems make bans ineffective. The sponsor and some members countered that smokers impose higher health costs and that tobacco taxes are a policy tool for both revenue and public health. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's not just the state, it's other states is going to do until it's approved in June and signed
• :06.400> June until it's approved in June until it's approved in June and<01:22:08.159> signed
• in law by the governor, and signed in law by the governor, whenever<01:22:10.320> that<01:22:
• Um, but Medicaid for sure, private insurance, that's, you know, it's a variable, and I don't think it's
• that's it's, you know, it's a variable that's it's, you know, it's a variable and<01:53:03.360><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from Westford and Lynn, respectively, for having both the foresight and understanding about the variable

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a public hearing on H. 5279, a bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. MassDOT and A&F testified in support, describing the bill as a more than $5 billion transportation bond package centered on a four-year, $1.2 billion Chapter 90 authorization, plus funding for MBTA rail reliability and modernization, housing-related transportation improvements, a new DCR/MassDOT PRISM program for parkways and other DCR assets, and reauthorizations of the Municipal Pavement Program, Shared Streets and Spaces, and highway programs. They said the bill would support safety, resilience, housing production, and multimodal transportation, and noted that some bonds could be issued as special obligation bonds backed by the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues. Committee members asked about the size and structure of the authorizations, the federal match for highway projects, the source of MBTA vehicle procurement, bridge repair needs, and whether the housing-related funds could be used flexibly for items like sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, and other local transportation improvements. Administration witnesses said the bill is intended as a temporary refill of existing programs until a larger transportation bond bill is filed next session, that the federal-aid line includes the full spending authority while the state only borrows the 20% match, and that the housing-related program is deliberately broad and not limited to MBTA communities. They also said Chapter 90 includes a road-mile component that especially helps rural communities and that preservation and safety are built into the programs. The Massachusetts Municipal Association also testified in strong support, emphasizing that Chapter 90 is the most important tool municipalities have to maintain the roughly 30,000 miles of local roads and bridges they are responsible for. MMA urged timely passage before construction season and praised the continued $300 million Chapter 90 level, especially the $100 million road-mile distribution that helps communities with large road networks and smaller populations. No votes were taken on the bill, and the hearing concluded with adjournment after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some variable rate decreases that can occur with that.
• <00:14:25.760> that<00:14:26.000> can um variable rate decreases that can um variable
• And I really appreciate when you delivered that note signed by the working group folks to the governor
• by the con the working that note signed by the con the working group<00:31:37.039> folks<00:31
• question that you're asked when you sign question that you're asked when you sign into<03:11:11.920

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you say number uh thank you uh so would you say that<00:30:03.399> that<00:30:03.880> variability
• <00:30:04.600> of<00:30:04.799> numbers<00:30:05.399> comes that that variability
• of numbers comes that that variability of numbers comes because<00:30:07.559> either<00:30:07.840

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee heard Senate File 560, a bill to require the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential building permits. Senator Dornink said the measure is intended to make permit fees more fair, reasonable, transparent, and predictable, and to reduce housing costs by limiting large differences in permit fees between municipalities. He said the bill would be sent to the Housing Committee without recommendation, and members discussed but did not act on a related amendment that would have shifted plan review and inspection fees to hourly and trip-based charges and made fee information publicly available. Testimony from Housing First Minnesota supported the bill’s goal, arguing that Minnesota’s housing shortage and high new-home prices make it important to reduce inefficiencies in the permitting system. The witness said permit valuations are often increased by cities, leading to higher costs for homebuyers, and cited examples of large fee differences between municipalities and claims of overcollection. He said some other states, including Texas and Wisconsin communities, use square-footage-based approaches. A League of Minnesota Cities representative opposed the amendment language and cautioned that trip charges and hourly billing would make fees less certain, could raise costs, and would be especially burdensome in Greater Minnesota; he said current valuation-based fees better reflect the actual cost and complexity of service and can be appealed if disputed. A representative of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials also raised concerns about the amendment, saying building departments provide consultations, inspections, plan review, and other services beyond a single trip, and that trip charges would not fit a responsive fee-for-service model. He said the current valuation system helps cover the full range of permitting work, though he acknowledged that a consistent square-foot valuation standard could improve transparency and reduce disputes over project value. Committee members asked about other states’ approaches and the scope of the bill, and the discussion emphasized that the proposal applies to one- and two-family dwellings.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of people who have signed up on this piece of legislation to talk in opposition to it,
• I didn't want any to be signed into law.
• There's a lot of people<01:18:38.880> who<01:18:39.040> have<01:18:39.199> signed
• >> Two, those are two independent variables and sources of revenue. So I really can't answer that.
• and and uh um sources of variables and and uh um sources of revenue.<04:19:56.479> So,<04:19:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 608 farmers who are currently signed up to accept our shopper card and mobile app.
• We have one farmer out there who we met in Las Cruces in May, and he signed up on our program out there
• dollars of the 15 going into Colorado. 1.2 million That money is still sitting in DC along with our signed
• There are a lot of variables still to it.
• So, our future milestones, which we're excited for, is our program anticipating to sign the cooperative

Transcript Highlights:

• When you see turnover writ large increase, it can be a sign that's really deeply problematic.
• It actually can be a sign... It's really quite positive.
• And then I'm not, you know, I signed up for this.
• to be true that individual and it's still true under state law you as an individual school district sign
• Those are the three variables.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This particular bill would help us get a coordinated umbrella approach to the many and variable factors
• This particular bill would help us get a coordinated umbrella approach to the many and variable factors
• This particular bill would help us get a coordinated umbrella approach to the many and variable factors
• This particular bill would help us get a coordinated umbrella approach to the many and variable factors

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have a rule such as, if a member is inactive for three or more meetings, and you can play with that variable
• have a rule such as, if a member is inactive for three or more meetings, and you can play with that variable
• have a rule such as, if a member is inactive for three or more meetings, and you can play with that variable
• You know, you can play with that variable.
• I signed on two more schools after testifying last week, so I have 42 schools that I work with directly

Keywords: 928, house, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Since there are a number of people who've signed up to testify, just keep that in mind.
• I think that's it for the folks who were officially signed up, although some folks signed up... ...that's
• it for the folks who were officially signed up, although some folks signed up just today, the day of
• As Rue was speaking to, financial aid can be extremely variable.
• That concludes everyone who both signed up in advance and everyone who signed up today.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm using my sign; it's my words, my choice of words, and she's a great voicer for me.
• Hand signs on my desk. So I would suggest during session or even before, bring the kids.
• But we have 300 kids signed up for summer school. This will be for the AgiPEP program.
• We don't have many signed up for this.
• Our message is that school closure is not a local failure; it is a statewide trend.

Keywords: 1184, house, all