Video & Transcript Research : 'centralized website'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 5, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ASSIST F AS THOSE IN THE DEVELOPMENT
- THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, WE HAD AN INTAKE PROCESS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, THROUGH MARKETING WE HAVE AN
- AT A GIVEN POINT A FAMILY MAY GO ON THAT VENDOR'S NORMAL WEBSITE AND SEE A SALE SO THEY MAY SEE IT CHEAPER
- THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, FOR US IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE AVAILABLE. >> Chair Persons-Mulicka: I HAVE ONE
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Agriculture Committee Jul 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Emails may be sent to the address found on the committee website, which is... ...facilitate the goal
- Emails may be sent to the address found on the committee website, which is agri.committee at assembly.ca.gov
- But behind the polished websites, admittedly adorable pictures, and carefully worded listings is often
- California is one of the few states that doesn't keep a central record of the electronic health certificates
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Agriculture heard three bills. SB 18 by Senator Rubio would create a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program at CDFA to help open or improve grocery stores in food desert communities. Supporters said it would improve access to healthy food, create jobs, and help underserved neighborhoods; opponents argued it could favor large chains, lacked community input and accountability, and should better prioritize tribal, BIPOC-owned, and community-led retail. Committee members raised concerns about population thresholds, community engagement, and long-term commitments, and the author said the bill could be strengthened with guardrails. SB 18 passed 7-0 and was sent to Appropriations.
SB 312 by Senator Umberg would require out-of-state shippers of dogs to electronically submit health certificates to CDFA and make them available to buyers and enforcement agencies, aiming to improve consumer protection and traceability in the puppy import pipeline. Supporters from animal welfare and humane organizations said the bill would help stop sick or misrepresented puppies from entering California and give investigators a central record. Members asked about privacy and enforcement, and the author indicated amendments could address consumer privacy concerns. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.
SB 493 by Senator Becker would change how compensation is set for secretary managers of district agricultural associations and fairgrounds, shifting salary-setting authority to CDFA and requiring periodic salary surveys. Supporters said fairgrounds are critical emergency-response and community facilities and that the bill would help recruit and retain qualified leaders with fairer pay. Some members expressed concern about local control and appointment delays, but clarified the bill only addressed salary, not appointments. SB 493 also passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2025-04-08
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe those letters are also posted on the committee website.
- We're a central service agency with a wide-ranging set of responsibilities that ultimately touches every
Bills:
HF2783
Keywords:
state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Joint Administrative Procedures Committee Jan 13th, 2025
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Conservation Jan 31st, 2026 at 09:07 am
Senate Conservation
Transcript Highlights:
- Marla Schoz, registered lobbyist for South Central Solid Waste Authority.
- And I do work with this South Central Solid Waste Authority.
- We currently have the Tri-County, Central Tri-County District, down in the Moriarty area, Edgewood area
- We have the Tri-County, Central Tri-County District, down in the Morarity area, Edgwood area, and they
- You can collect the samples in a consistent manner and make sure the data is centralized and aggregated
Keywords:
food recovery, composting, waste management, solid waste surcharge, organic waste reduction, environment, grants, advisory group, bosque management, Rio Grande, environmental protection, water resources, fiscal appropriation, drinking water, well owners, water testing, water treatment, public health, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/08/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- Right on our website there is a connection to the board of managers.
- So we really like the fact that this bill has that that is sort of the central clearinghouse of what
- So we really like the fact that this bill has that that is sort of the central clearinghouse of what
- through the NHDRA uh on their website. through the NHDRA uh on their website.
- On the NHT website, you can see the list of communities that have adopted the all vet.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Statewide intake, which operates 24/7 as a central point of intake for suspected abuse and neglect for
- Secondly, the Region 7, which is Central Texas and the surrounding areas, request for application for
- It is linked through our HHS website and is also available on your Texas Benefits.com.
- We've been partnering with HHSC to enhance our website visibility, coordinate social media outreach,
- and add fraud reporting to the Your Texas Benefits website and app.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't see anything on the website saying that they changed it.
- website saying that they changed it. website saying that they changed it.
- You would find those on the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.
- where they could uh to their website where they could uh show<01:01:59.680>
the <01:01:59.920> - So, updating your website with a new product is a menu cost.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 1372 establishes a Maryland Health Centralization Commission to provide ongoing advice and
- alters the information about a facility that must be posted on the Maryland Health Care Commission website
- alters the information about a facility that must be posted on the Maryland Health Care Commission website
- of IT to post the statewide IT master plan publicly on the Department of Information Technology's website
- <01:02:41.320>
within Information Technology's website within Information Technology's website
Summary:
The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and proceeded through a series of committee reports and floor actions, mostly on House bills. Several measures were advanced without opposition, often after brief floor explanations and unanimous adoption of committee amendments. Topics included behavioral health rate-setting modernization (HB 772), expedited Medicaid eligibility for relocated individuals with developmental disabilities (HB 1015), perinatal behavioral health screening and coverage (HB 1118), mammogram notices about breast arterial calcification (HB 1364), menopause provider training and coverage (HB 1365), cannabis licensing and training changes (HB 622), cemetery sale and transfer oversight (HB 892), travel services insurance requirements (HB 994), cash transaction rounding authorization (HB 1026), specie as legal tender (HB 1312), menstrual hygiene product ingredient labeling (HB 1357), health care quality reporting and a health centralization commission (HB 1372), special pediatric hospital transfer and review procedures (HB 1376), telehealth continuity of care for out-of-state counselors (HB 1483), and child placement protections for unlicensed settings and pediatric overstay patients (HB 1559). Most of these bills were ordered passed for third reading after the chamber adopted the committee amendments and favorable reports.
The Senate also considered environmental and consumer-related measures. HB 146 would delay implementation dates for onsite wastewater system regulation and licensing requirements, while striking provisions on inspections and pumping for rental properties and sales. HB 254, a Department of Natural Resources bill, was described as facilitating community engagement in planning and development of departmental projects. HB 969 on retail electric vehicle fuel sales and charging equipment requirements was also taken up and reported favorably. In each of these cases, members noted no committee opposition and no fiscal impact, and the bills were advanced.
Two bills were set aside rather than immediately acted on. HB 1037, concerning a Public Service Commission study on broadband and voice over internet protocol service, was special ordered until Friday at the request of a senator. HB 1312, the specie/legal tender bill, prompted questions about the definition of specie and was also special ordered for consideration the next morning. No roll-call votes were recorded in the excerpt; actions were taken by unanimous consent on amendments and committee reports, with multiple bills ordered to third reading.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Nov 17th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The website will be fully upgraded with all of that.
- We work with the Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico on all of our workforce programs.
- I think you all have seen our Mainstream NM campaign and website related to our planning effort.
- All of those notifications are also on the Office of the State Engineer's website.
- The bullet points are available on our website at www.cctexas.gov.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs Aug 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- As we are building and establishing the first public medical school here in the Central Valley at UC.
- .. ...the first public medical school here in the Central Valley at UC Merced that begins in 2027.
- His wife is an elementary school principal back home in the district he represents in central Orange
- We have the representation of our people, but we have a local school, Central Unified School, not too
- Central Valley.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Native American Affairs held a historic hearing at Table Mountain Rancheria focused on tribal education, culture, resilience, leadership, and trust. The opening prayer and remarks emphasized the significance of holding the first committee hearing on tribal land. Members said the hearing was intended both to hear testimony about ongoing problems in schools and to identify next steps for legislation and policy, especially as the session neared its end. The committee also referenced recent efforts supporting Native students’ right to wear regalia at graduation and broader concerns about representation in education and state institutions.
The first panel centered on Native students’ experiences in public schools. Bella Garcia described a two-year fight with Clovis Unified over wearing tribal regalia at graduation, including a restrictive approval form and administrators who she said denied Native identity and made her feel invisible. Morningstar Ghali connected those experiences to the legacy of boarding schools, racial profiling, suspensions, and the “boarding school to prison pipeline,” and called for culturally responsive education, Native educators, counselors, Native studies, and restorative justice. Janet K. Bill, from the Attorney General’s Office of Native American Affairs, described her own path from tribal Head Start to Stanford, law school, tribal council, and state service, and said education, justice, and sovereignty are linked. Members asked about restorative justice, representation, and how to build pipelines into leadership and education roles.
The second panel focused on solutions. Chairwoman Michelle Heredia Cordova urged a reimagined education system that is more personalized, experiential, culturally grounded, and balanced with land-based learning, while also recruiting Native teachers and creating stronger tribal partnerships. Chairman Leo Sisku said schools should educate educators, stop tokenizing Native students, and create accountability and consequences for discriminatory behavior; he also supported stronger tribal-school partnerships and more positive outreach. Chairman Fred Bean emphasized consistent engagement from tribal leaders at every level of schooling, stronger transitions from elementary to college, and programs that prepare Native youth for leadership, trades, and higher education. Chairman Shaineto of Tule River argued that schools and administrators should face consequences for violating Native students’ rights, and that Native people should not have to keep educating institutions about basic cultural respect.
Committee members responded by discussing possible statewide solutions, including regional tribal boards, better enforcement of existing laws, stronger pipelines into teaching and leadership, and improved representation on boards and in state agencies. Several members raised the need to implement existing laws, fill vacant Native appointments, and consider broader protections for Native regalia and cultural expression. No formal vote was taken in the transcript, but the hearing concluded with a clear call for continued collaboration, accountability, and legislation driven by Native voices.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Am I correct in assuming that from what your website tells me, that the cost of admittance, or sorry,
- Am I correct in assuming that from what your website tells me, that the cost of admittance or sorry,
- Division of Correction: We have a process in place that they can contact our medical department at central
- H-3 is part of the Arkansas Forward Initiative for the centralization of some of the services, shared
- H3 is part of the Arkansas Forward Initiative for the centralization of some of the services, shared
Summary:
The committee first adopted revised JBC rules, which staff said were updated to reflect legislation passed in the 2025 session. It then heard a presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s proposed balanced budget for FY27, with no action taken. Hudson said the budget reflects three priorities: limiting state-government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income-tax cuts. He highlighted increases for education funding through EFAs, pay-plan costs for Corrections, DPS, and the Attorney General, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, a Corrections medical contract, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction efforts, and an additional $100 million set aside for Medicaid sustainability. Committee members questioned the size of the tax cuts, the balance requirement, public education funding, Medicaid trust-fund levels, EFA funding, and the expected impact of new SNAP cost-sharing rules.
The Division of Higher Education then presented its productivity-based funding recommendations. Officials said institutions were 2.61% more productive overall, with funding changes driven by a statutory formula that rewards degree production, underserved populations, and high-demand fields. Members asked about declines at UA Little Rock, the formula’s multipliers, the role of the Arkansas Access Act and a new return-on-investment metric, and how two-year colleges are adjusted for size. The committee also reviewed special items and approved two letters: one authorizing 17 net personnel changes across nine institutions, and another adding special language for North Arkansas College’s entry into the University of Arkansas system. The committee then adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions.
A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on the University of Arkansas system, especially Fayetteville’s athletics funding and the broader impact of the House/NIL settlement. Chancellor Charles Robinson and system officials explained that the board had waived a longstanding campus transfer and directed the university to provide an additional $6 million to athletics, with some costs likely to be passed through to students but partially offset by existing budget growth. Members debated whether the university should prioritize academics or athletics, how the transfer originated, and whether the athletic changes would affect affordability. The committee also discussed the 1890 extension program at UAPB and the Division of Agriculture’s land-grant funding. UAPB officials said the state match is intended to be one-to-one, that the current recommendation aligns appropriation with actual spending, and that a $2 million set-aside remains available if needed. The Division of Agriculture later clarified that its Smith-Lever extension and Hatch research funds are part of the UA system’s separate budget and that the state matched about $6.2 million in federal extension funding last year.
The committee then moved to the Department of Corrections. It approved G1, transferring 51 positions to the secretary’s office to activate a recidivism program, with an estimated cost of about $4 million. Staff then began walking through the department’s FY27 budget, noting an increase of about $8 million for administration and shared services, including a $170,000 sex-offender assessment appropriation moved under Act 723 of 2025 and roughly $6 million more for medical contracts. Questions on the Corrections budget had just begun when the transcript ended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Aug 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And for those in the audience and those watching online, the handout is posted to our website, LAO.
- For those in the audience and those watching online, the handout is posted to our website, lao.ca.gov
- appreciative of this legislature and the administration, understands the valuable partnership and a central
- appreciative of this legislature and the administration, understand the valuable partnership and a central
- that counties perform, legislature and the administration, understand the valuable partnership and a central
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held its fifth hearing of the year to examine the newly enacted federal H.R. 1 and its effects on California. Members and the chair described the law as a major threat to state health, food, education, and climate programs, and emphasized that California would not be able to fully backfill the federal cuts. Several members also highlighted the bill’s tax provisions, including temporary deductions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, while warning that the largest benefits flow to higher-income taxpayers and that major cuts to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and clean-energy incentives are delayed or phased in over time.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance presented detailed overviews of the bill’s likely impacts and implementation timelines. They identified the main affected areas as health care coverage and financing, food assistance, higher education, personal income taxes, and clean-energy/electric-vehicle credits. They explained that H.R. 1 limits provider taxes used to finance Medi-Cal, adds work and redetermination requirements, restricts CalFresh eligibility and increases state costs, changes student loan and Pell Grant rules, extends and modifies federal tax provisions, and phases out many clean-energy credits. Finance also noted major rescissions of Inflation Reduction Act funds, new border and immigration enforcement spending, and the possibility of PAYGO sequestration if Congress does not act to offset the deficit increase.
During member questions, the committee focused on likely enrollment losses, administrative burdens, and fiscal exposure for the state and counties. Witnesses said many details still depend on federal guidance, but they estimated significant impacts on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and graduate/professional student borrowing, and noted that California’s high CalFresh error rate could increase state costs. UC testified that the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans would affect thousands of professional students, especially in health, law, and other high-cost programs. Members asked for follow-up data on county, health, and tax impacts, and staff agreed to provide additional tables and estimates as implementation guidance becomes clearer.
Public commenters from counties, early childhood advocates, health coalitions, disability rights groups, immigrant-rights organizations, and other stakeholders urged the Legislature to mitigate the law’s effects. They warned of higher county costs, reduced access to health care and food assistance, increased administrative burdens, and harm to children, immigrants, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Several urged new state revenue solutions and stronger protections for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, child care, and home- and community-based services. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with a commitment to continue monitoring federal guidance and to work on state responses in the budget process.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant Aug 14th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- the Northeast and the Northwest, I was just sitting and saying, okay, let's see what about North Central
- If anybody has any questions or wants more further information that can be found on the DFA website.
- But all that information can be found on the DFA website.
- And then lastly, kind, of the foundation of it all, a centralized extension data repository.
- It is a centralized platform housed within our group within Extension. at New Mexico State University
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Health Committee and Privacy Committee and Consumer Protection Committee May 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- for the speakers have been provided to the members and they are available on the Assembly Health website
- for the speakers have been provided to the members and they are available on the Assembly Health website
- parts of nurses' jobs, which may be seen as administrative or clinically adjacent, but are actually central
- Some ideas include a centralized AI governance structure, a more formalized California-type stamp of
- Rights is one that we would also support: informed notification to consumers and some sort of a centralized
Summary:
The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Health and Privacy Committees focused on generative AI in health care, with opening remarks emphasizing both its potential to improve care and its risks around privacy, bias, liability, workforce impacts, and unequal access. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Chair Bonta framed the discussion around how California can encourage beneficial innovation while protecting patients, especially given the sensitivity of health data and the possibility that AI could worsen existing disparities if not carefully governed.
The first panel featured representatives from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Penguin AI, and Google, who described current uses of AI such as ambient clinical scribes, nursing documentation tools, imaging triage, maternal-fetal risk prediction, and administrative automation. Speakers said these tools can reduce clinician burden, improve patient experience, speed treatment, and in some cases improve outcomes, including a reported mortality benefit from a Kaiser predictive model and faster thrombectomy times at Cedars-Sinai. Members raised concerns about accuracy with accents and multilingual visits, whether predictive tools could reinforce bias or lead to more interventions such as C-sections, and how to ensure a human remains in the loop for important decisions.
The second panel, including representatives from the California Health Care Foundation, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, focused on policy and governance challenges. Testimony highlighted examples of AI supporting homelessness outreach and community health work, but also warned that biased algorithms can encode inequities, especially when trained on data that reflect under-treatment of Black, rural, or low-income patients. Witnesses urged clearer standards for trustworthy AI, stronger monitoring and governance structures, better data access for accountability, and attention to the safety net’s limited resources. Several speakers argued that states should require health systems to have AI governance processes, clarify liability between developers and deployers, and regulate downstream uses of AI while preserving access to data for lifesaving research and oversight.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 06/04/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Board of Visitors of the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office: Beverly Gibbs.
- and Historic Preservation Commission: Brian Stratton; as a member of the Board of Visitors of the Central
- A website coming across as a news site with no board of directors, no source, very clearly A.I.
- . 120 days prior to the election date, the Board of Elections shall post the language on its website.
- So four months beforehand they put it on their website. Isn't that right? >> Yes. >> Great.
Summary:
The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games.
The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually.
The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (01/15/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- but if there's another phone the website but if there's another phone number<00:23:26.919>
or - it lists your home phone number website it lists your home phone number but<00:24:31.279>
your - There is some crossover, including some of our external-facing resources, website, and so on.
- um our a call center we have a central um our a call center we have a central call<01:05:14.559>
- I have some assistance in actually posting things on my website.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting of the new session with opening remarks, member introductions, and a discussion of committee logistics. Members described their backgrounds and priorities, including criminal justice, right-to-know and privacy issues, domestic violence, death-with-dignity legislation, abortion, firearms, landlord-tenant policy, housing, and technology/privacy concerns. The chair noted there were already 34 bills assigned to the committee and expected more, and said the committee would likely continue to have a heavy workload this session.
The chair also outlined how the committee would operate: meetings would generally be on Wednesdays, with possible Mondays as needed; hearings would not require a quorum, but executive sessions would; and members were asked to provide updated phone numbers and email addresses, especially cell numbers. He explained that the committee would continue its practice of seating members in a mixed partisan arrangement to encourage communication, and that the new clerk had joined the committee.
A significant portion of the meeting focused on procedures for executive sessions and meeting times. The chair said the committee would follow the traditional rule allowing executive sessions on bills heard that day if proper notice was given, but he would avoid taking up controversial matters without full attendance. Members then discussed whether meetings should start at 9, 9:30, or 10 a.m., with concerns raised about long commutes, evening obligations, and winter driving after dark. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the chair indicated he would try to accommodate the committee’s preference while balancing the workload.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Aug 18th, 2025
Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In terms of the leadership of the provision of MAT in public health offices, there's currently no central
- Turning now to page 18, centralized leadership and coordination could also help with the.
- We agree with centralizing the program management and marketing.
- A centralized referral system for probation and parole is being established.
- It again has a strong return on investment. but is also currently only available in the central part
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (02/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Donnie Parin, for Central Facilities, for example, will have a list of the things he wants to fix, and
- facilities for example will for Central facilities for example will have<01:30:36.719>
a <01:30 - <01:38:03.360>
facilities <01:38:04.239>which what we call Central facilities which - <05:15:56.558>
so folks and put them on the website so folks and put them on the website so - The witness agreed and said the quarterly reports available on their website include a succinct page
Summary:
The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns.
Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program.
A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not on the website, and I don't have an answer for when they might meet in 2025.
- Unless they haven't updated their website, which I notice happens quite frequently on the DOE website
- , the PUC website; things don't get updated for, there's always a lag there.
- <02:19:31.599>
don't website, the PUC website, things don't website, the PUC website, things - Yes, it's on the website. Oh, okay. Good. I can send that around if that's helpful.
Summary:
The committee met on April 14 and began by welcoming a new member, Representative Samban Denier, who briefly described his background as a Clarkson University environmental engineering graduate and Air Force veteran. The committee then moved into a work session on five energy-related bills, starting with Senate Bill 65 on stormwater management for solar arrays. Representative McGee presented amendment 1594H, which would exclude projects in shoreland areas from the bill’s permit-by-notification process and require the standard alteration-of-terrain permit review instead. Members asked for clarification, and McGee explained the amendment was requested by the New Hampshire Lakes Association and others to preserve the fuller review process for shoreland projects. The committee appeared satisfied with the explanation and moved on.
The committee next discussed Senate Bill 230 on electric utility restructuring and investment in distributed energy resources. Members concluded that section one was unnecessary because a better definition of advanced nuclear resources had already been added to House Bill 710, and that section two would allow investment in advanced nuclear resources in a way they had already rejected in another bill due to ratepayer risk. Several members agreed the bill was redundant and supported an ITL motion. They also discussed Senate Bill 232 on net metering terms and conditions, focusing first on whether hydroelectric generators could be listed in ISO New England while also taking net metering credits. Granite State Hydropower Association representative Heidi Kroll testified that generators are subject to checks and balances, that double-dipping is not occurring, and that rules and tariffs already require participation in one market arrangement or the other.
Discussion on Senate Bill 232 then shifted to section two, which would bar retroactive changes to net metering tariffs in place as of January 1, 2025. Representative McGee proposed alternative language to protect existing customer generators, group hosts, and municipal hosts from retroactive changes, while others said the language was needed to provide stability for current participants operating on thin margins. Some members supported the clearer wording; others argued the committee should not tie the hands of the PUC and DOE, noting future circumstances could require regulatory flexibility and that conflicts could be resolved in court if necessary. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended.