Transcript Highlights:

• This is categorically New Mexico's event.
• One of the greatest events in our state is, I want to thank Derek.
• Recently, we had a big, huge Muay Thai event, which is a mixed martial arts type event that is really
• And we have to look at our events and what the future holds.
• How much does the State Fair rate from that event?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's still one of those communities that gets often overlooked for employment.
• It's still one of those communities that gets often overlooked for employment.
• I like the idea of a community.
• Could you just repeat what the event is? And then now I'm going to ask, why?
• , since the mission and objectives of this event are kind of aligned.

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met and began with roll call, but did not have a quorum, so approval of prior minutes and an inspirational quote were tabled. A planned presentation from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee was canceled shortly before the meeting, and the agenda shifted to an informal discussion with two Treasury employees, Steve Kroder and Bill Collievis, about veterans with disabilities in the workplace. Kroder and Collievis described barriers veterans face, including stigma, employer misunderstanding, the need for frequent medical appointments, invisible disabilities such as PTSD and other service-connected conditions, and challenges for Guard and Reserve members balancing service with civilian work. They also discussed supportive practices in public employment, the need for better outreach to employers, the role of local veterans service officers, Military OneSource, TAP, and the importance of helping veterans navigate benefits and transition services. Commission members responded by emphasizing education, employer outreach, and possible resource-sharing through the commission’s website and toolkit. The committee then heard a presentation from Commonwealth Corporation on its Young Adults with Disabilities employment grant program. Staff explained the program’s funding, eligibility, training and placement model, and data from the prior cycle, including participant demographics, completion rates, credential attainment, employment outcomes, and wages. Members discussed benefits counseling, underemployment definitions, stigma around addiction as a disability category, and the need to connect grantees and participants with work incentives and benefits information. Commonwealth Corporation said grantees now receive training on benefits impacts and that the agency is open to further partnership. The meeting ended with a brief update on a planned commission event focused on youth and young adults with disabilities, inclusive workplaces, PCAs, and job coaches. Organizers said they were still securing a venue and were considering a hybrid or virtual format, with participation from youth organizations, the PCA Council, and the Arc of Massachusetts. The subcommittee then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> facing our communities. facing our communities.
• Uh, an extraordinary event is something that would affect the community and is beyond the control of
• Uh, an extraordinary event is something that would affect the community and is beyond the control of
• . communities. communities.
• </c> much needed services to our communities. much needed services to our communities.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• event by event when certain Case by case event by event when you're<00:20:21.880><c> adding</c><00:20
• </c><00:20:34.880><c> and</c> moving forward with that event and moving forward with that event and stifling
• However, there'll be a criteria depending on larger events and smaller events, and then you can have
• What's the reasoning for that compared to the professional events?
• </c><01:49:53.639><c> are</c> testimony and the smaller if events are testimony and the smaller if events

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a event. They are a lot of fun.
• </c><00:19:44.080><c> because</c> chance for the local community because chance for the local community
• </c><00:19:52.320><c> for</c> may stop before, after the event for may stop before, after the event for
• Does huge injection to the community.
• <01:02:28.079><c> and</c> community and community and just<01:02:31.040><c> and</c><01:02:31.520><c>

Bills: HB2045 , HB1703 , HB2461

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts met on February 13 and heard testimony on HB 2045, which would designate La Hoʻihoʻi Ea Sovereignty Restoration Day as a state holiday in place of Statehood Day. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Naviʻoliʻoli Newi Foundation, and many individuals and students. Supporters said the bill would better reflect Hawaiian history, sovereignty, and self-determination, while a few agencies submitted comments. The committee recessed to allow more students to arrive and testify. After reconvening, additional student testimony continued in strong support of HB 2045. Students said the change would honor Native Hawaiian history and culture, recognize Hawaii as a sovereign nation, and provide a more historically grounded observance. Members thanked the students for traveling to testify and for sharing their perspectives. The committee then voted to pass HB 2045 with one amendment to defect the date; the motion passed unanimously with the chair, vice chair, and members voting aye, and one member excused. The committee also heard HB 1703 HD1, which authorizes rodeos and rodeo activities on lands zoned for agriculture or pastoral use. Testimony in support came from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund, with comments from the Hawaii Food and Policy group. Supporters described rodeos as cultural and social events that could boost local economies, create jobs, and provide youth and community engagement. The committee passed HB 1703 HD1 with technical amendments. Finally, the committee considered HB 2461, which would increase the ceiling for the works of art special fund and appropriate funds for preservation of the state’s public art collection and a collections manager position. After discussion, the chair said the measure would not move forward this year and recommended deferral; the committee deferred the bill and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We continue with the State Fair event to represent the African American agricultural community in New
• It's not that type of event. It's an extraordinarily complex event. It takes a lot of energy.
• And still offering the same number of regional events by hosting two-day events in three locations around
• Level of six events per year that we want to offer to small communities around the state.
• We're using our three girls events this year to gauge what communities are really interested in knowing

Transcript Highlights:

• By embedding this in state code, Into work, college, and community in life.
• We're still trying to... ...communities with disabilities.
• A study in 2025 discussed 23,000... ...during athletic events.
• Chairman, Representative Cullen, I think that this bill requires all school athletic events.
• Chair, he said one at the athletic event and then also in the school.

Bills: HB30 , HB120 , HJR1 , SB210 , SB306

Committee: House House Education

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 64, which would codify the existing Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department, create a deputy secretary position, and formalize responsibilities for enforcing special education law, monitoring disability protections, and supporting a statewide online IEP system. The sponsor and PED officials said the bill would provide continuity, improve compliance with IDEA, help students who move between schools, and keep gifted education unchanged in its current curriculum-and-instruction placement. An amendment requiring quarterly consultation with superintendents and charter school leaders was also described as a way to improve collaboration and continuous improvement. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from educators, disability advocates, parents, superintendents, unions, and charter school representatives, who said the bill would improve accountability, transparency, and services for students with disabilities. One parent testified in opposition to the gifted-education language, warning that removing gifted students from the special education umbrella could weaken protections and services. Committee members asked about cost, the office’s current structure, the role of 504 plans, and how the bill would affect military and foster students; PED said the office is already staffed and funded primarily through federal IDEA dollars and that 504 enforcement remains separate, though the office may monitor related protections. The committee then voted do pass. The committee next heard House Bill 256, which would require schools to include cardiac emergency response procedures for athletic activities and ensure AEDs are clearly marked and accessible at those events. Supporters, including the American Heart Association, nurses, and school leaders, emphasized that AEDs and trained staff can dramatically improve survival in sudden cardiac arrest cases. Questions focused on how many AEDs schools would need, whether schools already have them, and how the bill would affect middle school athletics and budgets; the sponsor said schools would determine the best placement, with at least one AED available for athletic events. The committee voted do pass. Finally, the committee heard House Memorial 43, which asks LESC and PED to study how New Mexico and other states measure school performance, including the use of the Lexile reading framework. Superintendents argued that Lexile provides a more consistent, apples-to-apples comparison than some state accountability measures and could better reflect student growth. There was no opposition, members asked about possible study costs, and the memorial passed on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• for today is to get a presentation from the Department of Transportation on the atmospheric river events
• I also put in here that we complete after-action reports after every event.
• I also put in here that we complete after-action reports after every event.
• The next thing I have to figure out is whether, after we have an event, we have over $700,000 worth of
• So I work with State EMD to get a governor's proclamation for the event listing the counties and the

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So the term exceptional event means an event that...
• So the term exceptional event means an event that affects air quality, is not reasonably controlled or
• And the term exceptional event does include wildfires.
• ADEQ is... ...and our contract support time per event submission.
• To the point of exceptional event... Appreciate that, sir. Yes, Chairman, Senator.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 27 and March 3, 2026, then heard House Bill 2013, which would require ADEQ to submit an exceptional event demonstration to EPA when a wildfire on federally managed land affects Arizona air quality. The sponsor said the bill would help Arizona’s ozone/nonattainment situation by ensuring wildfire-related exceedances are excluded from official counts. Sierra Club opposed the mandate as duplicative and costly, and ADEQ said it was neutral but concerned about requiring submissions that may not meet EPA’s regulatory-significance standard and could take about 200 staff hours each. HB 2013 received a do-pass recommendation by a 5-3 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, after testimony from opponents raising transparency, conflict-of-interest, and funding concerns; supporters argued ranchers need help with depredation losses. HB 2156 passed 5-3. House Bill 2113, which would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when a proposed residential rate increase is 100% or more, drew testimony from the sponsor about rural customers facing large increases and from RUCO saying it lacked the staff and budget to take on the added workload. The chair and sponsor discussed adding an appropriation or lowering the threshold, but no amendment was ready. Opponents argued the bill would divert RUCO from larger cases, while supporters emphasized protecting rural ratepayers. The committee gave HB 2113 a do-pass recommendation, 6-2. House Concurrent Memorial 2011, urging Congress to delist the Mexican gray wolf and return management to states and local authorities, was supported by the sponsor and ranching-focused testimony citing livestock losses, while opponents said the species remains endangered and recovery should stay science-based. HCM 2011 passed 5-3. The committee then considered House Bill 2026, which would let ADWR evaluate water availability for certain developments by looking only at the proposed source or sources, even if water is commingled in a delivery system. ADWR was neutral but warned that commingled systems make it difficult to track actual water use and could weaken groundwater safeguards; opponents said the bill could enable double counting or more pumping. HB 2026 received a do-pass recommendation, 5-3. House Bill 2056, which appropriates $100,000 for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites, was supported by the sponsor as a way to explore additional water supplies; ADWR was neutral but said the study would be new for the agency and that brackish water is still regulated as groundwater. HB 2056 passed 5-3. House Bill 2098, modernizing Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority bonding and financing authority, drew support from Pinal County representatives and passed unanimously, 8-0. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 2057, supporting a geothermal permitting roadmap and coordination among agencies, was backed by industry advocates as a way to unlock Arizona’s geothermal potential and also passed unanimously, 8-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we're talking about our community we're talking about our community correctional<00:51:00.400><c
• events</c> of school events of school events &gt;&gt; and<01:06:55.119><c> each</c><01:06:55.359><c>
• ,</c> working with the school communities, working with the school communities, working<01:09:59.040>
• </c> together as a community. together as a community.
• </c> school communities. school communities.

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we do is focused on two areas: communities and schools.
• resilience and community economic impact.
• Very big event for the town. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Heartland Community Theater? Yes, Heartland Community Theater. Heartland is there as well.
• So local history, community storytelling, and cultural heritage.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee heard the Office of the Lieutenant Governor’s FY 2027 budget request as part of House Bill 12. Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger said he generally agreed with the governor’s proposed core budget, but asked for restoration of prior cuts and funding for a statutory senior advocate role in his office. Members questioned the office about staffing levels, prior lapse in spending, and whether the office could tighten its own budget further. Wasinger and Chief of Staff Katie Ashcroft said the office had been operating leanly with five full-time employees and a part-time general counsel, and that the senior advocate function had been picked up by the office’s counsel after the statute was brought to their attention. Several members pressed for data on senior calls and for more detail on how the office would use any additional FTEs, while others supported the senior advocate position but objected to broader office expansion. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Missouri Arts Council, which Wasinger oversees. Michael Donovan testified that the governor’s recommendation would cut the council’s transfer by nearly half, reducing grants to communities and schools statewide. He said the council’s work supports arts education, community resilience, tourism, workforce readiness, and economic activity, citing a statewide economic impact study and examples from districts around Missouri. Members from both parties described local arts programs, festivals, and school partnerships that had benefited from grants, and several urged restoration of the funding. Questions also addressed the statutory distribution of nonresident athletes and entertainers tax revenue, the council’s unspent spending authority, and how cuts would affect grantmaking; Donovan said the council would likely have to reduce or scale back grants proportionally. The committee then heard from Missouri Humanities Executive Director Ashley Beard Foss, who described grants and public programs in local history, cultural heritage, veterans writing workshops, traveling exhibits, and digital humanities. She said the proposed 50% reduction to the humanities transfer would force staffing and program cuts and reduce regrants, including pass-through support for organizations such as the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City Urban League, and the Griot Museum. Members asked about those pass-throughs and the effect of the cuts, and the lieutenant governor said the office stood by the budget it had submitted. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chair noting follow-up materials would be distributed and announcing possible schedule changes for upcoming hearings because of weather.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sanctioned events, even if the events sanctioned events, even if the events are<00:02:01.600><c>
• This bill sponsored event off campus.
• </c> Minnesota State High School League event Minnesota State High School League event venues.<00:23:
• It is to keep our communities safe.
• We have an communities safe.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Sing" that brings communities together for public choral events.
• We know what a community looks like without arts and culture, and it's not a whole community.
• and community festivals as well.
• community.
• They invite government entities, provide updates, and show up to community events that educate and highlight

Bills: HF1679 , HF1019 , HF2321 , HF1740 , HF2278

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• story of the Texas Revolution, from the stand at the Alamo to the victory at San Jacinto and the events
• The courthouses are probably the most significant element in any community and really does... ...the
• most significant element in any community and really does is the basis of their identity and community
• The threat to the battlefield right now with the development of the Starbase community, the integrity
• The other is unpaid because of events. When people come to events, most of those are free.

Summary: The joint budget hearing focused on the Texas Historical Commission’s legislative appropriations request and its priorities heading into the Texas bicentennial. Agency officials said prior appropriations from the 89th Legislature have been fully expended or committed, and emphasized ongoing work with the General Land Office and Alamo partners to prepare revolutionary-era sites for increased visitation and interpretation. They highlighted major preservation and development efforts at Presidio La Bahía, Washington-on-the-Brazos, San Felipe de Austin, the First Capital, Monument Hill, and other Republic-era sites, along with continued work on the Texas Holocaust and Genocide, Anti-Semitism Advisory Commission. A large portion of the discussion centered on specific funding requests and project costs, including an $85 million request for the San Jacinto Monument and battlefield restoration, $16 million for phase two improvements at Washington-on-the-Brazos, and additional funding for Presidio La Bahía/Fannin Monument, the National Museum of the Pacific War, Caddo Mounds, Eisenhower Birthplace, Iwo Jima, and Palmito Ranch Battlefield. Officials also described a $100 million courthouse restoration program already underway, a request to address rising operating costs, staff compensation, and technology upgrades for connectivity, ticketing, reservations, e-commerce, and public access to records. They said visitation to historic sites is growing about 10 percent, with strong interest in revolutionary sites and archaeology. Members questioned the agency about the San Jacinto project costs, the IT request, visitation trends, and use of the Historic Infrastructure Sustainability Trust Fund. Officials explained that the trust fund provides about $11 million annually, split between historic sites and courthouses, and has supported projects such as Levi Jordan, Port Isabel Lighthouse, Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Goodnight properties, McGuffin Home, Fort Martin Scott, Eisenhower Birthplace, and several courthouses. No votes were taken; after questions and a brief opportunity for public testimony, no witnesses came forward and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So as we mentioned, there were no events last year where any program actually There were no events last
• There was no EEA event last year. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
• Last summer, we didn't have any extreme events to respond to.
• They prevent us from getting to the emergency event.
• Approximately four staff work on communications rate-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• events.
• For example, the OIC has staff attend over 25 community events in the past five weeks relating to the
• For example, the OIC has staff attend over 25 community events the past.
• For example, the OIC has staff attend over 25 community events the past five weeks relating to the December
• flood event.

Bills: HB2579

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: public media, digital equity, funding, media access, communication technology

Transcript Highlights:

• at community health centers.
• I think there's an active community process right now to try to understand what the community needs and
• or size of community or budget of community, I actually think that smaller, poorer communities are going
• And we see this on the Cape all the time by taking community approaches and community solutions.
• And so I think so much of this starts at the community and a community acknowledging what their needs

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session on health and human services, held in Clinton and opened with remarks from the House and Senate co-chairs, local officials, and committee members. The chairs emphasized the importance of hearing directly from agencies about the Commonwealth’s health care and human services budget needs, thanked Clinton for hosting, and introduced the day’s panels, beginning with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and then MassHealth. Secretary Kiame Mahania presented Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS budget, describing a $33.7 billion request driven largely by non-discretionary cost growth, caseload increases, and federal uncertainty. He highlighted targeted investments in foster parent reimbursement, family resource centers, maternal health, food assistance, immigrant legal services, and workforce rates, while warning that federal cuts and the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act could strip billions from state health funding. Members questioned him about primary care shortages, federal program integrity audits, ConnectorCare, regional health disparities, and the proposed cap on adult dental coverage; he defended the cap as a difficult but necessary cost-control measure and said the administration would continue cooperating with federal partners. Undersecretary Michael Levine then testified for MassHealth, saying the agency faces two major challenges: rapid cost growth and looming federal changes. He outlined a $22.7 billion gross MassHealth budget and proposed actions including a moratorium on new expansions, capping adult dental benefits at $1,000, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management spending to peer-state levels, and convening work groups to slow growth in personal care attendant, adult foster care, and adult day health programs. He also warned that federal policy changes could cause about 300,000 residents to lose coverage by 2030 and reduce federal revenue by about $3.5 billion, and said MassHealth would use outreach and systems changes to help eligible members stay covered. Members raised concerns about the impact of these cuts on homeless care, preventive services, dental access, GLP-1s, and regional hospital and specialist shortages, while Levine argued the proposals were aimed at preserving core coverage and sustainability.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's completely communing with nature when they're out there.
• I mean, Camp Mystic was sending out communications.
• In fact, you raise a point that we have discussed, and that is the poor post-event communication is kind
• They couldn't communicate, but the family was communicating on a closed-loop Wi-Fi system, correct?
• No one could ever plan for such an event.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of about 525 megawatts during market and test events last year.
• There was no EEA event last year. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
• Last summer, we didn't have any extreme events to respond to.
• They prevent us from getting to the emergency event.
• Approximately four staff work on communications rate-making.

Summary: The committee first heard Issue 1 on trailer bill language to redirect funding for emergency demand-response programs. The Department of Finance proposed using about $26.9 million in General Fund originally set aside for the Distributed Energy Backup Assets program to bolster the Demand-Side Grid Support Program for summer 2026, and using about $70 million in CalCHAP interest to support ratepayer-funded demand response in summers 2027 and 2028. The CEC and CPUC said they are working on a transition from DSGS to ELRP or a successor program, while the LAO noted the General Fund money would otherwise revert to savings. Members pressed the administration on whether demand response remains important, whether DSGS has been successful, and whether the state should keep funding it through the CEC rather than shifting to a ratepayer-funded CPUC program. The CEC and CPUC said the programs are not directly comparable, emphasized different cost structures and enrollment metrics, and said a CPUC rulemaking is underway with a proposed decision expected in Q3 2026. No vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then took up Issue 2, a budget proposal tied to SB 254 and the new transmission accelerator. GoBiz and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank described a five-year, roughly $26 million request to staff and administer the accelerator and manage Proposition 4 and AB 1207 funds for transmission financing. Members asked about state liability, ownership of financed lines, FERC revenue requirements, and whether the program would help underserved regions and offshore wind development. Staff explained that the accelerator would only consider projects already identified through CAISO’s competitive transmission planning process, and that state financing would be a small portion of large projects intended to lower overall costs to ratepayers. The LAO said it had no specific concerns but urged the Legislature to ensure the final language matches its intent. The committee also heard Issue 3 on petroleum market oversight. The CEC and its Division of Petroleum Market Oversight requested additional positions and funding to implement ABX2-1 and continue work on supply stabilization, refinery monitoring, and transportation fuels analysis. Members questioned why the work was funded through the Energy Resources Programs Account, whether existing staff from the paused price-gouging work could be reassigned, and whether the program had produced evidence of price gouging or improved supply conditions. CEC and Finance said the new positions are needed because the workload has expanded, while some existing staff remain on related analysis and reporting duties. The discussion ended without a vote in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:22.399><c> college</c> appropriations to the community college appropriations to the community
• </c> governs appropriations to the community governs appropriations to the community college<00:11:31.279
• </c> Any other questions on the community Any other questions on the community colleges<00:16:32.720>
• Every day, thousands of cars pass our community without stopping, often unaware of the events and cultural
• </c> wellplaced sign that promotes community wellplaced sign that promotes community events<01:53:12.880

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 497, a technical correction to last year’s capital budget. Shannon Reid of the Community College System of New Hampshire explained that the bill removes leftover state-agency boilerplate from a repurposed capital appropriation and replaces it with community college language, without changing any dollar amounts. She also described a requested amendment to rename a respiratory therapy renovation appropriation at Nashua Community College as an allied health instructional center, so the space can be used more flexibly for programs such as phlebotomy, radiologic technology, and LNA training. Terry Poff of the General Court then testified on the second part of the bill, which changes legislative space references to support the move of General Court offices from the second floor to the fourth floor of the annex as part of the legislative office building reconfiguration. Members asked whether the community college changes affected funding, and Reid confirmed the amounts do not change and that the bill simply speeds up a correction that otherwise would have been handled later in the lapse process. Poff said the annex space change is part of a permanent transition, though the work cannot proceed until the General Court has legal control of the space. The committee then entered executive session, adopted Amendment 1031H on a 12-0 vote, and voted ought to pass as amended on SB 497 by a 12-0 vote, with several members absent. The bill was placed on the consent calendar. The committee next opened a hearing on Senate Bill 529FN, which would give preference to lumber sourced in the United States on state-funded building projects. Representative Davis, introducing the bill for Senator Roachford, argued that New Hampshire timber is disadvantaged by grading rules that treat U.S. lumber differently from Canadian SPF lumber, even when the wood is from similar species and climates. He said the bill is intended to support New Hampshire’s timber industry and that architects and engineers would still be able to specify stronger materials when needed. Committee members questioned whether the bill should instead refer specifically to New Hampshire lumber, how it would be enforced, and what the cost impact would be. Davis and later witness Mike Olette said the issue is tied to industry grading standards rather than a government code, that the bill is meant to create a preference rather than a mandate, and that price differences are hard to pin down because lumber is a commodity. Olette, who lives near the border, testified that New Hampshire logs are often sent to Canada for milling and then return under a different grade, which he said puts New Hampshire loggers and mills at an economic disadvantage.