Transcript Highlights:

• Those are for contested cases. That's correct.
• That is the article in the Administrative Procedure Act for contested cases.
• So what if there's a case... ...article in the Administrative Procedure Act for contested cases.
• I think that, well, I mean, you can bring a contested case and then reach a settlement.
• We have a case on him.'

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also advises the property owners of the dates and times of the budget hearings so they can attend
• the budget hearings, and it advises them of the time period in which they can contest their value if
• So we're not doing one home at a time, one commercial property at a time; in most cases, we're doing
• need to do, and create a plan of action to put our resources and tools in place to accomplish, in our case
• When we get into commercial properties, there are special cases.

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Seeing none, I hear the public hearing closed.
• that that wasn't the case. that that wasn't the case.
• I close the public hearing. I close the public hearing.
• hereby close the public hearing. hereby close the public hearing.
• where they might either have a hearing where they might contest<05:24:39.200> the<05:24:39.440

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Keywords: HI Senate YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVUIL74e5zY, 2026-07-02T01:23:35+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:00 - Start 01:00 - HWN-WLA 1:01 PM 01:20 - HB 1087, HD2 03:54 - HB 2101, HD1 01:30:10 - HB 2103, HD2 01:36:08 - DM HWN-WLA 1:01 PM 01:46:06 - HWN-EIG 1:10 PM 01:46:24 - HB 1307, HD2 01:58:29 - AEN-HWN 2:00 PM 01:59:05 - HB 2017, HD3 02:00:38 - DM AEN-HWN 2:00 PM 02:02:33 - HB 1307, HD2 02:23:00 - DM HWN-EIG 1:10 PM 02:25:38 - HWN 1:00 PM 02:25:56 - HB 2309, HD1 02:26:59 - HB 2582, HD2 02:34:20 - HB 2584, HD1 02:47:26 - HWN 2:05 PM 02:47:48 - HB 2046, HD2 02:52:10 - HB 2104, HD2 02:56:05 - HB 2433, HD1 02:56:43 - HB 2475, HD1 03:00:39 - DM HWN 2:05 PM 03:04:43 - DM HWN 1:00 PM Hearing Notices: HWN 1:00PM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_HWN_03-24-26-1_.PDF HWN-WLA 1:01 PM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_HWN-WLA_03-24-26_.PDF HWN-EIG 1:10 PM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_HWN-EIG_03-24-26_.PDF AEN-HWN 2:00 PM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-HWN_03-24-26_.PDF HWN 2:05 PM https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_HWN_03-24-26_.PDF, 912, senate, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you care to hear? that now? Thank you. Yes, please, Mr.
• We've seen in other states, very disturbing cases.
• First of all, thank you for hearing the bill.
• Thanks again for hearing the bill.
• There has been no court case.

Bills: SB683, SB1579, SB1389, SB1387, SB1390, SB1391, SB2063, SB1829, SB2060, SB1842, SB1398, SB1212, SB2158, SB102

Keywords: education, tax credit, student support, private school, Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, financial assistance, homeschooling, qualified expenses, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, school choice, tuition assistance, income limits, parental choice, accreditation, sales tax, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a recent case because I mean I have all these cases, and so a recent case where there was a pediatrician
• Senate Bill 2919, hearing none.
• Hearing none, it's so ordered.
• Hearing none, it is so ordered.
• Hearing none, it is so ordered.

Bills: HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001, HB136

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• And that's why I'm hearing.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony and took action on several land use, housing, municipal utility district, and cemetery-related bills. House Bill 447, dealing with transportation impact analysis requirements tied to MUD bond issuance, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the sponsor’s closing remarks, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1202, on third-party review of home backup power installations, was substituted and reported favorably to the full House by a unanimous roll call. House Bill 2494, on disannexation for failure to provide municipal services, and House Bill 1835, removing barriers to HUD-code manufactured homes, were also substituted and reported favorably; HB 1835 passed on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 15, limiting lot size and density requirements in certain large municipalities, was substituted and reported favorably unanimously. The committee also heard House Bill 897, which would authorize the sale or long-term lease of two state-owned Austin properties used by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and HHSC. The sponsor said the properties are in poor condition and that proceeds would benefit the state; after questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Several template MUD bills were then laid out, including HB 5652, HB 5654, HB 5661, and HB 5656, each creating or authorizing municipal utility districts in Montgomery or Fort Bend counties for water, wastewater, drainage, road, and recreational improvements. These bills drew limited testimony in support and were left pending without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would repeal last session’s change allowing new cemeteries within certain distances of municipalities and restore the prior rule limiting cemetery placement near growing urban areas. The sponsor and supporters argued the 2023 change created unintended consequences, removed valuable taxable land from future use, and complicated city planning; opponents, including a funeral service industry representative, argued the current law gives communities local control and helps address cemetery land shortages. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4753, a bill allowing a property owner to use a municipal record showing a certificate of occupancy was issued when the original document is lost; it was left pending. Finally, HB 3680, a Cameron County-specific bill modifying subdivision/model rule procedures to reduce replatting burdens while preserving colonia protections, and HB 4812, clarifying that condominiums follow Chapter 82 of the Property Code rather than full subdivision platting, both received supportive testimony and were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• But there's also many other use cases.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of land use, housing, and local government bills. House Bill 447, relating to TIA requirements for certain MUD bond issuances, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work already done, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the author’s closing, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out Senate Bill 1202 (third-party review of home backup power installations), House Bill 2494 (disannexation for failure to provide services), House Bill 1835 (removing barriers to HUD co-manufactured homes), and Senate Bill 15 (lot size and density limits in certain municipalities), with House Bill 1835 receiving one no vote and the others passing unanimously. House Bill 897, authorizing sale or lease of two state-owned Austin properties, was laid out and left pending after brief questions and no public testimony. The committee also heard and left pending several MUD creation bills for Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, including House Bills 5652, 5654, 5661, and 5656, each presented as template district bills with local support and no opposition recorded at the table. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would restore prior restrictions on new cemeteries near growing urban areas by repealing changes made last session. Representative Lujan and supporters argued the current law created unintended consequences, including loss of developable land, tax-exempt property in urban cores, and conflicts with infrastructure planning; they said cities already have authority to establish their own cemeteries if needed. Opponents, including a funeral services industry representative, argued the 2023 change was intended to let communities decide and that the bill would take local decision-making backward. After extensive testimony from both sides, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 3680, which would create a Cameron County-specific process allowing local discretion under the model subdivision rules. Supporters said the bill would preserve colonia protections while reducing costly platting and replatting burdens on families trying to sell or pass down land; county officials and realtors testified in favor. The bill was left pending after closing. House Bill 4812, a clarification to the Texas Uniform Condominium Act to prevent counties from imposing subdivision platting requirements on condominiums, received support from builders and a condominium attorney who said current county practices create duplicative hurdles and higher costs; it too was left pending. Finally, House Bill 5148, which would allow certain single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories, generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including housing advocates and architects, said the bill would lower costs, improve unit design, and expand affordable, family-friendly housing while maintaining safety through sprinklers and other safeguards. Fire officials from Corpus Christi opposed the bill, warning that a single stairwell could hinder firefighting and occupant evacuation, especially if sprinklers fail or smoke spreads. The author said the bill was aimed at new construction only and was part of a broader effort to reduce outdated housing regulations; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending at adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• But there's also many other use cases.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none. The bill is left pending. The hearing is adjourned.
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none. The bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none, and the bill is left pending.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• In the cases I’ve seen...
• All right, hearing none, that is carried over. All right, hearing none, that is carried over.
• The facts, hearing who actually hears the actual facts for making a decision.
• all the relevant evidence, hear your... ...hear all the relevant evidence, hear your potential defenses
• The public hearing, now we do have a public hearing, don't we?

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, SB116, machine gun conversion devices, switches, pistol conversion device, auto sear, firearm accessories, machine gun, automatic weapon, semiautomatic pistol, gun control

Transcript Highlights:

• We've already established that. that in the last hearing.
• Chair hears none. House Bill 366 is left. pending.
• And again, in a contested rate case, you're going to have all the parties at the table. table and have
• Of course, that's going to go through the PUC process, right, and the contested case process, but...
• Chair hears none. House Bill 470. He's left pending.

Bills: HB 13, HB143, HB144, HB145, HB366, HB470, HB805, HB912, HB13, HB143, HB144, HB145

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearings by the commission.
• We have to go through a TCEQ contested case hearing, which is essentially a trial at the State Office
• of Administrative Hearings.
• ... an active case within SOA now.
• No, no, ma'am, that's not the case.

Bills: SB1757, SB1758, SB1898, SB2050

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, an anti-SLAPP motion stays everything else in the case.
• So the real issues in the case and the reason the case was brought, which is a contest about the appeal
• But what it would do is it would tell the Third Court of Appeals to resolve its part of the case within
• It would then take the underlying issues, assuming the case survives to that point, under the exclusive
• Hearing none, the committee stands adjourned, subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: HB16

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An anti-SLAPP motion stays everything else in the case.
• So the real issues in the case, and the reason the case was brought, which is a contest about the appeal
• House Bill 16. case, uh, within 60 days of, uh, the passage of the bill and would tell the Texas Supreme
• appealed to resolve it within 90 days and then take the underlying issues that, that assuming the case
• Hearing none, the committee stands adjourned, subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: HB16

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met with a quorum present and took up House Bill 16, the omnibus courts bill that had been vetoed by the governor after the regular session. The committee substitute made several changes, including moving certain court creation dates, creating a new county court at law for Maverick County, repealing a missed youth diversion article, removing a civil preference for the 456th District Court in Guadalupe County, clarifying the digital court recording study makeup, correcting a drafting error involving prosecutors in the Special Prosecution Unit, and allowing the Office of the Attorney General to represent SPU prosecutors. Megan LaVoie of the Office of Court Administration testified as a resource witness in support of the bill and thanked the committee for working with the judiciary on the measure. Steve Bresnan of the Texas Court Reporters Association also testified in support of the bill, but used his time to urge action on a separate anti-SLAPP appeal that he said had been pending for 47 months; he distributed materials and proposed an amendment to impose deadlines on the courts, though he said he was not expecting discussion of it that day. After public testimony closed, the committee adopted the substitute without objection. Representative Hayes moved that House Bill 16, as substituted, be reported favorably to the full House with the recommendation that it be passed and printed. The motion prevailed on a 10-0 vote, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, doesn't sports contests.
• Uh this committee for hearing HB1308.
• These are not isolated cases.
• These are not isolated<00:31:16.880> cases.
• Gaming tax revenue is isolated cases.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism heard three measures. HB 450, which would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, drew support from DBEDT, the State Foundation, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, DAGs, and individuals. Members asked about the bill’s purpose and the relationship between arts administration and international/cultural considerations. The committees voted to pass HB 450 with amendments, including a housekeeping change allowing specific legislative direction in narrow cases; the measure was adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 437, relating to out-of-state offices, received testimony in support from DBEDT and representatives of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and another individual. The discussion focused on whether an overseas office in the Philippines was the best use of funds, given existing offices and trade relationships in places like Beijing and Taiwan. Members questioned the return on investment, fiscal priorities, and whether DBEDT had a broader strategic plan for selecting markets. The committees ultimately passed HB 437 with a Senate Draft 1 and technical amendments, with some members voting with reservations. HB 1391, relating to trade and creating a Hawaii-Ireland trade commission, also advanced after a lengthy discussion. DBEDT said it offered comments rather than a firm recommendation and explained that the bill appeared intended to build economic ties with Europe through Ireland, but members questioned why a commission was needed, how it would be structured, and whether similar efforts should focus on other countries. DBEDT said it would provide reports on sister-state relationships and office performance, and noted that trade initiatives would likely require private-sector participation. The committees passed HB 1391 with amendments and reservations from some members.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill aims to strengthen penalties for illegal gambling authorizes the operation of Fantasy sports contest
• But I was trying to understand with fantasies fantasy contests where and I thought that was like dungeons
• So you waive in support Chip case, Executive Director, Faith Freedom Coalition of Florida Waives in support

Transcript Highlights:

• the amount of time for which a contractor's failure to respond is deemed a waiver of the right to contest
• the amount of time for which the contractor's failure to respond is deemed a waiver of the right to contest
• is on 30 consent have it answered any questions question for staff seeing none no of the right to contest
• responsible for all contractual costs associated with out-of-state placement and services in these cases
• Witt members, House Bill 2662 enhances standards for expert testimony and evidence in parenting time cases

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a rapid review of a very large bill package, with the chair repeatedly asking staff to keep descriptions high level and many bills placed on third-read consent or consent calendars. A major theme was artificial intelligence: bills would require minors to be told when they are interacting with AI, allow AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, create an AI education program, privilege certain AI communications, and require K-12 instruction on ethical and practical AI use. Other education measures addressed school district superintendents, health instruction, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal development standards, and school safety, including a bill allowing concealed firearms on school grounds under specified conditions. Several health and public safety bills were also discussed. These included funding and oversight measures for childhood cancer research, nursing care complaint timelines, firefighter cancer data collection, limits on pharmacy penalties, and a bill making it a felony to administer abortion-inducing drugs without consent. Members also heard bills on overtime wage enforcement, domestic violence evidence standards in parenting cases, probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, and a measure expanding manslaughter liability to online encouragement of teen suicide. One sponsor strongly opposed a provisional medical licensing bill for foreign-trained applicants, while other sponsors emphasized rural health access, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and the need for a dental board member who is an oral surgeon. A large portion of the meeting focused on water, land, energy, and state agency oversight. Bills would streamline or change rules for small modular reactors, new power plants, water supply determinations, groundwater transportation fees, water hauling, and state land disposition. Members also considered measures affecting the State Land Department, including audits, oversight boards, continuation, land-use maps for data centers and energy projects, and rules for mineral leases and solar or wind siting. Other topics included wildlife and ranching, Mexican wolf policy, annexation, housing and development incentives, transportation and towing rules, digital driver licenses, and a proposed four-year moratorium on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility-rate increases, which drew questions about stakeholder input and the impact on enterprise funds and local utilities. No recorded roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or calendar status, with one bill noted as held in rules and another pulled for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they can hear that. >> So then if that be the case, what would we find to be the problem?
• So they can hear that. >> So then if that be the case, what would we find to be the problem?
• Um, the case.
• And typically it settles cases when parties hear it that way.
• And typically it settles cases when parties hear it that way. >> It does, but sometimes it doesn't. >

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee on Family Court reviewed several previously distributed reports, including a comparison of family court structures in other states and a report on improving New Hampshire family court pre-trial and mediation practices. The main new topic was a report on the intersection of domestic violence and family courts in New Hampshire, with members discussing how domestic violence cases in superior or district court can overlap with custody matters in family court and how courts may not be aware of related proceedings in other venues. Members discussed RSA 490-D:2 and related statutes, noting that family courts have original jurisdiction over certain abuse, neglect, and domestic violence matters, with concurrent jurisdiction in some protective-order cases. The discussion focused on practical problems such as confidentiality in domestic violence cases, limited access to case information by nonparties, and the need for courts to better communicate about companion cases. Suggestions included a shared or unified database, expanded lethality assessments for law enforcement, and a requirement that criminal courts report domestic violence convictions or protective-order violations to family court so judges are aware of the full case context. The subcommittee also discussed ways to help self-represented litigants, including better education at first appearance, clearer guidance about raising protective orders or criminal charges at hearings, daily docket review by clerks, and a possible “lawyer for the day” program modeled on Massachusetts. One member raised the idea of a family safety docket, while another noted that New Hampshire already has a complex case docket for high-conflict matters and that cases generally stay with one judge when possible. No votes were taken, and the chair said the subcommittee would continue reviewing materials and could return to work next year, with possible bill amendments to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not hearing any.
• DFPS cases run on a very tight statutory timeline, and it's not unusual for a CPS adversary hearing to
• Is there a case? Is there a case that says that?
• We don't accept or advise on contested custody cases with parents, grandparent visitation, child support
• Our second largest category of rejections were cases where they were contested custody or visitation,